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01-06-2025, 11:06 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: menlo Ga
Posts: 10
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2017 tiffin allegro open road adding solar
I am looking to add some solar panels to help me be able to boondock! my MH has a residential fridg. I don:t want to have to run the generator so much while camping. I have had other motorhomes, and 5th wheel campers,but they had gas/elect fridg. Im not sure about routing the solar cables in a allegro open road!thanks for any helpful hints
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01-06-2025, 11:53 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Bohemia NY
Posts: 1,834
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Solar will help but unless a really large system will only do so much.
A major upgrade priority is maximizing the battery charge rate when using the generator.
What size/type is your battery bank and what size is the charging section of the inverter/charger? It is common for some rigs to have 2, one dedicated to the fridge. W hat you want is to have enough charge capacity to charge at a ~4 hour rate. Lithium's also charge much more efficiently making charging more like filling a tank. Another option. Tell me what you have and I'll tell what options will work. Also, do you have battery metering and have an idea how much power you need for a 24 hour period?
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Dennis
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
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01-07-2025, 11:13 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: menlo Ga
Posts: 10
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I'm not sure what my total amp hour rateing is!! I have 4 6volt duracell ultra batteries 2 in series /parallel. it is what came with the MH from tiffin. i need to remove one in order to see what the amp hour rateing is. yesterday was my first attempt to post on the fourm. having a little trouble working thru this!at 78 my computer skills need a lot of help. thank you for your help
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01-07-2025, 01:00 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Redmond, Or.
Posts: 1,831
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Sounds like you have a RED. Take a look at this link and you will see what a couple did for solar upgrade on a 2016 33AA. Should give you some insight to what needs to happen and costs.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+solar+upgrade
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2017 Tiffin Allegro Red 33AA
Cummins ISB 6.7 L
2020 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
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01-07-2025, 01:26 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1,315
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We have a 2017 Allegro Open Road as well. While we haven't installed any solar, it is prewired for solar. Is yours? If it is, there will be a small sorta flat dome up on the roof.
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Don & Vicki
2017 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 36LA, F53 chassis, V10
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid SE Sport AWD, RVibrake3, Blue Ox
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01-07-2025, 01:30 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Bohemia NY
Posts: 1,834
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Golf cart batteries are generally 220 A/H. You have a 12 volt, 440 A/H bank.
To go Lithium "Drop in" go with 2 of these.
https://www.amazon.com/Litime-LiFePO...mr_ca_hp_atf_d
There is also a Bluetooth version, on sale,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLB1ZVDK...fc2hhcmVk&th=1
The BMS in these batteries will take care of everything and will charge off your alternator. If your converter charger does not have Lithium setting use AGM or Gell.
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Dennis
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
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01-09-2025, 12:54 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Redmond, Or.
Posts: 1,831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d23haynes57
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Isn't going to Lithium Ion batteries a bit more involved than just replacing the lead acid batteries? I was of the understanding that you also need to do a new battery management system specifically made for lithium, along with the aspect of managing power output / changing from the alternator tp prevent damaging it??
__________________
2017 Tiffin Allegro Red 33AA
Cummins ISB 6.7 L
2020 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
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01-09-2025, 01:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 2,460
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HighDesert
Isn't going to Lithium Ion batteries a bit more involved than just replacing the lead acid batteries? I was of the understanding that you also need to do a new battery management system specifically made for lithium, along with the aspect of managing power output / changing from the alternator tp prevent damaging it??
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Like most things - it depends.
If you install 900 ah of Lifepo4 and depleted them deeply, then your alternator is not going to be happy.
If you add sufficient solar to keep them mostly changed, then your alternator will probably be OK.
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01-09-2025, 02:48 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: menlo Ga
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donskiman
We have a 2017 Allegro Open Road as well. While we haven't installed any solar, it is prewired for solar. Is yours? If it is, there will be a small sorta flat dome up on the roof.
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i have a round dome about 3 feet back from the kitchen vent fan. it is about 12 in. diameter and about 3 ft in from the passanger side of the MH. it is sealed with self leveling silicone. do you know where the solar wire terminate? thanks for your help!
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01-09-2025, 02:56 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: menlo Ga
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HighDesert
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thank you. I have been looking on utube to see what orther people have done! I'm just not sure where to try to run the wire if the coach is not prewired! thank you for your help
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01-09-2025, 07:18 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 911
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Lots of different 2017 floor plans.
Assuming your coach isn't pre wired for solar?
Besides the year, the Floorplan is relevant to getting good advice on routing. What Floorplan do you have?
As far as lithium, that can significantly reduce your generator run time, and if you like to boondock it can be very beneficial, but tends to be more of a project then a direct swap, so if you are considering lithium then lots of things to consider.
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01-09-2025, 10:12 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: WI Driftlesser
Posts: 2,476
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To me, wiring seems like the least of the issues with adding solar, getting the panels up there, mounting them securely, wiring the controller correctly, and first deciding on what kind of system you want. Reuse existing inverter/charger and add solar controller, or go with an all in one, then 12, 24, or 48V?
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01-10-2025, 10:48 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Poway, CA
Posts: 64
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I have a 2015 32SA. I did the solar myself. I used to have to run the generator at least once a day to keep the batteries alive. Now I don't ahve to run it at all. I installed 2 panels on the roof and the controller in the basement comaprtment next to the door (close to the batteries). I also added a Bluetooth module so I can check it on my phone, which I never do. I am not a electircal guy. I keep it simple, either the batteries charge or they don't  . If yours is prewired, sounds liek you have the thingy on the roof, I beleive the wires should be in one of the cabinets above the drivers seat area. I have heard that the wires are too small, but I cannot confirm that.
Drilling the holes in the motorhome was the hardest part of the install. Or at least the most stressful. I ran the wires down next to the fridge. If you take the fridge exterior access panel off, you will see that there is a few inches on each side of the fridge and cabinets. From there, I ran the wires under the cabinets, towards the front of the motorhome and then down into the basement. It really wasn't too bad once I jumped into it.
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2015 32Sa
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01-11-2025, 12:39 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d23haynes57
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I have these batteries. Installed 3, which fit on the OEM battery tray. Just make sure you reprogram your inverter/charger to the correct charging parameters for lithium. I also installed a Victron shunt/monitor to get an accurate state of charge. I also had installed 1400 watts of solar on the roof.
If there is good sun, I can go a week without running the generator.
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