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Old 07-08-2018, 05:59 PM   #1
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Solar Panels

I have a 2014 Phaeton 40 QBH. Has anyone added solar panels to their motor home? Is the 2014 Phaeton prewired for solar panels? What does it take to add panels?
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Old 07-08-2018, 11:37 PM   #2
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Hi there, even if your motorhome is prewired for solar, you may want to rewire with thicker wire, everything depends on how much power you need there a lot to know, panels, batteries, inverters, controller, but the out come is wonderful, I can stay anywhere and not have to worry about elect, have waterfront camping while my friends park half mile away because the need hook ups
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Old 07-09-2018, 05:33 AM   #3
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I have a 2016 36LA. When I purchased it, I chose the option to pre-wire for solar panels. The 10 Guage wires start on the roof, under a cap. The wires run to the console above the drivers seat, near where my inverter control is. This is where you need to mount the controller. The wires terminate in the battery compartment. They are loose wires that were clearly labeled as Solar.

I just have one 150w panel, plenty to keep my 4 house batteries topped off.
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Old 07-09-2018, 06:23 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by novi2some View Post
I have a 2014 Phaeton 40 QBH. Has anyone added solar panels to their motor home? Is the 2014 Phaeton prewired for solar panels? What does it take to add panels?
You may specifically be asking Tiffin owners. If so, ignore the following (I do not have a Tiffin).

MANY of us have done so. However; I think those of us that have done so have done it for boondocking purposes (so we do not have to listen to a generator).

The biggest difficulty to adding a significant solar array, IMO, is finding roof space. Mounting the panels, running cables, and adding a solar charge controller are all pretty well understood tasks. That said, there is a learning curve to solar but there is lots of information available to help.
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Old 07-09-2018, 06:24 AM   #5
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I did noticed a round cap, about 7" diameter, on the roof. I'll take a closer look.
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Old 07-09-2018, 06:38 PM   #6
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I have a 2016 36LA. When I purchased it, I chose the option to pre-wire for solar panels. The 10 Guage wires start on the roof, under a cap. The wires run to the console above the drivers seat, near where my inverter control is. This is where you need to mount the controller. The wires terminate in the battery compartment. They are loose wires that were clearly labeled as Solar.

I just have one 150w panel, plenty to keep my 4 house batteries topped off.
Per Tiffin communication a month ago the standard solar wire is now 8 gauge. I paid a few extra bucks to get a 4 gauge wire approved for my recent 32SA order. Not sure how much solar we’ll do but have it now on our Class C and it keeps batteries conditioned nicely and helps keep your batteries up when off grid (unless you have a residential fridge - better throw a lot of panels up there for that!).
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Old 07-10-2018, 06:12 AM   #7
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DJ, I correct myself, mine was 8 guage.

Novisum, the Solar wiring may be under the round cap. I had two caps on my roof. One was the solar prewire, the other was for the satellite. If you want to know if you are prewired, the easiest way is to look for labeled wires near your batteries.

For my purpose of just keeping the batteries maintained, 1 panel is sufficient, and because my amperage draw is minimal, the 8 guage wire works.

JFNM has a point about having an extended array of panels to produce enough power for extended boondocking. I do think the 8 guage would overheat with a large array of panels.
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Old 05-17-2022, 09:39 AM   #8
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How did it turn out when completed

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I have a 2014 Phaeton 40 QBH. Has anyone added solar panels to their motor home? Is the 2014 Phaeton prewired for solar panels? What does it take to add panels?
Hello, Iam assuming that you did the solar upgrade. How did that turn out. and what are the capabilities ans well as the pitfalls and the praises of the job. Im just beginning to look into this now for my 2014 Phaeton 40AH
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Old 05-21-2022, 09:15 AM   #9
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Solar

I just finished my DIY installation of 3-360watt solar panels. The wires residential companies use for their installation is 10 gauge. No need to go any higher at this point. However, two VERY important things to consider: install the converter as close to the batteries as possible BUT NOT in the same compartment!!! Here is where you want to use heavy gauge wires, 4 gauge is great but keep the run as short as possible. I used a Victron 150/70 controller. Has a phone app to monitor the power input/output.
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