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04-08-2008, 08:44 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Northern Virginny
Posts: 701
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I see that the Ventana comes with a 5 watt solar panel. Does this keep the house and chassis batteries charged when the MH sits for a while (assuming they're fully charged when parked).
__________________
09 Newmar Ventana 3942 (bunkbeds for the munchkins)
08 Ford Taurus X AWD Toad
69 Road Runner Convertible 528 Hemi 4 Speed
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04-08-2008, 08:44 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Northern Virginny
Posts: 701
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I see that the Ventana comes with a 5 watt solar panel. Does this keep the house and chassis batteries charged when the MH sits for a while (assuming they're fully charged when parked).
__________________
09 Newmar Ventana 3942 (bunkbeds for the munchkins)
08 Ford Taurus X AWD Toad
69 Road Runner Convertible 528 Hemi 4 Speed
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04-08-2008, 08:53 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Somewhere....
Posts: 4,054
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 69RoadRunner:
I see that the Ventana comes with a 5 watt solar panel. Does this keep the house and chassis batteries charged when the MH sits for a while (assuming they're fully charged when parked). </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think that panel only attempts to keep the chassis batteries charged.
joe
__________________
2008 King Aire 4562, Spartan K3(GT) w/ Cummins ISX 600
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L V8 Hemi w/ Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar and baseplate, SMI Air Force One brake
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04-08-2008, 09:19 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Belfair WA.
Posts: 777
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A 5 watt solar panel produces approximately 0.3 Amps under rated conditions. This output may cover parasitic loads at best. Therefore does little to charge any of your batteries.
General consensus is that this "token" solar panel is connected to the chassis batteries.
If you are looking to have your chassis batteries charged by solar panels I would opted for the solar prep option on your unit, then have dealer install the desired amount of panels on your roof that meets your needs.
Spike
__________________
"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything"
2020 Dutch Star - 3736 - L9 450HP, Freightliner
2008 Newmar VTDP - 3330 - ISBXT 350 Spartan NVS
FMCA F113720, NKK 18573
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04-08-2008, 09:21 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Belfair WA.
Posts: 777
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">If you are looking to have your chassis batteries charged by solar panels I would opted for the solar prep option on your unit, then have dealer install the desired amount of panels on your roof that meets your needs. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Sorry I meant house batteries. Mind finger connection obviously had a bad moment lose of signal.
Spike
Spike
__________________
"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything"
2020 Dutch Star - 3736 - L9 450HP, Freightliner
2008 Newmar VTDP - 3330 - ISBXT 350 Spartan NVS
FMCA F113720, NKK 18573
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04-08-2008, 04:14 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 241
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The Newmar factory installed solar panel is connected to the chassis batteries only. If the batteries are fully charged the solar panel will help keep them charged during storage.
__________________
2005 Dutch Star 4015
2007 Honda CR-V
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04-08-2008, 04:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Northern Virginny
Posts: 701
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Can you upgrade the factory panel without running new wires?
I'm not talking about covering the whole roof with panels, but maybe 1 larger one that can do a better job charging during the winter.
__________________
09 Newmar Ventana 3942 (bunkbeds for the munchkins)
08 Ford Taurus X AWD Toad
69 Road Runner Convertible 528 Hemi 4 Speed
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04-09-2008, 04:28 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 241
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That solar panel is connected to small wires and it has a long run to the batteries. If you install a larger panel you need to run larger wires. Also, the dash charge controller is not sized and designed for more output then the standard solar panel.
If you want to upgrade you need to run larger wiring and a real solar charge controller. Good luck.
__________________
2005 Dutch Star 4015
2007 Honda CR-V
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04-09-2008, 06:00 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 51
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My '03 KSDP sat winterized for four months with nothing but the 5W panel charging the batteries. The chassis battery had plenty of charge to start the engine and generator. My coach batteries were a little low (~11.5V) but usable, which makes me wonder if the little solar panel was charging the chassis batteries sufficiently to engage the cross-connect (whatever it's called) and trickle charge the coach as well. Don't know, but all was well, which is all that matters.
__________________
"Imoto Ikhaya" - 2003 Kountry Star 3905 (Freightliner, Cat, Allison)
2001 Grand Cherokee
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04-09-2008, 06:20 AM
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#10
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Administrator in Memoriam
Newmar Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">That solar panel is connected to small wires and it has a long run to the batteries. If you install a larger panel you need to run larger wires. Also, the dash charge controller is not sized and designed for more output then the standard solar panel.
If you want to upgrade you need to run larger wiring and a real solar charge controller. Good luck. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I agree.
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Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP
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04-09-2008, 06:32 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Northern Virginny
Posts: 701
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That makes sense.
I guess I could remove the house batteries when it's in storage and keep them on a battery maintainer at home.
__________________
09 Newmar Ventana 3942 (bunkbeds for the munchkins)
08 Ford Taurus X AWD Toad
69 Road Runner Convertible 528 Hemi 4 Speed
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04-09-2008, 07:39 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Belfair WA.
Posts: 777
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A better plan may be to ensure your house battery disconnect relay is in the off posistion while your unit is in storage, along with your propane and CO2 detectors, this pretty much isolates all house battery draws. Just prior to use, check your battery water level then charge your house batteries, this will limit the number of cycles on your batteries during periods of storage therefore increasing the overall life of your batteries. Also decrease the amount of periodic maintenance you will need to do on your batteries during times of storage.
I am assuming that when you plan to store your unit no 120VAC power will be available.
Spike
__________________
"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything"
2020 Dutch Star - 3736 - L9 450HP, Freightliner
2008 Newmar VTDP - 3330 - ISBXT 350 Spartan NVS
FMCA F113720, NKK 18573
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04-09-2008, 08:12 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Northern Virginny
Posts: 701
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That's correct. I will be using a storage lot all the time, and it has not 110 power available.
It does have propane available and a dumping station, which is nice.
My next house will have room for storage.
__________________
09 Newmar Ventana 3942 (bunkbeds for the munchkins)
08 Ford Taurus X AWD Toad
69 Road Runner Convertible 528 Hemi 4 Speed
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04-09-2008, 08:18 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 241
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In addition to what Spike said, here is another idea. The generator needs to be run once a month and that will recharge the batteries, both Chassis and house. While the gernrator is running uder load do an inspection of the interior and exterior - water leaks, tires inflated, etc. After you turn off the generator do the battery disconnect and the batteries will hold their charge until the next month.
__________________
2005 Dutch Star 4015
2007 Honda CR-V
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