Quote:
Originally Posted by mccrob
Going to start my solar panel install and I want to run the wires down through the back cap placing the controller on the back wall of the closet. My question is the back cap open or are there braces that will block the wire from dropping down and exiting by the oil fill? The coach is an 08 Diplomat
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Bob,
We have an 06 Diplomat and went down thru the rear cap using a combiner box we purchased from AM Solar. Here is a photo:
Since the photo was taken we added an additional panel and connected two panels each in series and combined them in parallel. We have a MPPT controller so the higher voltage provides better results. Here is a photo of the controller mounted in the rear most compartment on the curb side of the coach.
If you look close you can see the 4 GA cables entering the rear wall of the compartment. You can also see the disconnect switch mounted on the rear wall next to the controller. On the other side of that rear wall is the area where the fill tubes are for the oil and transmission fluid and the hydraulic tank for the power steering. Writing is not my strong point but I will try to explain how the cables were brought down from the combiner.
There is about 12 inches of space between the rear cap and the closet wall inside the coach. That space is filled with sheets of insulation but there is still a lot of free space. Our approach was to use a three inch hole saw like you would use to install a dryer vent and drill a three inch hole in the plywood floor above the radiator. We did that in the same area where the fill tubes and hydraulic tank are. That three hole allowed us to reach our arm up into the open space between the cap and the rear wall of the coach. We felt this was necessary because the combiner box at the top of the cap cannot be located directly over the area where the fill tubes are due to the ladder. We drilled a hole at the top of the cap where the combiner box would be located just large enough for the two 4 GA cables to pass thru. We dropped the cables down and reached in thru the 3 inch hole and pulled them out into the area where the hydraulic fluid tank is. I know you are thinking, "man a three inch hole", but we purchased an electrical work box complete with a cover that was made of ABS plastic. We drilled a 3 inch hole in the back of that box and mounted it over the three inch hole in the floor. We also added a strain relief to the side of the box for the two 4 GA cables. After the cables were threaded thru and snug, we put the cover on the box. After I post this I will see if I can get a photo of that box and post it.
Here is a photo of the work box:
I am not sure if you can see it but I wrapped the cables with Rescue tape where they pass thru the strain relief. May not be necessary but it made me feel better.
Bob
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