Wiring A Solar Panel To A Motorhome

Getting started with rv solar before we start it s important to note that the specifics of your setup will depend on your rig and solar kit what type of panels you have flexible rigid etc your roof size and type flat curved fiberglass rubber etc whether you have an rv or a trailer where your battery bank is located etc.

Wiring a solar panel to a motorhome.

Solar calculator for rv or camper van conversions. This is easily done using sunworks pvc solar panel mounts. To lead the cable securely through the roof of your motorhome use a sunworks roof cable gland. Here s how i wired my solar panels for rv boondocking why i chose 10 gauge romex wiring.

Wiring rv solar panels in parallel. Be sure to consult the instructions provided with any. Product list and cost of components. Pretty simple so far as we have basically just brought the power produced by the rooftop mounted solar panels inside the rv.

This prewired for solar rv included the installed charge controller but it did not have any solar panels installed from the factory. We ve connected the solar panels to the combiner box ran wire inside the rv to the location we are going to mount the solar charge controller and installed a solar panel disconnect switch. Put in the control box. This creates a 12 volt 200 watt combination.

In some of the newer instances that use this form of wiring the charge controller is already present the only piece that needs to be added is the solar panels themselves. Diy wiring diagrams for 100w 200w 300w 400w 600w 800w kits. In my last article i explained how i came about acquiring a 250w solar panel for the motorhome. For my installation of rv solar panels 10 gauge household romex wiring was chosen for a few reasons.

That means the 10 gauge wire works as if i had used 8 gauge automotive. Wiring your solar panels in parallel increases the amperage while keeping the voltage the same. That means if you wire panels with different wattages the overall outcome won t be affected. Assemble the braces and frames then install the panels.

After a year of trepidation i had considered many times having the panel installed by a professional but the prices quoted were very high. Do the same with the second set of 2 solar panels so you have 2 separate 12 volt 200 watt solar panel arrays. Place the batteries and connect them to the control box. You must allow a small gap underneath the solar panel to allow air to circulate.

Disconnect the rv batteries and measure the roof. Motorhome solar panel installation not as difficult as you might think. Solar panels in parallel arrays. In my case with four 100 watt solar panels to work with the solution was to connect 2 solar panels together in a parallel configuration.

Solid wire passes electricity at a capacity 1 size greater than stranded wire. So if you wire together a 100 watt solar panel and a 175 watt solar panel in parallel you ll get a total of 275 watts.