200 watt solar install on 2011 Roadtrek SS Agile

[GaryG-ClassB]

Just completed my install, here are the details.

I used this Eco Worthy kit: Amazon.com

And this wire pass-through gland: Amazon.com: Link Solar Weatherproof ABS Solar Double Cable Entry Gland for All Cable Types 2mm² to 6mm² for Solar Project on Rv, Campervan, Boat : Patio, Lawn & Garden

All wiring connections are soldered.

Under the hood: I attached to a positive battery cable block and grounded to the body. I added a 20 amp fuse to the positive cable and also made a warning label about disconnecting the panels before battery service (These labels should be included in all solar kits, in my opinion).

On the roof: I felt 2 holes per mounting bracket was overkill, so I drilled a center hole in each bracket at attached with Extreme Outdoor M3 mounting tape, one self tapping screw and sealed with silicone. The wiring gland is attached with a combination of 3M mounting tape and Flex Glue. Roof hole has a rubber grommet. I added an extra wire I drilled a hole for in the gland for a temperature sensor for a digital thermometer. Panel wires pass into the overhead storage and into the side front of the breaker cabinet along with the battery wires.

Tip: A teeny tiny bit of silicone grease on the o-rings for the panel wiring connectors will ensure smooth connecting/disconnecting, protect the o-rings and ensure a great seal.

Breaker cabinet: I attached the solar controller to the breaker panel using industrial Velcro. I added a simple household wall switch as a shutoff for the positive solar panel cable and attached the same warning label that is under the hood.

Things I would do differently: 1. Due to ridges in the roof, I was unable to properly route the cables on one of the panels and had to remove it and remount it, so make sure those cables are where you want them before attaching the panels! 2. I would route and pull taught all of the cables BEFORE attaching the pass through gland. This caused me problems as a loop occurred with the negative cable and ripped off the rubber grommet on the hole in the roof. I had to remove the gland, clean off the old tape and glue.....and it started to rain. Thankfully Flex Glue works in the rain!

 

[GeorgeRad]

Nice install. PV panel shading could dramatically reduce PV cells performance; even partial shading of a panel can null its performance. So, pay attention to park so your AC will not shade your panels. Drawing shows my analysis of where to place my panels vs the vent; I opted for rear vent and front 3 100W panels.

 

[booster]

Nice install. PV panel shading could dramatically reduce PV cells performance; even partial shading of a panel can null its performance. So, pay attention to park so your AC will not shade your panels. Drawing shows my analysis of where to place my panels vs the vent; I opted for rear vent and front 3 100W panels.

Yes, absolutely true, but there is one thing missing, IMO.
If the panels are in series, in your case 3 panels for nominal 36v, any shading on any panel (unless they are split ones into two 12v parallel panels) will affect all the panels output. If they are parallel wired you will have 3 zones that are independent of each other on output, or if they are split you would have 6 zones independent. Series has a lot of benefits do to lower current and voltage drop, but shade can kill off any good benefit. Shade is a real killer for solar, so a real concern.

 

[GeorgeRad]

Yes, absolutely true, but there is one thing missing, IMO.
If the panels are in series, in your case 3 panels for nominal 36v, any shading on any panel (unless they are split ones into two 12v parallel panels) will affect all the panels output. If they are parallel wired you will have 3 zones that are independent of each other on output, or if they are split you would have 6 zones independent. Series has a lot of benefits do to lower current and voltage drop, but shade can kill off any good benefit. Shade is a real killer for solar, so a real concern.

I wired them in parallel, to increase their outputs on partially shaded campsites.

 

[GaryG-ClassB]

Nice install. PV panel shading could dramatically reduce PV cells performance; even partial shading of a panel can null its performance. So, pay attention to park so your AC will not shade your panels. Drawing shows my analysis of where to place my panels vs the vent; I opted for rear vent and front 3 100W panels.

Yeah. I know about the shade. Not much that can be done about it with all the stuff on the top of Roadtreks without making it much more than the $250 the project cost. I did move the rear panel back as far from the AC unit as I was comfortable with.

 

[GeorgeRad]

Yeah. I know about the shade. Not much that can be done about it with all the stuff on the top of Roadtreks without making it much more than the $250 the project cost. I did move the rear panel back as far from the AC unit as I was comfortable with.

Increasing panels mounting height could reduce AC/Fan shading but increasing mounts height can be difficult.

Good flow of cooling air under panels will increase their efficiency (look for PV cell temperature vs efficiency), lack of cooling of flex PV panels attached directly to a roof is a good example of this problem.

 

[GeorgeRad]

See my example of PV panels height.

 

[otr]

That looks really nice. I did a similar on our 2019 Simplicity, one thing I added were zip ties to the wires along the mounting rails so the wires would not blow in the wind between the rail and the gland.