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03-29-2022, 04:54 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 80
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Small Solar Panel on rooftop
Hello people, can anyone out there tell me what the small solar panel (approx 8” wide and 12-15”) on my 2021 Kountry Star 3709 rooftop is charging and when is it even charging?? Please and thank you 😊.
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Kate
2021 Newmar Kountry Star 3709 (Freightliner)
2015 Jeep Cherokee
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03-29-2022, 05:00 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 59
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I have a Bay Star and the small solar panel is used to keep the chassis battery charged when it is parked. I think it is only 10w.
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03-29-2022, 05:15 PM
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#3
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Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma
Posts: 41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NewmarKate
Hello people, can anyone out there tell me what the small solar panel (approx 8” wide and 12-15”) on my 2021 Kountry Star 3709 rooftop is charging and when is it even charging?? Please and thank you 😊.
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I have a 2022 Kountry Star and the little solar panel on the back right side of the roof is connected to the chassis batteries in the compartment below. It delivers a very low amperage charge to these batteries whenever the sun is out. Does about the same as a 3/4 amp trickle charger.
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2022 Newmar Kountry Star 4011, 1700 Watts Solar, Victron Solar Charger, 600Ah @ 12v LiFePO4 batteries, Precision Circuits Li-BIM
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, Roadmaster Nighthawk tow bar, Airforce One braking
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03-29-2022, 05:43 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl
Posts: 1,143
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Agreed. Our 2020 Kountry Star had 10W factory solar connected to chassis only.
You have a battery isolation manager (BIM) that should, if working properly, prevent the solar panel from also charging the house batteries. I make that side comment since both our 2020 Kountry Star and 2022 Dutch Star have failing BIMs that I have on my warranty repair list.
I like to look at my battery levels every time I get in the coach in order to understand the patterns during different usage. DW says I check batteries and tank levels more than my I-phone. Old habits.
You can also confirm this in your owner's manual.
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2022 Dutch Star 4369 FL Towing 2022 GMC Sierra 1500
Chris & Lee, Finnegan & Kirby (Double Doodled)
2020 Kountry Star 3709 towing Equinox.
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03-29-2022, 05:46 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 732
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A ten watt panel is almost nothing. It wouldn't keep up with the parasitic loads on my house batteries even with the battery disconnect switch off. I would replace it with a 100 watt panel.
David
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03-29-2022, 07:41 PM
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#6
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,076
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You should have a small LED on the dash somewhere that indicates that it's charging. On the older Dutch Stars, it used to be down on the same panel as the ignition switch.
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Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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03-29-2022, 08:33 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Winter: Fort Wilderness Campground
Posts: 660
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don
You should have a small LED on the dash somewhere that indicates that it's charging. On the older Dutch Stars, it used to be down on the same panel as the ignition switch.
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I can’t find any LED in my coach anywhere on the dash. I always assumed it was working.
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Paul, Cathy and Chocolate Lab, RIO
2018 Newmar Dutch Star 4362 (Spartan)
2012 Ford F-150
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03-29-2022, 09:36 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,353
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Mine is way older and totally different model.. but my solar charging led.. was on inside rear a/c cover.. you might want to look there?. I added a 100w panel with no controller... just used same wiring and adapter were old 5w panel was... it works great.. too great.. it charged all batts to 15.29v before I pulled fuse.. in Ohio and winter .. so if you upgrade.. make sure you add small controller... or you will find you have to pull fuse..
Good luck and keep us posted
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2000 southwind storm, workhorse custom chassis with 7.4l vortec
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05-15-2022, 09:15 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Renton-Highlands,Wa./HB,Ca./Fujieda-Japan
Posts: 832
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If you upgrade the panel use the following panel (works great) for trickle charge. No controller needed. It will even charge when the RV cover is on.
https://www.amazon.com/ACOPOWER-Poly...13&sr=8-4&th=1
You'll need to replace the small solar LED indicator inside as well. Usually on the AC cover. Replace with.... https://www.ebay.com/itm/11525560979...MaAhLpEALw_wcB
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1994 Southwind Storm 28ft - 454TBI w/4L80E
VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
Flight System G-Man 360 generator man (PM me)
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