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koda57
07-02-2020, 09:25 PM
I have a 2020 Cougar RBSWE that is solar ready(wired but no panels or controller. I'm going to install 1, 170 watt panel. Has anyone attached panels to the roof. If so how did you do it. Did you secure them to roof panels or did you find the roof supports to screw them to.

KRumm
07-03-2020, 12:56 AM
Your roof has 4x8 sheets of 3/8 plywood covered with a rubber membrane... You will see where the sheets meet thru the membrane... There will be supports where the sheets meet and at two 16” intervals between sheets... I wouldn’t sweat getting screws into the supports - Worry more about placing the panel where AC/vents/TV antennas will not potentially shade the panel... Just use 3/4 stainless screws and cover with dicor to seal the whole z brace assembly... Also use dabs of dicor at 12” intervals to secure the wiring to the roof between the panel and the roof plug (do not add anymore dicor to the Zamp plug assembly)

A basic z bracket you will find on Amazon is fine... (comes with screws)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QH3XY7F/?coliid=I3R6M3CV2SYX0R&colid=JG8O0S10LBCM&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Also here is a generic UV protected plug/cable to connect the panel to the prewired rooftop Zamp receptacle

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GNNM3RZ/?coliid=I1M23OBG6ZBM4E&colid=JG8O0S10LBCM&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

You will need a couple MC4 connectors to put on the end of the above cables to attach to the panels - But check and confirm your final plug wiring polarity to the charge controller when attaching the male and female MC4s

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F6WJS9Z/ref=twister_B07S9QHWXN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Buy a MPPT charge controller - Not a cheap PWM

https://www.amazon.com/Victron-BlueSolar-MPPT-Charge-Controller/dp/B00U3MK0CI/ref=sr_1_7?crid=19Y3FW5BVJSB0&dchild=1&keywords=charge+controller+15+amp&qid=1593768424&sprefix=Charge+controller+15%2Caps%2C467&sr=8-7

Personally I would go with two 170w panels (panels are the cheapest component) and a Renogy charge controller with a Bluetooth dongle so you can monitor everything via a nice app on your phone...

[https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Solar-Charge-Controller-Compatible/dp/B07DNVW37B/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3UN5OTRUDJTK&dchild=1&keywords=renogy+charge+controller+30+amp&qid=1593766897&sprefix=renogy+cha%2Caps%2C1335&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzOTRYQzQwMENIUjZQJ mVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTEyNDU5MVFGRzZXWDRQRTdGMSZlbmN yeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzQyOTA1M05TT1kzODBWREdTRiZ3aWRnZ XROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05 vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Once your finished with the solar look into your “inverter prep” - you can easily drop in this transfer switch inverter... ;-)...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CL21FS/?coliid=I9UYH8UB04N64&colid=JG8O0S10LBCM&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

chuckster57
07-03-2020, 03:41 AM
We will seal the roof plate edges with Dicor self leveling, making sure the bead comes up and over the top. We don’t seal the wires, just tighten those plastic nuts to compress the rubber seal.

koda57
07-05-2020, 09:26 AM
Thank you very much for the input. When I called Keystone Cougar they didn't want to advise due liability. They finally answered, but didn't sound confident. Customer service(not a Service person) said to use a stud finder and mount to rafter. The rafters are narrower then the mounting bracket mounting holes. One mounting hole would hit the rafter the other would have to go into the 3/8' OSB(what type of screw). I'm also afraid of one of the mounting holes hitting one of the mounting screws that are holding the OSB to the rafters. I would just like to know what the factory does. For all I know they secure to the OSB panels. This is a new trailer under warranty and I just want to do it right way but Keystone isn't helping much.

chuckster57
07-05-2020, 09:33 AM
I would venture a guess that the factory just puts it in the general area called for with no regard to rafters.