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  • Post in thread: What is a charge controller with a "positive ground"?

    I did a bit more reading and agree that we should just return it. We can just get the negative ground unit and no worries. I don't need to complicate this project. Thanks.
  • Post in thread: Grounding Check

    The manual also says " ● The plus and minus of the PV array should not be grounded. Ground the frame of the PV panels to reduce the impact of lightning." As I understood the manuals description, they are referring to not grounding the positive wires coming from the PV array and not the frame of...
  • Post in thread: Combining solar panels with a busbar - Advice needed

    We have 800 watts of panels, the smaller box is not rated for that many watts. Thanks for the link. I will check this out. I'm not really excited about the Eco-Worthy 6-string combiner box. Our friends ordered it for us without our input. I'd rather build our own. One question - we have 15...
  • Post in thread: What is a charge controller with a "positive ground"?

    I went ahead and returned the positive ground solar charge controller and bought a Vectron. Thanks for everyone's input.
  • Post in thread: Solar Install on a 2014 Travel Trailer- Feeling Stressed and Unsure

    We are looking at the different options. But no, we will not be using z-brackets. We want to be able to easily remove or lift the panels for cleaning and roof maintenance.
  • Post in thread: Combining solar panels with a busbar - Advice needed

    Thanks. We checked this out and liked it but cannot get the parts until November. :/ A local friend just found this combiner box and circut breakers for RV solar. It looks like it will be easier than DIY. Fingers crossed...
  • Post in thread: Please check our final plans... travel trailer

    That makes sense. How the Renogy is grounded is determined based on whether or not you have a postive or negative grounded system. Any idea how I find out which I have? The MC4 connectors are wired with 10 gauge. The 8 guage (which I already own) is coming off the busbar that combines the...
  • Post in thread: Combining solar panels with a busbar - Advice needed

    Yes, our problem was finding the correct parts. Nothing local and we were not finding the right size busbars for our setup on Amazon. I hope the ready made combiner box our friend found will work out.
  • Post in thread: What is a charge controller with a "positive ground"?

    I think you all are talking about exactly what I need to understand for my travel trailers solar install. I have a Renogy solar charge controller and am confused about the grounding as well. Can I share here what I have going on and get some advice? Or do I need to post my own question?
  • Post in thread: Grounding Check

    I have never had anyone call our plans a "small system" before. We've been told that we are on the low end of large for an RV. #1 I will move the ground wire to the other side of the battery monitor shunt. Thanks. #3 my yellow wire - in not a ground wire. it's the wire for the 30 amp...
  • Post in thread: What is a charge controller with a "positive ground"?

    We bought a positive ground solar charge controller by mistake. Honestly, I did not even know there was different types of grounding. Before returning it, I thought we'd see if it's something we can use. We are adding solar to our travel trailer. When finished the solar will be connected to...
  • Post in thread: Solar Install on a 2014 Travel Trailer- Feeling Stressed and Unsure

    Could you tell me what I've got wrong?
  • Post in thread: Solar Install on a 2014 Travel Trailer- Feeling Stressed and Unsure

    Hmmm... I will do some more reading. I must have misunderstood the daisy chain style (connecting in series). LoL! My friend who's studying electrical engineering didn't catch this. Thanks.
  • Post in thread: Combining solar panels with a busbar - Advice needed

    We're serious newbies working on putting solar on our travel trailer and need some guidance. Right now we are trying to connect our eight 100w solar panels together. They are set up 2 together in series Each series has a 15amp in-line fuse on the positive wire Then the 4 sets are going to be...
  • Post in thread: Solar Install on a 2014 Travel Trailer- Feeling Stressed and Unsure

    Thanks to anyone who can answer our questions and help us know that we are on the right track. We're planning (and purchasing) the components to put 800 watts of solar on our travel trailer for boondocking. We are using Will's the "king of the road" product suggestions for much of it. We have...
  • Post in thread: Safety and Accuracy Check Please

    So we decided to go a different direction and build a kind of solar generator and just plug our travel trailers shore line into it instead of connecting the solar to the RV's electrical system. It's not a permanent plan, but should get us by until we learn more about connecting to the RV. Can...
  • Post in thread: Grounding Check

    I want to make sure we get the grounding correct on our travel trailer solar system. We have decided to go a different direction and build a kind of solar generator mounted inside the dinette bench and just plug our RV's shore power cored into it. I've read the product manuals and here's what...
  • Post in thread: Combining solar panels with a busbar - Advice needed

    Our setup is too large for the cheaper unit.
  • Post in thread: Combining solar panels with a busbar - Advice needed

    Time to move but wthe panels are not connected to anything yet. We are going to keep looking at these options, but right now it's time to get outta Dodge. Temperatures are dropping here in Iowa and we need to move on. We'll be traveling for about a week. Our panels are installed on the roof...
  • Post in thread: Solar Charge Controller Sizing Help Please

    I've read so much my head is spinning and I'm still not completely sure what size solar charge controller to buy. We have 8- 100 watt panels, each panel has VMP (volts) of 20.6 & IMP (amps) of 4.85. We are wiring them in sets of 2, in series, which brings the VMP to 41.2 and the IMP to 4.85...
  • Post in thread: Combining solar panels with a busbar - Advice needed

    I will pick up some more dust caps and break the series before we go. Thanks
  • Post in thread: Please check our final plans... travel trailer

    Thanks for pointing that out. I could read it, but I also know what it says. LOL Is it possible to remove this thread? I could type this all out and then repost.
  • Post in thread: Combining solar panels with a busbar - Advice needed

    Should I get these grounded before we leave too?
  • Post in thread: Solar Charge Controller Sizing Help Please

    Thanks for the suggestion. We decided to go ahead with the 80amp. It's quite large, but has excellent reviews.
  • Post in thread: Please check our final plans... travel trailer

    We appreciate all the help we've had here and have learned much. We have our plans all laid out now and the panels are already installed on the roof. We think we finally got this figured out, so please chime in yes or no. If you see something wrong please elaborate. We'll take any...
  • Post in thread: Solar Charge Controller Sizing Help Please

    We found two options I think might work. Any thoughts on these? Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150/60-MC4 Solar Charge Controller 150V 60A with Bluetooth Or the Outback Flexmax 80 FM80 MPPT 80 AMP Solar Charge Controller I'm leaning toward the Victron. I like the ability to monitor it with the...
  • Post in thread: Please check our final plans... travel trailer

    So I've spent this time typing up my plans and discovered I was missing a lot. I've spent many more hours reading back thru my manuals and other sources. I've updated wire and fuse sizes accordingly. I also realized that I still had some questions. I've typed questions directly in the PDF...
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