What is the latest on Solar Panels?

[daveb]

Originally Posted by rockbender

Mjeffrey / others,
Does your wiring for the solar sneak under the top mount of the canvas (between PH top and canvas) or the bottom where it is mounted to the van?

.

Mine comes thru the top in flex down to the van roof and sneaks in btwn the ford roof and canvas . Seems wrong but I've yet to have a problem.

[mjeffrey]

I'll take a picture of mine tomorrow. SMB threaded the wire for me when I had the top installed - it goes between the PH top and the canvas, and then comes down inside the top inside a flex tube.

For the tape, check this picture here:


I have four of these brackets. Two strips on the bottom of each bracket, about 5" long. The brackets are bolted to the solar panel frame. The PH top is quite curved, I don't think you'd be able to tape it directly to the top (and you want airflow beneath your panel when you're parked, to keep it cool).

Cheers,
Mike.

[Ford_6L_E350]

I ran my solar panel wiring through the penthouse outside of the canvas, then fed it up and over the canvas and down into the inside to connect with the solar controller. I used a liquid tight connecter to feed through the fiberglass, but it really doesn't matter.

No chance of a leak that way.

Mike

[sdwindansea]

My turn to chime in (with questions, not suggestions/answers). Great timing on this post since I'm planning on getting a panel in the next month or two. I really like Mike's (mjeffrey) solution of using 3M tape between the bracket and the PH. However, I can't tell if you have the smooth finish or the "rough" one on the PH. Or does it not matter?

Also, our SMB is pre-wired for solar and we have the female connector on the roof, just like it is pictured by Mike above. What male connector do I need to access this? Does it already come with the panel when I purchase it?

I'm hoping the extra weight of the panel (135w) doesn't require a spring adjustment on our manual PH. Knowing my luck, I'm sure it will.

[Roonie]

Good timing too since I am installing this summer as well but I have yet to see how the install happens from the roof down. It seems most have it prewired for solar and they are only hooking up the panel. I have to install everything from scratch. I get the basic idea except where it terminates too? Does it run to the battery seperator under my bench seat (RB50) or straight to the house battery from the solar controller?

[mjeffrey]

Originally Posted by sdwindansea

I can't tell if you have the smooth finish or the "rough" one on the PH. Or does it not matter?

I have the smooth finish on mine. I don't know what the rough roof is like, but it might be just as good if not better. The tape is meant to 'flow' into cracks in the surface, so it may get more surface area on a rough roof. But I can't really say for sure.

Originally Posted by sdwindansea

Also, our SMB is pre-wired for solar and we have the female connector on the roof, just like it is pictured by Mike above. What male connector do I need to access this? Does it already come with the panel when I purchase it?

I'm not sure if the male connector is sold separately. This is the connector that I bought, that others have said is identical to the SMB one:

http://camperize.com/solar-panel-mounting.html#wiring

The rubber boot is made for a single wire, so I had to enlarge the opening and then fill it with sealer to keep the water out. You might want to get a multi-conductor cable such as this:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#electrical-wir ... ds/=c591sd

at least for the short run through the rubber boot. Then you'd have a nice watertight seal with very little work.

Originally Posted by sdwindansea

I'm hoping the extra weight of the panel (135w) doesn't require a spring adjustment on our manual PH. Knowing my luck, I'm sure it will.

Mine did. SMB said that they mount their panels farther back towards the middle of the roof, so that the weight of the panel isn't centered directly above the padded 'lifting block.' Mine's right above the block.

Originally Posted by Roonie

I get the basic idea except where it terminates too? Does it run to the battery seperator under my bench seat (RB50) or straight to the house battery from the solar controller?

Mine goes straight to the battery from the controller. There are five wires altogether:

2 from the panel (+ and -) that connect to the back of the controller.
2 from the controller (+ and -) that connect to the battery.
1 from the controller that connects to a chassis ground (I exposed some bare metal on the frame, and attached there)

You might also have a temperature sensor wire (usually looks like telephone wire), which connects directly to the negative battery post, or to the side of the battery case.

Cheers!
Mike.

[jage]

Originally Posted by rockbender

with a bracket or two off of the existing penthouse support bolts just for piece of mind.

That's what I was thinking, existing bolts and go from there. Maybe some of that square stock that has holes all down it and go from that as a base.

[witoke]

Supposedly complete 30 Amp solar set-up for sale for someone who needs it.

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/rvs/2359870035.html

No affiliation etc etc.

[daveb]

My solar controller output goes to the house battery side of the separator, everything else is like what Mike Posted.

[mjeffrey]

Just got the Arizona Wind and Sun newsletter, and they're clearing out some 205W 12 volt panels at cost:

http://www.solar-electric.com/ev195wasoelp.html

$450, with a max of 11A vs the Kyocera 135's 7A.

I don't know how the dimensions would work on the roof - haven't measured.

Cheers,
Mike.