Replacing 10w solar panel with a 100w-200w setup

[Unicorn Driver]

Hi,

The 2008 Itasca Latitude I am purchasing has a 10w panel on the roof. I must presume that this does not have a charge controller.

I already have two Renogy 100w Portable panels which connects to a 30 Amp PWM controller.

Could I replace this with a 100-200w setup and reuse the cabling or would I need new cabling?

I would plan to reuse my Charge controller also. Battery bank is with 430mah deep cycle, and fridge is propane.

Budget for this would 500$.

Thanks,

Stephen

[BFlinn181]

Check the gauge of the wire used in the 10 W solar panel. I doubt it will be sized to adequately handle 200 W of your panels. I'd plan on routing new, properly sized wires from the roof to the controller.

[astrocamper]

A pair of 100 amp panels might have about 11 amps of combined current. I would want a least a 10 awg wire or 12 awg if short enough.

[Unicorn Driver]

Thanks both,

I will check with Winnebago about the wire used. If I had to run new cqble I would not bother. The 200w portable we have ia sufficient for the 2 or 3 boonndocking weekends we do.

[Unicorn Driver]

Winnebago said the cable is 12 AWG. My portable Renogy system is 10 AWG.

[Motor7]

Running new wires is not that hard, but you do have to investigate the best path. I brought mine down the Refer stack, from the outside Refer access panel there was a hole going under it, which gets me under the Refer inside the MH(diffferent access panel). From there it was easy access to the chase under the cabinets where the heat ducts live. And from there into the battery box.

I went with 6/2 Marine grade tinned copper wire...it's not cheap:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-2-AWG-TIN...53.m2749.l2649

Once mounted on the roof, I think you will find you have more time for doing other things like mixing Margarita's

-one can of frozen lime juice
-4 bottles of beer
-one quarter of a Cuervo Gold bottle
-half a cup of Triple Sec
-a few squirts of Key Lime juice
-stir

I call them "Beeritias" and the beer takes most of that sweetness out of the usual lime juice mixes. Sorry for the side track.....

[Unicorn Driver]

Those drinks sound nice. Happy days.

My wife has warned me no solar on the roof unless its on the cheap.

[harryn]

One possible approach is to put one panel on the roof - and use the existing wire to the controller and battery.

12 awg is ok, but slightly sub optimal for 2 panels run in parallel (would be just fine if they are in series but that would take a MPPT controller)

The second panel could be used as a portable panel and placed facing the sun as convenient with it's own wire to the controller in case that is interesting. That way it is all in parallel and the existing controller can be used.

[Unicorn Driver]

Hi,

1 panel on the roof would be perfect. 300w in total would be plenty for me.

I must presume the 12awg wire is running straigt to the battery. I could cut it and route it to the charge controller.

[Unicorn Driver]

I spoke with Renogy and they said I could go to a 150w and use the 12Awg cable. 350w total would be perfect as the charge controller can only handle 400w.

We only dry camp ocassionaly so no point is spending a lot on this.

The only thing is trying to figure out how to bypass the diodes Winnebago uses.

[harryn]

Originally Posted by 1stMH

I spoke with Renogy and they said I could go to a 150w and use the 12Awg cable. 350w total would be perfect as the charge controller can only handle 400w.

We only dry camp ocassionaly so no point is spending a lot on this.

The only thing is trying to figure out how to bypass the diodes Winnebago uses.

My guess is that the diodes are there to make sure that the battery charge doesn't reverse / discharge into the panels at night.

Take a photo of them, or post the model number if you can find it. Most likely it can be replaced with a higher capacity model. I can help you with that if needed.

Harry

[Unicorn Driver]

Thanks Harry,

I do appreciate the offer of help.

Even a 100w would be great.

:-)