Solar panel wire routing.

[TraceyAZ]

So Im installing a solar system and Im trying to decide where to run the two wires from the panel into my van? Im not sure I want to drill any holes in the penthouse top, so is there any other good way of routing these wires into the van? How does SMB get the wires inside?
If you have any good ideas, and pictures please share if you can. If I have to go through the top I will but I would think there must be a nice clean way of doing this?
Thank you
TraceyAZ

[daveb]

Originally Posted by TraceyAZ

So Im installing a solar system and Im trying to decide where to run the two wires from the panel into my van? Im not sure I want to drill any holes in the penthouse top, so is there any other good way of routing these wires into the van? How does SMB get the wires inside?
If you have any good ideas, and pictures please share if you can. If I have to go through the top I will but I would think there must be a nice clean way of doing this?
Thank you
TraceyAZ

I really don't like how they route the wires but it works for them. I had mine leak once. Myself I would use a marine electrical thru-the-hull connector. I'm sure you could find something out there in the boating world

Dave

[woodbee]

Originally Posted by TraceyAZ

So Im installing a solar system and Im trying to decide where to run the two wires from the panel into my van? Im not sure I want to drill any holes in the penthouse top, so is there any other good way of routing these wires into the van? How does SMB get the wires inside?
If you have any good ideas, and pictures please share if you can. If I have to go through the top I will but I would think there must be a nice clean way of doing this?
Thank you
TraceyAZ

I just finished installing a solar panel on my SMB and didn't want any more holes in my penthouse roof. Where the two 1/4" wires (#10 ) go thru the roof, I drilled 2- 1/4" holes very close to each other instead of one 1/2" hole. Very easy to calk and would be easy to repair if I ever remove the panel.

Woody

[Ford_6L_E350]

Just make the holes outside the canvas, and you won't have to worry about a leak.

Mike

[larrie]

Here is the link to the through the roof connector, http://m.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... sNum=10615

You might want to look at this thread, http://sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=5040


Larrie
89 Ford 2WD penthouse

[JoeH]

This is a project on my list as well Tracey. I also like the idea of the marine deck connector for going through the roof. Then I was going to hardwire into the back of the junction box on a Kyrocera panel rather than using the MC4 latching connectors recommended by mjeffrey. I'm just waiting for a 140W panel to come into stock at AZ Wind and Sun. And then work on a mounting solution.

Once again, subscribed to another of your threads

[TraceyAZ]

Things are moving along, I spent the better part of the day laying out and messuring......many times. I did find a good route for my wires to come in from the panel, no holes are being drilled and when its done the wires from the panel should be hidden nicely. It is amazing the number of layers that SMB uses to cover up and finish off edges.
The gear Im installing is a kyocera 245 watt panel along with a blue sky charge controler SB 3024il with the built in meter. Its a lot of panel but with the charge controler I chose it will automaticaly step down the power to charge my 12 volt house battery. Im mounting the panel on the Thule bars that were on the van when I bought it, again no extra holes and Im not to interested in using the bars for a storage box. The charge controler will be mounted under the rear seat (50 floor plan) so if I need to see what the panel is doing on the meter I just have to open the bottom door and peak inside.
I will post up some photos when I get it all done.
TraceyAZ

[BroncoHauler]

245W ??? Too cool. How big is that thing.


Herb

[woodbee]

Originally Posted by TraceyAZ

Things are moving along, I spent the better part of the day laying out and messuring......many times. I did find a good route for my wires to come in from the panel, no holes are being drilled and when its done the wires from the panel should be hidden nicely. It is amazing the number of layers that SMB uses to cover up and finish off edges.
The gear Im installing is a kyocera 245 watt panel along with a blue sky charge controler SB 3024il with the built in meter. Its a lot of panel but with the charge controler I chose it will automaticaly step down the power to charge my 12 volt house battery. Im mounting the panel on the Thule bars that were on the van when I bought it, again no extra holes and Im not to interested in using the bars for a storage box. The charge controler will be mounted under the rear seat (50 floor plan) so if I need to see what the panel is doing on the meter I just have to open the bottom door and peak inside.
I will post up some photos when I get it all done.
TraceyAZ

Very much the same as what I did. Same controller. Everything works great. More power then what I need, but that's what I planed.

Woody

[TraceyAZ]

Ok, its on and working!
Thanks to everyone who sent links and advice. The marine deck plug had some bad reviews and again I just didn't want to drill holes in the top. The route for the wires coming in and over the canvas seems to be working well. When the top is down the wires are hidden very well and the awning helps hide wires and protect from tree limp snags. The hardest part of the job was getting the panel on the roof. My wonderfull wife was nice enough to lend a hand. I had the bars drilled and the panel mounted to them so once the panel went top side it was just a matter of snapping them in place on the Thule mounting base for the towers. The panel is about 45 pounds and messures almost 66x39
I will edit this post to add some photos.
TraceyAZ