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06-07-2017, 04:23 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Murphys
Posts: 60
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Roof mount Solar
When installing a roof mount system on a RV, do you try and secure the mount brackets into studs, or just thru the roof sheeting? The Renogy panels my son in law bought, came with some 2 1/2" wood screws, I'm thinking those are way too long if you arent hitting studs. Somewhere here, I think IO read they use particle board, but its more likely to be OSB or plywood, right?
Thanks for any help!
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06-07-2017, 05:36 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Short wood screws work best. 1 1/2" is good enough. Get a tube of Dicor self leveling.
Set the panel where it's going to be. Put one screw in one bracket about 1/2 way in. Repeat for all brackets. Now starting at any bracket take out the screw and squeeze a good dose of Dicor over the hole and where the other screw will go. Now install both screws secure.
Repeat this process for each bracket. Once done go back with the Dicor and completely cover the brackets. This is how we do it and haven't had a single comeback for a leak.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-07-2017, 06:38 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Murphys
Posts: 60
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So. 1 1/2" screws, and any where on the roof?
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06-07-2017, 06:47 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Yup! If the refer isn't on a slide, we love to run the leads from the panel down through that opening. We drill through the side of the vent base so we don't disturb the screen and then just seal it with silicone.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-07-2017, 09:46 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Murphys
Posts: 60
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Quote:
Yup! If the refer isn't on a slide, we love to run the leads from the panel down through that opening. We drill through the side of the vent base so we don't disturb the screen and then just seal it with silicone.
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Oh...that's money right there.
Thank You Sir!
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06-13-2017, 08:31 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 152
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
Yup! If the refer isn't on a slide, we love to run the leads from the panel down through that opening. We drill through the side of the vent base so we don't disturb the screen and then just seal it with silicone.
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After you run the leads down the refer vent, do you then drill a hole to get into the under belly to route the leads up to the battery compartment? That is where I plan to mount my controller.
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy Edition, Full Body Paint, Onan 5.5Kw
2019 Ford F450 PSD
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06-13-2017, 06:49 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Wittmann, AZ
Posts: 36
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How about if the fridge is on a slide? Where is your next "go to" spot? This is my next project as well.
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06-13-2017, 10:46 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rickhz
How about if the fridge is on a slide? Where is your next "go to" spot? This is my next project as well.
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I recently had a solar panel installed on my Fuzion 342 which has the fridge in the slide. We ran the wires down one of the tank vents.
__________________
2013 Fuzion 342
2015 Dodge Ram 3500
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06-14-2017, 04:57 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruko
I recently had a solar panel installed on my Fuzion 342 which has the fridge in the slide. We ran the wires down one of the tank vents.
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That's one option if there is room. We try that first and if there isn't we use a plate designed for the roof and drill a hole from the inside after pulling a wall panel.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-19-2017, 07:29 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 152
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My fridge is in the slide. Can you elaborate a little more on the plate designed for the roof? Got a link to purchase it?
What about using a tank vent; how do you get the wires out of the vent pipe at the bottom? Not sure I understand this.
Thanks
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy Edition, Full Body Paint, Onan 5.5Kw
2019 Ford F450 PSD
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06-19-2017, 05:19 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scottz
My fridge is in the slide. Can you elaborate a little more on the plate designed for the roof? Got a link to purchase it?
What about using a tank vent; how do you get the wires out of the vent pipe at the bottom? Not sure I understand this.
Thanks
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Tried to get a pic of the plate posted, will do in the AM.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-19-2017, 10:54 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 59
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The vents just allow air to escape and enter the tanks when the water level changes so there is no liquid in the vents just air. We gained access to the tube in the basement well above the tank. Drilled a hole in it and fished the cables out with some wire. Then siliconed around the cables and then wrapped it all in duct tape to secure the cables in place.
__________________
2013 Fuzion 342
2015 Dodge Ram 3500
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06-20-2017, 06:30 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 152
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruko
The vents just allow air to escape and enter the tanks when the water level changes so there is no liquid in the vents just air. We gained access to the tube in the basement well above the tank. Drilled a hole in it and fished the cables out with some wire. Then siliconed around the cables and then wrapped it all in duct tape to secure the cables in place.
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That is what I figured; thanks.
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy Edition, Full Body Paint, Onan 5.5Kw
2019 Ford F450 PSD
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06-21-2017, 10:06 AM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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Here is the plate we use. Comes in 2-5 cable capacity. We order through NTP/STAG, about $5.00.
NTP doesn't sell to general public.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-21-2017, 10:40 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 152
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Here is another option that has to be glued down; no screw holes. I think I like the Winegard better.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KV1PFS0...=20WCH34BQL5LH
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy Edition, Full Body Paint, Onan 5.5Kw
2019 Ford F450 PSD
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06-21-2017, 10:50 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 152
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__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy Edition, Full Body Paint, Onan 5.5Kw
2019 Ford F450 PSD
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06-21-2017, 11:48 AM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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We have used those too. I like them!
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-23-2017, 09:41 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Colorado Rockies
Posts: 152
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Ok, starting to plan my solar panel system installation. I purchased the Renogy 400W kit with the Adventurer controller.
I'm thinking of installing the controller in the cabinet above the InCommand control panel and tying into the DC system on the back of the Progressive Dynamics Power Control Center. I'll come through the roof directly into the wall behind this cabinet. This will save me the trouble of pulling wires to the front battery compartment; in any case, there is not enough cable in the kit to reach the battery compartment.
The only issue I see with this is not being able to use the connections from the controller to the batteries (AGM) for temperature and voltage sense. As I understand it, these are optional.
Anyone see any problems with this plan?
Thanks
__________________
Scott & Alta
2017 Montana 3160RL, Legacy Edition, Full Body Paint, Onan 5.5Kw
2019 Ford F450 PSD
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01-11-2018, 08:02 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Wandering the Country
Posts: 596
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Scott
It's been a couple months since your last post on this install. How did it go? What went well, what didn't, what would you do differently?
I'm planning to install the 300 watt Renogy setup, same system as yours but one panel less.
I've watched several youtube videos of various RV makes which show a lot of wires run through the roof. Did you "run into" anything as you screwed the panels to the roof?
Thanks for any info you can pass on.
Mike
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