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Factory installed solar panel....
Yahoo Message Number: 85953
Hello everyone...  I am a new member with plans to purchase a new LD in the immediate future.  Thanks for having me here and thanks in advance for the knowledge.  As far as the factory installed solar panel.... specifically, the single 100w panel on the 26 1/2 models...  can that configuration be added to with additional panels aftermarket?
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85955
yes, I have seen his pics....  let me refine my question....  I am more interested in the ease of piggybacking a portable setup...   as in the way a portable sat dish can be setup at a campsite.  I am inclined to get the factory panel and gage my use/future requirements....  but explore the possibility of having a portable solar panel assembly to setup during stops.
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85956
Spreggin,
 If you want portable, whether initially or for the long term, then I'd forgo the factory install entirely.
 Instead, size your PV panels so that they will store at one end of the wardrobe. Install a DC plug, with suitable fuse, in the lower skirt near the battery bank. See (www.powerletproducts.com for a very good quality DC power plug that's smaller than a standard cigarette type plug, has more current capacity, and is much more secure and weather tight too. You'll need both jack and plug/s of course.
 Don't forget a solar charge regulator. Get a MPPT  type for more efficient utilization of your PV output.
 BTW, the only reasons I can think of to use a portable setup, like your suggesting, is if you plan on parking in the shade a lot, or if you want to use your PV panels elsewhere. Otherwise, the convenience of a roof mounted solar system is pretty compelling.

bumper Yonder Minden, NV
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85957
I am not really sure what my needs are/will be at this point...  merely exploring possibilities based on what others have done...

thanks for the replies...
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85972
Bumper put it better than I could. You could carry panels in your wardrobe, though they'd have to be small ones--I don't even know whether an 85W panel would fit there, and that's assuming you could even find a 85-watter nowadays. I agree with his conclusion that roof-mounted panels have a lot going for them. :-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85977
I agree with everything else said, and would throw in that you will probably also pay a lot less than the factory for an after market install.  I paid 750.00 for a 115W panel and charge controller.  (Not installed, I did that myself) As for piggy backing an extra panel with a factory panel I would think it shouldn't be a problem.  I don't know exactly what charge controller the factory uses, but it is a very easy thing to add another set of wires coming off a panel into the same charge controller, if it's rated to handle the wattage.  Or if needs be you could even use another charge controller and run the wires into the battery.  As for the portable setup, I highly recommend getting what you think you need mounted on the top of the roof and having it all hardwired in and not having to mess with it.  Believe me there is plenty of stuff to worry about setting up when you get to your desired spot without having to mess with electrical hookups.  I put my panel on top of mine wired it all up and have never had to think about it since.  I do climb up there and clean the panel occasionally for better efficiency.  There's plenty of stuff to worry about stowing and setting up with out worry about solar panels.  Not to mention they are a little fragile to have kicking around in a closet somewhere.  Just my opinion.
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85980
Quote
I agree with everything else said, and would throw in that you will probably also pay a lot less than the factory for an after market install.  I paid 750.00 for a 115W panel and charge controller.
(Not
 
Quote
installed, I did that myself) As for piggy backing an extra panel with a factory panel I would think it shouldn't be a problem.  I don't know exactly what charge controller the factory uses, but it is a very easy thing to add another set of wires coming off a panel into the same charge controller, if it's rated to handle the wattage.  Or if needs be you could even use another charge controller and run the wires into the battery.  As for the portable setup, I highly recommend getting what you think you need mounted on the top of the roof and having it all hardwired in and not having to mess with it.  Believe me there is plenty of stuff to worry about setting up when you get to your desired spot without having to mess with electrical hookups.  I put my panel on top of mine wired it all up and have never had to think about it since.  I do climb up there and clean the panel occasionally for better efficiency.  There's plenty of stuff to worry about stowing and setting up with out worry about solar panels.  Not to mention they are a little fragile to have kicking around in a closet somewhere.  Just my opinion.
how effective has your 115w panel been?  or rather to what percentage of your usage do you attribute it to if any?
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85985
"I have a stereo/television setup that we use pretty good for 3-4 hours atnight, watching videos with the kids. (It's pretty power hungry) Even in cold weather when I watch videos at night and the heater runs most of the night I can't run the batteries even close to down in one night. And the single 115 W panel tops them off every day.
Even on cloudy days it still tops them off."

Dan

What are you using to determine that your batteries have a full charge? The Factory LED indicator or a battery monitor such as a Xantrex Link 10 or XBM.
The reason I ask is that our 245 watts of solar do not give much, if any charge, on cloudy days, especially in the winter.
In our LD, the Factory LED will indicate a full charge when the Link 10 shows that the battery is 40 amp-hours or more short of a full charge.
In my experience, the LED indicator is amazingly inaccurate YMMV.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85988
On Nov 15, 2007, at 15:08, spreggin wrote:

Quote
I am not really sure what my needs are/will be at this point... merely exploring possibilities based on what others have done...
Steve Newton explained it this way when I asked him about that...
"You can never have too much solar"

I bought two factory panels, and I am glad I did.  Would 3 or 4 be better, yes of course, but I have found 2 to be just fine for my use.

