Hi all,
Thank you for all your help so far in this wonderful forum. Here is the latest diagram that we have with wire lengths and ratings as well as fuse/breaker ratings included:
Wire Location
Max Length (ft)
Wire Gauge (AWG)
Fuse/Breaker Rating (Amp)
Solar Panels to Combiner Box
18.5
6...
Thank you all. We are getting back to this project again. We have been trying to find the thick wood support under the roof surface with a stud finder. It's kind of hard since the roof has some surface bumps (it's not locally super flat). Based on our markings on the roof, there are trusses...
@btmabt , we are planning to set up a 400W solar panel on an old RV we bought last summer. So these cells will be used inside of our RV.
Thank you @Steve_S . Yes, we have been also in touch with Amy on Alibaba. She has been super nice answering all our questions.
Hi all,
We have created our initial draft of our electrical wiring for our class C motorhome ( 1986 Ford E-350 V8 460 CI with a 1985 Vanguard Coach ). Here is how it looks like:
We are going to have the solar panels in a 2S2P config and the batteries will be just a 4S for a total of 12V.
We...
so for example this blue sea DC fuse box is rated at a Maximum 100 A pe block:
https://www.bluesea.com/products/5031/ST_Blade_Fuse_Block_-_12_Circuits_with_Negative_Bus
Would you install a 100 A fuse between the positive bus bar and the DC fuse block? or would you pick a smaller fuse? or a...
If a higher gauge wire fits in the terminals, is it ok to always go with the highest gauge possible? Let's say the expense is not the concern.
For example, let's say I need only an 8 AWG between the charge controller and battery bank, and I decide to use a 4/0 AWG wire. Is that bad?
Does...
Thank you all for your inputs. Based on your answers, we feel safe using only one roof entry hole for both.
On a related note, are there any other things we need to watch for when picking a place for the LTE/internet router inside the RV? Based on our research some devices like inverters...
Hi all,
We were wondering if it is accepted to use a common hole roof entry for both the:
LTE antenna cables ( Poynting MIMO-3-17 )
Solar panel cables ( combined cables of 4 x 100 W PV panels)
The hole is probably going to be going through our PV combiner box ( we have purchased a big box for...
Hi @HRTKD , thank you for all your helpful tips.
20 amp breaker between the solar panels and the MPPT sounds reasonable since under extreme conditions the 2S2P panel setup would only produce around 12.8 amp if short-circuited (I_sc).
50 amp breaker is also good between the MPPT and the bus bar...
Hi all,
What is the best option to combine Overkill Solar BMS wires for either C- or B- into 1 wire so it can be hooked up to Battery negative? I think each wire is 10 AWG.
Can we put a ring terminal on each end and connect to a piece of copper bar and have a wire coming from the battery...
Thank you @HRTKD for including a link to your write-up. It's a really great resource.
@Q-Dog, we also were completing about that idea and probably going to end up removing a vent when the weather is nicer.
When we step on the front side of the roof, it kind of feels like we are walking on a...
Hi all,
We have made a wooden electrical box that stores our batteries, MPPT charge controller, converter, bus bars, DC fuse box, and our inverter. We were wondering what would be the best option to create access to inverter outputs. Should we cut a rectangle hole at the height the inverter is...
Thank you @smoothJoey and @mikefitz for your comments.
You two are both right about the fuse rating for the fuse in between the (+) bus bar and the inverter. In our initial draft of the diagram, we had a bigger fuse size (Here is another thread regarding those choices). When we noticed that we...
Thank you so much @HRTKD. Opsie, sorry for the typo.
The PDF document that you shared has some really valid and important points:
Terminal Fuses must be used only with a Terminal Fuse Block.
There can be only one circuit connection to a Terminal Fuse.
The shank of the fiber washer must seat...
@Rocketman , we are thinking to use unistruts to mount the panels on. 2 rows of unistruts per string (1 string = 2 x panels), so 4 rows of unistruts in total.
And as @HRTKD , suggested, we might have the 2S2P config at the front with each series connection on either side of the vents.
What...
We also have a WiFi/LTE antenna that needs to go on the roof. So we were/are hoping to also run the wire cables from the antenna through the combiner box hole. Is it a good idea to run PV solar cables along with antenna cables in the same conduit/hole?
Thank you @HaldorEE . Yes, the inverter is...
Hi @Whinny , thanks.
Yes, the roof seems to have a coat of black substance (could be silicon paint). The stud finder would be useful to find those 2x2 lumbers under the aluminum. We haven't noticed any visible aluminum nails. The previous owner has taken the AC unit/vent out and has covered it...
Thank you. Yes, we have already ordered some short pre-cut din rails and one combiner box to mount on the RV roof. We will have the 20A CB in the combiner box on the roof closer to the solar panels (Is that a good idea?)
This is the combiner box:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07ZKR2377/
We...
Aren't we supposed to add those two numbers up if they are in a branched circuit? Since the battery needs to supply both those loads (150 + 30= 180 A)
Either way, do we need to multiply that number by 1.25 to get the fuse rating since those loads are continuous loads?
So in your example 180 x...
Hi all,
We are planning on buying 4 x 100 W 12 V Mono solar panels by renogy and put them into a 2S2P configuration. Where should we mount them on our motorhome's roof?
Here is a sketch of the roof with possible panel locations (panels are in white). The 3 big boxes on the roof are rough...
@TedH , did you take any photos of your setup/install? What type of vehicle did you use this setup for?
Also what type/material is your roof made of? Do you have a link to the rivet nuts you used?
Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone has/knows a source for high-quality thick gauge stranded copper wires (2 AWG - 4/0 AWG) in/around Vancouver, BC, Canada, or anywhere in Canada with fast shipping.
Something like a TEMCo brand with +105°C rating. Looks like TEMCo wires are not available on...
Hi all,
We have a class C 1986 Ford E-350 (Vanguard 1985) motorhome. We were wondering about the best fastener solution for strut channels and/or solar panel brackets to the roof. We are planning to install the panels on the front (the cab roof).
Would we just screw them to the roof (and...
Thank you all for your kind replies. Princess Auto is a good option although their inventory online shows most of the stores don't have the thicker gauge wires in stock in locations close to us.
RW90 would not work for us, since we are planning to use these cables for our solar/battery setup on...
Sorry, yes you are right. We were considering those numbers being both different load currents.
So, let's say we have a 12V 280Ah battery bank with
[charger] an MPPT charge that can max send 40A current to the battery
[load] an inverter that can only max use 200A (with a 200A fuse in between...