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Old 11-14-2015, 11:24 AM   #1
jje1960
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18 Watt Solar Panel

5th Wheel all winterized for this year (sigh..) Every other year, we have just left the unit plugged in with an extension cord into our garage. I do not wish to remove the battery, at times going into the unit during winter and being able to extend the slides is necessary. This year, not wanting to deal with the cord under the snow across the driveway anymore.... I've purchased an 18V solar panel with charge controller. It's been plugged in for over a week now and working out fine. With the propane detector and other parasitic drain, I don't believe the battery would last more than a couple of weeks (we don't have a battery cutout). Over the past week I've checked it a couple of times, in the morning, the battery has 12.4/5 volts. In the afternoon, the battery is reading 12.6/7 (AGM 55Ah Deep Cycle). I'm sure I'll need to ensure the snow does not cover the panel periodically, however seems like this is going to work out fine. Only about $79.00 cost, worth it to me to not have the unit plugged in all winter.
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Old 12-01-2015, 07:52 PM   #2
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Which solar panel or kit did you get?
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Old 12-02-2015, 01:25 PM   #3
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Panel

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Which solar panel or kit did you get?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Coleman-1...8033/203241551
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Old 12-10-2015, 02:32 AM   #4
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very nice- did you hard wire and mount the panel or do a temporary job for the winter?
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Old 12-10-2015, 02:01 PM   #5
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Install

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very nice- did you hard wire and mount the panel or do a temporary job for the winter?
The panel is just placed next to the driver side (south) next to the propane door, duck tape, on a piece of plywood. I have ordered a panel bracket for mounting on the ground on a plywood base, just under the storage compartment. The wire goes in through the bottom of the propane compartment, hole drilled through to the front battery compartment. The wires connect to the battery with eye connectors, then tail to the removable plug. Charge controller is screwed to the compartment wall.
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Old 12-10-2015, 05:40 PM   #6
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Be careful with that duct tape on the painted door surface. With the sun beating down on it for any length of time, the adhesive will yellow the paint on the door and you're going to have a permanent stain that you won't be able to buff out and without a complete paint job, you won't be able to remove.
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Old 12-11-2015, 02:02 PM   #7
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Tape

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Be careful with that duct tape on the painted door surface. With the sun beating down on it for any length of time, the adhesive will yellow the paint on the door and you're going to have a permanent stain that you won't be able to buff out and without a complete paint job, you won't be able to remove.
Thanks for that. Should only be a few days and the bracket for the panel will be here. Appreciate the tip.
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Old 12-14-2015, 07:53 AM   #8
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Curious as to what bracket you ordered for the panel?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
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Old 12-14-2015, 02:28 PM   #9
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Bracket

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Curious as to what bracket you ordered for the panel?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
I'll post a pic when it arrives and I get it installed, it's simply two pieces for the ends. It's supposed to arrive tomorrow.
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Old 12-14-2015, 04:55 PM   #10
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jje 1960, Howdy;

Notice you mentioned you have an AGM battery. Here's some supplemental
info in case you may not have been aware.
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/a..._glass_mat_agm

hankaye
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Old 12-15-2015, 02:04 PM   #11
jje1960
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Agm

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jje 1960, Howdy;

Notice you mentioned you have an AGM battery. Here's some supplemental
info in case you may not have been aware.
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/a..._glass_mat_agm

hankaye
Thanks for the link, much the same 'all over the map' as I researched before moving to AGM. I really love not having to worry about checking the water level.
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Old 12-20-2015, 10:15 AM   #12
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Bracket Arrived

Works nicely. With it slid just under the trailer, the sun hits it enough in the afternoon for green light to show topped battery.
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