-Dave '06 MB, Indianapolis
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85989
BTW... the charge controller the factory uses (HPV-22) should be able to handle four panels. I upgraded my controller to the HPV-22B.  AM Solar will give you nearly full credit on a swap, if your factory unit is new (I had one shipped to me and swapped it out on the way home from the factory pickup).
 The B model is identical, except it has two extra switces. 1. to lower the charge point, and 2. an On/Off switch. Both exceedingly useful, IMO.  Factory refuses to install the B model.
Re: Factory installed solar panel
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85997
"As for piggy backing an extra panel with a factory panel I would think it shouldn't be a problem."

The problem is that the factory installs solar panels very close to the roof, in such a way that if you want to connect additional panels to the circuit, you must first completely unmount the original panel in order to get at its junction box. It's not just a matter of loosening a few bolts--you have to pull both the panel *and its mounts* off the roof! This is doable, but it's a major pain in the rear--if somebody else is doing the work, an expensive pain in the rear.
 In addition, although the factory uses AM Solar panels, they don't use AM Solar's mounts that allow the insertion of tilt bars... so you can't tilt factory-installed panels for more efficient operation in the colder months.
 In addition, the roof location chosen by the factory is not one that makes it easy to add a second panel--in fact, it's usually not even a good location for a first panel, because they tend to put it close to the air conditioner, where it will be partially shaded during a significant part of the day.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
"Steve Newton explained it this way when I asked him about that..."
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 85999
Quote

On Nov 15, 2007, at 15:08, spreggin wrote:

I am not really sure what my needs are/will be at this point... merely exploring possibilities based on what others have done...

Steve Newton explained it this way when I asked him about that...
"You can never have too much solar"

I bought two factory panels, and I am glad I did.  Would 3 or 4 be better, yes of course, but I have found 2 to be just fine for my use.

-Dave '06 MB, Indianapolis
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Factory installed solar panel
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86001
"Steve Newton explained it this way when I asked him about that...'You can never have too much solar.' "

Another way of putting it: I've met plenty of RVers who wished they had more solar panels, but I've never met anyone who wished they had fewer!

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Factory installed solar panel
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86004
"The problem is that the factory installs solar panels very close to the roof, in such a way that if you want to connect additional panels to the circuit, you must first completely unmount the original panel in order to get at its junction box. It's not just a matter of loosening a few bolts--you have to pull both the panel *and its mounts* off the roof!"

Andy

I was able to get to the wiring without removing the Factory panel.
The wiring is run through a waterproof plastic conduct, a common commercial product that is available at HD.
I cut the conduct and was able to shorten it enough to get a junction box into place where the old and new wires could be joined.
Not all LD will have accessible conduct so YMMV.
In the photo below, you can see the new junction box in the lower left hand corner. New flexible conduct was run up to the two additional panels
http://tinyurl.com/2gjrcd>
http://tinyurl.com/365as5>

It's nice to have the extra panels and was worth the effort.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157602104742393/>

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86014
I've got a multi meter that I put on it a few times to see what's happening. It doesn't give me an amphour reading just a voltage reading.   It may not be a completely full charge, but then again I usually camp in the summer time in Moab and the rest of Utah, so sun is not a problem.  I guess my main criteria is that I have never even had the battery slightly run down after a good night of usage.
Re: Factory installed solar panel
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86022
"I was able to get to the wiring without removing the Factory panel.
The wiring is run through a waterproof plastic conduit... I cut the conduit and was able to shorten it enough to get a junction box into place where the old and new wires could be joined."
 Nice solution, Larry! You were fortunate that there was enough slack in the cable to permit adding a j-box. As you said, not all LDs may have enough slack in the cable to do this. But if you can get away with it, it sure beats pulling the entire panel off the roof! :-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
 
Re: Factory installed solar panel....
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 86023
Dear Spreggin,
 No need to refine your question . . . I'm pretty sure we already answered it. To recap:
 If you want portable, then it doesn't make a lot of financial sense to purchase a solar system from the factory. They place their panel in a not-so-convenient spot that wastes roof space when and if you decide to add more panels to the roof. Also their wiring size may not be optimal for a larger system and thus will waste power due to line loss.
 Thus, for portable, buy suitably sized panel/s and find a spot to store them in the motorhome. This will not be easy nor perhaps convenient, as you will be limited to smaller wattage panels. Install a jack in the skirt near the battery box and get a MPPT charge controller.
 For a fixed system (recommended),either get the factory system, with the knowledge that adding to it is possible but perhaps not optimal. Or, buy the parts yourself and install the panel on the roof and run the wires down the backside of the fridge. If you don't want to do the work yourself, there are good aftermarket installers.

Fixed = convenient Portable = not, but does have the advantage of being able to move panels into sunshine or track the sun etc.

In any case, good luck,

bumper
bumper
"Yonder" '05 MB
"WLDBLU" glider trailer