Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Technical Corner
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-14-2023, 11:31 AM   #1
cbrenza
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 6
Question Solar Panel on my roof not hooked up?

I just bought my 2018 Cougar a couple of weeks ago. Seller said there was a 100 watt solar panel on the roof that isn't hooked up, I though surely he was wrong. After more investigation, that is exactly correct. Was this done at the factory? The panel and controller are hooked together, but there is no wire to the battery. Has anyone else experienced this? There is a 2 prong Furrion solar hookup on the side connected to the battery. Is there anyway to run a cables from my roof to my battery? At this point it seems like I will just remove it from the roof and use it on the ground once I build a connector to my port.
It just doesn't make any sense. Thanks in advance for your help.
cbrenza is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2023, 12:14 PM   #2
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
Welcc CC one to the forum

If the panel is wired to the controller, it would be real easy to run the wires to the battery and not worry about covering holes in the roof.
__________________

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.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2023, 02:57 PM   #3
NH_Bulldog
Senior Member
 
NH_Bulldog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Henniker
Posts: 2,014
I don’t recall solar being a factory option on the 2018 model year, so it may be an add-on that was never completed? The factory installs include wiring through a dedicated roof penetration down to the pass-through then to the controller, mounted to the wall of the passthrough which is then wired direct to the battery.

Mine came “solar ready” which has that two prong Furion plug on the front and is wired to the battery. I think 100 watts is only barely/minimally capable of keeping batteries charged and not much else. I have looked at some 200w and 300w suitcase (portable folding) panels with built-in charge controller that I could simply plug into that port without dealing with the roof. But then again, I have a quiet inverter generator and don’t feel inspired to go solar just yet.
__________________
Rob & Amy
2019 Passport 240BH SL (current)
2024 Cougar 29BHL (on order, due early May)
2022 Ford F250 7.3L Godzilla Crew Cab 4x4
NH_Bulldog is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2023, 02:59 PM   #4
cbrenza
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 6
But the controller is also on the roof next to the panel.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_2089.jpg
Views:	265
Size:	271.0 KB
ID:	42931  
cbrenza is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2023, 03:02 PM   #5
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
I don’t think that’s factory. I’ve always seen the charge controller located somewhere inside the RV.
__________________

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.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2023, 03:10 PM   #6
NH_Bulldog
Senior Member
 
NH_Bulldog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Henniker
Posts: 2,014
If you look at at the amount of sealant around the other roof penetrations and then the bare bolts holding the panel frame to the roof, I would say that is not likely a factory install. Those folks get paid by the gallon of Dicor used and there is none on the install. While you are up there you might want to look into correcting that.

Did you buy from the original owner? The seller said that there was a solar panel up there that wasn’t hooked up, but did he give any clue as to how it got there or why it wasn’t connected?
__________________
Rob & Amy
2019 Passport 240BH SL (current)
2024 Cougar 29BHL (on order, due early May)
2022 Ford F250 7.3L Godzilla Crew Cab 4x4
NH_Bulldog is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2023, 06:50 PM   #7
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,839
The 2018 Cougar line (fifth wheel, half ton fifth wheel and travel trailer) did not have a solar package as a standard feature or as an optional feature. The photo posted is not a "factory installation". You can download the Cougar 2018 western brochure here: https://keystone-rv-dealer-app.cdn.p...chure-2018.pdf

And the 2018 eastern brochure here: https://keystone-rv-dealer-app.cdn.p...chure-2018.pdf

Neither of those brochures addresses any "solar system"....

I'd guess that "someone, somewhere, sometime in the past" started a solar package and either took the rest with them when they sold the trailer or never finished the installation.

ADDED: OP, your profile indicates you own a 2018 Cougar XLite 26RLS. I believe that Keystone stopped building the XLite line in 2017. Please check the Weight/VIN decal located on the roadside front corner of your trailer. It will indicate the "Date of Manufacture". I'd suspect that your trailer was built in 2017 (my guess) and may have been "titled and licensed as a 2018" when it was sold. I don't think that will make a lot of difference, but I am sure that NO (none, nada) Cougar XLite models were produced with any solar package. So what's on your roof is even further from a "factory install"..
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2023, 11:36 PM   #8
fjr vfr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Mechanicsville
Posts: 472
It looks like someone started to install solar and at that point realized how ignorant they were about solar and gave up. There is no wat the charge controller should be in a box on the roof. It's a cheap controller and I'd trash it right off the bat and start from scratch. That is after doing enough research in order to have a clue as to what I was doing.
fjr vfr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 05:37 AM   #9
Canonman
Senior Member
 
