Solar Panel installation??

[studmuffin]

We have a 2007 42 PDQ Camalot, with no solar panels. I want to install one , to maintain batteries, while in storage. Every other coach, I could run wires down the refrigerator vent, but this one has refrig on the slide. How has anyone run the wiring down, how big a panel do I need, and what regulator is unable for a 2-4 amp output, in bright sun????
Lots of question, also, where to buy the panel and controller/regulator from, for a decent/indecent price, and get some tech support, if needed???
Does the factory run the solar panel wires, even if the panel is not installed?? Also, how big , output, do you get from the factory solar panel??


Thanks, the charge-less Muffin Man.

[bullydogs1]

I can tell you that there are solar wires coming into my battery compartment and that they run through the engine compartment to get there. Also on the roof there is a sticker where there are wires to put a solar panel...you have to go back in the coach and remove a light fixture near to where this sticker is pointing and the wires should be there. I wouldn't mount up the panel on the roof until i had the wires in hand...It's a fishing expedition but they are there.

[kketterling]

When we had the solar panels on our coach installed they ran the wiring down along side the waste water vent pipe. We installed 6 panels that put out 135 watts each. We do a lot of dry camping.

[hardy1000]

I have a 2007 Diplomat with the fridge on the slide also. My coach had a sticker on the roof above the fridge showing where to drill for the wires. It will be a fishing expidition. Like Bullydogs said, look in the battery compartment for the solar wires they should be marked. I have 3 125 watt panels installed and the controller mounted in the inverter compartment.

[The Danes Are Coming]

Quote:

Originally Posted by studmuffin Also, how big , output, do you get from the factory solar panel??

I always wondered that myself until I one month ago installed a solar panel controller that is able to charge 2 (sets) batteries at the same time - the factory installed isn't.

I bought the SunSaver Duo with the display and is therefore able to tell you that over 1 month the maximum charge that is recorded with the factory installed solar panel is 3.75Amp in the South Texas sun. Mid day average charge I would roughly estimate at about 2.5Amp. I guess that come summertime when the sun is right at a 90 degree angle to the panel this reading might go up slightly.

I am so pleased with my new controller and I would like to recommend it to you. I found it on the Internet at $135 for the set. It was so easy to install that even I could do it

[Rex]

Here is a SunSaver Duo for $80.18 but the sale ends Dec 19.

Morningstar SunSaver Duo SSD-25 - Morningstar SunSaver Duo SSD-25 Charge Controller

[The Danes Are Coming]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rex Here is a SunSaver Duo for $80.18 but the sale ends Dec 19. Morningstar SunSaver Duo SSD-25 - Morningstar SunSaver Duo SSD-25 Charge Controller

Hi Rex

I nearly bought my stuff there but...........

Please note that in small print it says that the remote panel is not part of the $80.18. Once you add this the $135 that I paid is still better

Poor advertising practice on behalf of the seller I think. They could easily have found a picture of the controller without the remote panel. What they do is definitely misleading.

[Revodoc]

Before selling my first coach I pulled the panels off the roof and the remote panel and installed to my new to me coach... This was a fun weekend job...

I'm sure glad that I did it though!

[Lukeaa]

The Monaco installed solar wires from the roof will only be 10 gauge. You will need an 8 gauge or bigger, if you put more than one 100+ watt solar panel on your roof. More panels are better. You can find them used at some of the solar dealers.

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