Roof access plate

[DebnDan]

Re: 2017 DS 4369. The base plate in the pic appears to be a blank, I have not opened it. Anybody know what’s in there or if there are wires fished to it where inside the coach would they terminate? Media box over driver seat?

[lakebuster]

From picture not showing entire top on our LA that is were the Winegard Connect is located. We also have 2 satellite antennas on roof an in motion and a Travler!

[DebnDan]

Originally Posted by lakebuster

From picture not showing entire top on our LA that is were the Winegard Connect is located. We also have 2 satellite antennas on roof an in motion and a Travler!

We have a Winegard with wires going into the roof, a satellite with wires going direct as well as the 2 Girard Awnings with wires going direct. The plate I think may be a blank

[ChrisFSB]

It’s most likely either “solar” or “sat” prep wiring.

Do you have the original spec sheet for the coach? Prep wiring options are listed there.

Assuming it is; Under the plate is nothing; you have to drill a hole in the the roof and fish the wires.

I have photos of how I fished the solar wiring; it was a pain - but doable. Lmk if you’d like them.

[dp7]

When you cut the hole, don't cut any deeper than absolutely necessary. When I used a hole saw to cut the hole under the plate for solar prep, I found the wires up against the plywood backing for the fiberglass panel.

[ChrisFSB]

Dp7 you got lucky... our solar wires were under the insulation; buried deep. It took 90 mins, with an inspection camera to find & fish them.

[xbcsutter]

'15 DS with Solar Prep. Plate is on roof, trying to locate the other end of wires. Another thread said they terminate in comp next to batteries. My comp to rear of Batts has two junction boxes but all wires are connected, no spares. Any clues? Thanks in advance!

[Dav L]

Originally Posted by DebnDan

Re: 2017 DS 4369. The base plate in the pic appears to be a blank, I have not opened it. Anybody know what’s in there or if there are wires fished to it where inside the coach would they terminate? Media box over driver seat?
Attachment 284320Attachment 284323

Must be the new "steerable rear axle" that allows your rig to make the circle in your driveway

[Dutchstar411]

Originally Posted by DebnDan

Re: 2017 DS 4369. The base plate in the pic appears to be a blank, I have not opened it. Anybody know what’s in there or if there are wires fished to it where inside the coach would they terminate? Media box over driver seat?
Attachment 284320Attachment 284323

That plate once removed will have a hole and within that hole will be two wires for solar prep. Check your build sheet and it should state that. Finding the wires can be tricky, don't give up, they're in there, (took me 30 minutes to finally find them.) I believe they are a 10 gauge Red wire with a yellow stripe and also a yellow wire. They terminated in my 2015 DSDP behind the power reel. I used mine to run power to a ToGo satellite for ATT wireless internet. By the way, I do NOT recommend it, slow speeds and ATT is changing from unlimited to a strong monthly charge.

[xbcsutter]

Thanks Dutchstar411 - I will check for Solar Prep wires behind power cord reel. Getting ready to order everything for my Solar install, finding wires sorta important...

[pvcampbell]

On my 2020 Ventana, there were 2 blank plates on the roof. I opened the one I thought was most logically the solar prep, but it turned out to be satellite prep. In talking with my Brand Specialist, she told me that Newmar now installs the satellite prep kit as a standard item- don't know if that was a 2020 addition or how long they've done that. She was able to send me the layout drawing for all roof penetrations, and I confirmed that the solar prep wires were the other blank plate. After I had it removed, I saw that it was labeled very faintly with a sharpie that had faded away in the 6 months that the coach had been around before I took delivery. You would think they could label those blanks with something more durable. It does take some persistence to hook onto and pull out the wiring loop.

On my coach, the solar wires were in the basement compartment immediately aft of the coach batteries. They were not in a box - just loose wires hanging from the sidewall of the compartment. There also was an RJ45 cable running up to the cabinet above the driver seat for a controller, presumably.

The 10 gauge wires were woefully inadequate for the 800W of solar (4-200W panels) I intended to install, particularly when I discovered the circuitous route they followed in order to avoid the slideouts.

I ended up wiring 2 panels in series, then each bank of 2 in parallel in order to double the voltage and halve the amperage. Then, I installed the solar controller at the closest accessible point in the path of the cables (opposite side of the coach from where they were terminated) to shorten the run. All of that allowed me to use the 10 ga wires without excessive voltage drop.

Once I worked all that out, the system works great.

[xbcsutter]

Originally Posted by xbcsutter

Thanks Dutchstar411 - I will check for Solar Prep wires behind power cord reel. Getting ready to order everything for my Solar install, finding wires sorta important...

Update - Yep, Solar Prep wires found in fuse/wiring bunker next to Cord-reel. in my DS3736, that is a few compartments behind batteries. Blank plate on roof.

[Dutchstar411]

Originally Posted by xbcsutter

Update - Yep, Solar Prep wires found in fuse/wiring bunker next to Cord-reel. in my DS3736, that is a few compartments behind batteries. Blank plate on roof.

Great to hear. Were the wires Red with yellow stripe and yellow? It's been a while and I wasn't completely sure.

[xbcsutter]

Solar prep wires in compartment were yellow w/red stripe and not sure of other. Think it is Black w/white stripe. No other wire is just hanging there like yellow/red one. Another 10g Black/white one goes to a spare fuse with nothing coming off other side of fuse. It'l prob become apparent when I cut open roof and find the pair. Thanks DS411.