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06-14-2022, 06:42 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Prescott, AZ, USA
Posts: 51
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Why do I have TWO solar panels on my 24 RKS?
Lo and behold.......what is the smaller panel for? 
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06-14-2022, 07:09 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Eastern outskirts of Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,553
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Smaller one is a maintainer for the chassis battery? Larger for coach batteries?
__________________
‘91 Ultrastar Champion‘02 Georgie Boy Landau 8.1l Workhorse
‘03 Jeep Wrangler TJ 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK toad
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06-14-2022, 07:10 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 454
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I"d guess it's a separate battery tender panel. It's so small, I can't see it doing much but maintaining something.
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06-14-2022, 09:25 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Kelowna, B.C. Canada
Posts: 3,085
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Yeah, it's a little 50w(?) battery maintainer panel......fairly useless now with the 170w panel but it can't hurt. looks like it's wired independently of the Zamp roof combiner and probably the solar controller as well.
Dave
__________________
2022 Outdoors RV 25RDS, 2022 F350 dually, 6.7PSD, 10 spd, 3.55's
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06-14-2022, 09:43 AM
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#5
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Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: S.W. Washington state
Posts: 95
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It’s the 10w maintainer that’s included as standard equipment on all orv trailers. You have a separate switch on the panel near your entry door for it. It’s wired straight to your batteries. Useless? Not really. 180w is better than 170w, imho. Turn it on and leave it unless changing battery connections.
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06-14-2022, 09:54 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Kelowna, B.C. Canada
Posts: 3,085
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Over here
It’s the 10w maintainer that’s included as standard equipment on all orv trailers. You have a separate switch on the panel near your entry door for it. It’s wired straight to your batteries. Useless? Not really. 180w is better than 170w, imho. Turn it on and leave it unless changing battery connections.
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If it's standard equipment, that's only if you don't get the optional 170w and solar controller - neither of my ORV's had one. ....and yes, 10w is better than 0w but there would be no incentive to add that tiny panel if you already have the 170w unit IMO. ....now adding another 170W panel; THAT is worth doing. :-)
2 cents,
Dave
__________________
2022 Outdoors RV 25RDS, 2022 F350 dually, 6.7PSD, 10 spd, 3.55's
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06-16-2022, 07:34 AM
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#7
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Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: S.W. Washington state
Posts: 95
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Hmm
Both my orvs had the little one. Neither had the optional panels. In this case the 170w a dealer installed option, maybe?
I can see your point though, Dave. Why would the factory waste the time $$ installing both?
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06-16-2022, 09:36 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Kelowna, B.C. Canada
Posts: 3,085
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Over here
Both my orvs had the little one. Neither had the optional panels. In this case the 170w a dealer installed option, maybe?
I can see your point though, Dave. Why would the factory waste the time $$ installing both?
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Yeah, I'm sure you're right; the 170w panel was probably dealer installed. Both my 2020 21RBS and my 2022 25RDS came with the zamp controller and one 170w panel from the factory, no little panel
cheers,
Dave
__________________
2022 Outdoors RV 25RDS, 2022 F350 dually, 6.7PSD, 10 spd, 3.55's
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06-16-2022, 01:54 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Florence, MT
Posts: 175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Over here
It’s the 10w maintainer that’s included as standard equipment on all orv trailers. You have a separate switch on the panel near your entry door for it. It’s wired straight to your batteries. Useless? Not really. 180w is better than 170w, imho. Turn it on and leave it unless changing battery connections.
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Mine didn't come with anything solar on the roof but the connection ports. Seems to me that at least one panel would be standard equipment.
__________________
2020 Glacier Peak F28RKS Titanium
2013 F350 Superduty
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06-16-2022, 08:56 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Iowa
Posts: 521
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The invoice for my 2018 21RD indicates standard "Battery disconnect w/trickle charging roof mounted solar panel." Options - 706 Off-Grid Solar 160 Pkg.
The solar panel switch up front only controls the optional panel. The small trickle charger is always on even with battery disconnect off.
__________________
2019 Outdoors RV Creekside 21RD Titanium
2023 Ford F-150 Platinum 3.5L EcoBoost
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06-21-2022, 08:36 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 565
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On our 24RLS (2019) I rewired it to run through the controller instead of straight to the battery.
Not a fan of unregulated electrons.
I repurposed the switch for the battery panel for rear floodlights.
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