Canonman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,221
Your Cougar may be "prewired" for solar. Ours was. Look for an external connection usually on the front or street side of the cargo area. This method was used before the manufacturers started installing the complete solar packages on the roof. Idea was an easy installation for the portable suitcase units made by Zamp or Renogy etc.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	_MGL6263.jpg
Views:	154
Size:	431.5 KB
ID:	42934  
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
Canonman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 06:38 AM   #10
jxnbbl
Senior Member
 
jxnbbl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: jackson
Posts: 1,109
I guess technically you could run a wire from that solar connector to the plug that you mentioned and it "should work".
__________________
JXNBBL (Jay)
Jackson, NH
2021 Keystone 330BHS
2023 Ram 3500 6.7L diesel, 3.73 ratio
jxnbbl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 07:01 AM   #11
cbrenza
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 6
No. he wasn't the original owner. I didn't plan to remove the bracket that is attached to the roof, just the panel, I will seal the top of those bolts.
cbrenza is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 07:03 AM   #12
cbrenza
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 6
Yes, thank you, I do have a Furrion solar port.
cbrenza is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 07:26 AM   #13
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
If you use the side port, check the continuity, zamp and Furrion use different plugs IIRC.
__________________

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.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 11:46 AM   #14
jxnbbl
Senior Member
 
jxnbbl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: jackson
Posts: 1,109
Chuckster makes a good point. I had downloaded the pic of your setup and just got a chance to look at it. Here is a link to what I think is the supplier:

https://hqsolarpower.com/products/charge-controllers/

More important there are 2 cables going to that charge controller from the panel...I would expect 1 if it is "not hooked up". Are both of those cables coming from the panel itself? Or is one actually going down into the roof to ???
__________________
JXNBBL (Jay)
Jackson, NH
2021 Keystone 330BHS
2023 Ram 3500 6.7L diesel, 3.73 ratio
jxnbbl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 12:34 PM   #15
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
I sure hope it’s the positive and negative leads from the panel going to the controller.
__________________

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.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 02:48 PM   #16
jxnbbl
Senior Member
 
jxnbbl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: jackson
Posts: 1,109
My point is that on my panels, each panel has one cord not much more that 18/2 lamp cord that goes to the roof cap, then combined to the cable that goes to the controller with thicker gauge wiring.


The pic show 2 connections to the controller. But the cable looks thick enough to have 2 connectors each, thus +/- in and +/- out. If out where does that go, if both are in then they are individual connectors.
__________________
JXNBBL (Jay)
Jackson, NH
2021 Keystone 330BHS
2023 Ram 3500 6.7L diesel, 3.73 ratio
jxnbbl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 02:49 PM   #17
jxnbbl
Senior Member
 
jxnbbl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: jackson
Posts: 1,109
used connectors where I meant conductors.
__________________
JXNBBL (Jay)
Jackson, NH
2021 Keystone 330BHS
2023 Ram 3500 6.7L diesel, 3.73 ratio
jxnbbl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 03:05 PM   #18
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
Each panel will have 2 conductors, most I have seen are two separate single wires. Multiple panels will be joined by Y connectors.

What brand has “lamp cord” wires?
__________________

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.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2023, 04:06 PM   #19
jxnbbl
Senior Member
 
jxnbbl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: jackson
Posts: 1,109
Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57 View Post
Each panel will have 2 conductors, most I have seen are two separate single wires. Multiple panels will be joined by Y connectors.

What brand has “lamp cord” wires?

I have 3 zamp 170W panels on the roof. Each has about 6-8 ft of "2 conductor lampwire" that connect to the roof cap. In my case, I had a 2 port roof cap so used a Y connector to join to one of the ports.
__________________
JXNBBL (Jay)
Jackson, NH
2021 Keystone 330BHS
2023 Ram 3500 6.7L diesel, 3.73 ratio
jxnbbl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2023, 10:21 AM   #20
cbrenza
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by jxnbbl View Post
Chuckster makes a good point. I had downloaded the pic of your setup and just got a chance to look at it. Here is a link to what I think is the supplier:

https://hqsolarpower.com/products/charge-controllers/

More important there are 2 cables going to that charge controller from the panel...I would expect 1 if it is "not hooked up". Are both of those cables coming from the panel itself? Or is one actually going down into the roof to ???
No cables are going through the roof, the panel is just hooked up to the controller.
cbrenza is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
roof, solar

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.