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04-24-2014, 04:04 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 31
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Inverter and solar install on Sprinter 320
Hey all. Just a few words and a couple pics of the new addition to the TT. On the roof I have a 160 watt go power panel and 2 Renogy 100 watt panels routed down the fridge roof vent to the charge controller. beside that is the remote for the Go Power 1500 watt high surge inverter. both mounted above the fridge. Inverter is mounted beneath a bench in the front bunk house. Closest location to the two new 6 volt interstate batteries on the tongue. I used 1 gauge welders cable from Princess Auto for the inverter, and 6 gauge welders cable for the charge controller. I also have an auto transfer switch mounted inside a concealed space and forgot to take a pic.
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04-24-2014, 04:18 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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How'd you run the wire from the fridge space to the batteries? Solar is my next big upgrade and I'm trying to think of a clean way to run the wires.
__________________
-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD
2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew F X4 5.4L w/Max Tow
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04-24-2014, 05:33 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 31
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The wires from the panels come into the trailer thru the fridge roof vent, easiest place. theres a void space above my fridge so it worked great for my install. my old trailer wasnt as easy. had to fish up in between two wall panels and install controller in the middle of a wall.
as you can see in the first pic, the overhead cabinet, microwave and fridge are all side by side. i pulled the microwave and drilled holes to run two 6 gauge cables, inverter remote wire and 20 amp 12 gauge house hold wire.
after the over head cabinet is the door and i purchased a wire track from lowes to conceal the wiring until it goes into the front door closet. i didnt conceal the 6 gauge wires inside the closet, just tied them down. they go down thru the shelf and into the wall.
on the other side of the wall is a bench for the bunkroom table. i built a wooden box to conceal the wires from bench to bench. thats where the inverter is. i used distribution blocks to tie the 6 gauge wires to the 1 gauge wires coming from the batteries.
here is a good link for a generic panel install
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04-26-2014, 09:53 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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Thanks for the details. That gives me some ideas on how to route the wires internally.
__________________
-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD
2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew F X4 5.4L w/Max Tow
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07-29-2014, 11:02 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 22
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Looks GOOD. I'm in the same boat. Looking at putting up solar on my Outback 298RE.
Did you try to use the trusses when tying down the panels? I am going to try and get info on my steel truss system from OUTBACK. With my crowned roof I options of setups.
Mount three across, level with the crown to find more sun over the course of the day.
Mount the two outside ones with taller mounting brackets to keep all three level.
Or mount the outside ones so I can tilt them toward the sun. So many questions and choices to make. jimmy77
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07-30-2014, 03:03 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Oakfield NY
Posts: 229
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Very. Nice. What do you think yhe cost was. I see a mod sticky coming
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08-03-2014, 01:19 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmy77
Looks GOOD. I'm in the same boat. Looking at putting up solar on my Outback 298RE.
Did you try to use the trusses when tying down the panels? I am going to try and get info on my steel truss system from OUTBACK. With my crowned roof I options of setups.
Mount three across, level with the crown to find more sun over the course of the day.
Mount the two outside ones with taller mounting brackets to keep all three level.
Or mount the outside ones so I can tilt them toward the sun. So many questions and choices to make. jimmy77
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I just screwed them right to the plywood roof. Just use some wood screws with a large thread to get a good bite into the wood. Also don't be cheap on the Dicor. I wouldn't suggest mounting the panels level to the trailer. You should keep them at a slight slope to allow for water run off when it rains. The 5 months of the year we get to use the trailer here in canada, the sun is so far north I'm not worried about sun exposure with being mounted right to the roof. You would be better off to go with tilt mounts if you truly want maximum sun exposure, or a suitcase panel you can position anywhere.
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08-03-2014, 01:25 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmy77
Looks GOOD. I'm in the same boat. Looking at putting up solar on my Outback 298RE.
Did you try to use the trusses when tying down the panels? I am going to try and get info on my steel truss system from OUTBACK. With my crowned roof I options of setups.
Mount three across, level with the crown to find more sun over the course of the day.
Mount the two outside ones with taller mounting brackets to keep all three level.
Or mount the outside ones so I can tilt them toward the sun. So many questions and choices to make. jimmy77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robo
Very. Nice. What do you think yhe cost was. I see a mod sticky coming
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for all 3 panels, approx $1500 total
inverter was $550
wiring $250-300 (dont cheap out here)
new 6 volt interstate batteries $400
transfer switch $75
fuse block$75
plus an addition $400-500 in mis parts. (wire molding to conceal, monitors/switches, etc)
not a cheap mod part worth it in the long run if you plan to do boondocking. I have also done a 5 gallon expansion tank since doing the inverter system that i highly recommend
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08-04-2014, 11:23 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Upland, CA
Posts: 425
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I'm in the planning stage for my own as well. I will be drilling a hole through the roof into the cabinet area where the electrical is located. I plan on mounting a flush mount receptacle on the roof for the panels. Of course this will all be Dicor sealed. When I get to that point I will have a series of pictures.
__________________
2015 Four Winds Super C, Class C Motorhome
4 - 100w mono solar panels with MPPT40 to charge four 6v batteries with 440amp hours.
Progressive Industries HW50c surge protector
1800 / 3600 inverter with auto transfer switch,
The bosses: My wife and two Labradoddles 80 lbs each
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