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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Boondocking, Solar Power, and Related Items -> Solar panel wiring question
Post Info TOPIC: Solar panel wiring question
Chuck1947


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Solar panel wiring question
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I have a small cargo van conversion and am wanting to install two solar panels on the roof. I'm okay with mounting the panels, etc. What I'm worried about is the excess wire under the panels, once hooked up seems to be unavoidable. I will be hooking the panels up in series but am concerned about the excess wire getting buffeted about by the wind while in transit I hope this makes sense. Looking forward to your response(s).



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Charles Cunningham
LarryW21


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Tape the wire down. Eternabond.

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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.
Chuck1947


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so do you try to reach up under the panel and start taping as close as you can get to the black box> Thanks



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Charles Cunningham
LarryW21


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Yes, but you need to use a roller on the tape too.

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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.
Chuck1947


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Thanks Larry. After kicking it around.... I was going to go with two panels on the roof and two moveable on the ground butttt am thinking more and more of just going with 4 moveable panels on the ground. The big drawback to this  is that I won't be able to use solar while in transit but I think I'll be okay as all I want to run while in transit is my freezer that draws only .5 amps and with 4- 6v batteries I should be okay for quite a while just on battery power. I hope, I'm a rookie here so just guessing. Anyway I'll keep you posted and let you know. Thanks again.

Pros:

Can place panels in sun and maybe still park in shade.

Set up time shouldn't be too long. About 10 minutes or so.

Panels stored in safe place so no danger or damage, ripping off,

   flying debris, etc.

 

Cons:

No solar while in transit

You have to set up at each location if you want solar.

 

 



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Charles Cunningham
Sushidog


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With panels on the ground, if you leave the campsite you must secure them so they are not stolen, so no power can be generated while you've gone shopping or visiting local attractions. Then you must consider the time and effort to put them out and pick them up each time you leave the campsite for whatever reason, not just to break and set-up camp.

Another option is vertically mounting the panels, like Panda Monium's set-up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wojvrgTbbDM When you stop they can be raised to the correct angle and act as shade, leaving most of your camper in the shade. Plus you don't have to hook them up, put them out or take them down all the time, and they will still produce some power when going down the road.

Chip



-- Edited by Sushidog on Tuesday 10th of July 2018 04:13:11 PM



-- Edited by Sushidog on Tuesday 10th of July 2018 04:14:39 PM

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LarryW21


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Like Sushi, I believe in roof mounted panels for charging on the road (I leave campsites early) and so there’s no setup/takedown or theft issue. To each his own, Chuck!

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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.
Chuck1947


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Thanks Sushi, real good advice. I forgot about securing them every time I leave to go somewhere. It looks like with all panels on the ground that it could become a real PIA. 



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Charles Cunningham
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