Solar ready : Thor Chateau 2019 (22E)

[Bob Denman]

It sounds as if someone was sleepng on the hoc.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by Proto

Just installed one 190W panel on my chateau 22E that has the Go Power 10Amp charge controller. After making final connections, no current in spite of good sunlight. I disconnected and measured current directly from the panel and got reasonable numbers (21V 6A). Reconnected, measured current at the back of the controller ... zero! I ran some electrical wire from the back of the controller to the roof and found the negative wire is an open circuit! (positive is fine). Anybody had seen that before? It's basically a brand new unit. Am I missing something (like there is a fuse or a relay somewhere) or did this just get fucked when they built the unit?

You might want to check the MC4 connectors mounted on the roof. It is possible there is a bad crimp there.

[Proto]

Originally Posted by Judge

You might want to check the MC4 connectors mounted on the roof. It is possible there is a bad crimp there.

I did and they look fine. It's really looking like it's the wiring that's bad somewhere between the roof and the controller ...

[puppygeo]

Same situation here ... when we bought our Chateau V25, a Go Power GP-PWM-10-SQ was pre-installed with wiring to roof. Here's what I landed on for my solar upgrade ...

First upgrade:
Added 1 x 190w Go Power Solar Panel, Cost: $450
Upgraded wiring & decided to stay with the Go Power controller for now
Added 4 x VMAX 6v AGM, run parallel & serial, Cost: $1022
This gives me: 225ah at a cost of $1.14/ah

I've been VERY happy with this setup and we have not had any issues.

In September, I'll add an inverter and replace the PWM controller:
Xantrex 80A Freedom XC 2000w Inverter, Cost: $717
Xantrex Freedom X Bluetooth Remote Panel, Cost: $75
EPever 40A Tracer MPPT Controller, Cost: $75

[Bob Denman]

You've got a really great plan at the ready!
We'll want to see pictures of this project...

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Judge

cut...

My panels are wired in parallel because the GoPower controller is a PWM controller. If I install an MPPT controller, I could wire them in series and that would reduce the current through the wiring to the Controller... but again the 10AWG should support 30A.

Remember, and I think you might have said this a long time back, if one panel goes out, they both go out. Pick up two more panels, if you have the room, and wire 2 sets of two in series and join them at a combiner box in parallel and run that to the controller.

[mrgscooter]

By upgraded wiring, what exactly did you replace and with what size?

[Proto]

Originally Posted by mrgscooter

By upgraded wiring, what exactly did you replace and with what size?

same question here. And did you figure out what was wrong with the existing wiring?

[taylorbob1]

Minimum 10 gauge for two-100 watt panels

8 gauge if you are running four panels.

Remember...heat is your enemy

[MountainGaut]

Originally Posted by Judge

You might want to check the MC4 connectors mounted on the roof. It is possible there is a bad crimp there.

Thank's for the info ! Do you have any pictures of your roof installation ?

[taylorbob1]

Originally Posted by MountainGaut

Thank's for the info ! Do you have any pictures of your roof installation ?

Here’s mine if your interested, on a Vegas roof.
These are solid panels and drill-less mounts.
You can put a screw in thru them into roof if you want. I chose not to 10,000 miles and about 18 months ago.
Photo 1 from the rear, Photo 2 from the front

[MountainGaut]

Thanks for the pictures ! I'll go thru the precious post's for details on Brand and such.

[macdaddy1111]

Making power baby!! All five batteries always charged!!
Engine battery and 4 house batteries!!

200 watts of panels

[Proto]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

It sounds as if someone was sleepng on the hoc.

Indeed! Today I finally fixed it. There was a bad (absent!) crimp between the -ve wire coming from the controller and the back end of the MC4 on the roof ...



I also updated the controller to a Victron MPPT controller, which will give me room for expansion. I'm planing on adding another 190W panel.

[macdaddy1111]

Making power baby!! 200 watts in panel! 5 batteries always charged and runs frig when parked!

[MountainGaut]

Hello again Bob !

Thanks for the pictures you sent a while back ! My decision has pointes me to a 160w panel and the Drill-less mounts also.

Can you share how you made those mounts stay put ? I was thinking strong double face adhesive and Sikaflex type also to make sure these mounts and panel "stay on" the roof of the rig for long.

Thanks for your Time.

Yves G. [emoji41][emoji604]

Originally Posted by taylorbob1

Here’s mine if your interested, on a Vegas roof.
These are solid panels and drill-less mounts.
You can put a screw in thru them into roof if you want. I chose not to 10,000 miles and about 18 months ago.
Photo 1 from the rear, Photo 2 from the front

[Jekl]

Has anyone installed a second cabin battery next to the existing battery in the stairs?

[taylorbob1]

Originally Posted by MountainGaut

Hello again Bob !

Thanks for the pictures you sent a while back ! My decision has pointes me to a 160w panel and the Drill-less mounts also.

Can you share how you made those mounts stay put ? I was thinking strong double face adhesive and Sikaflex type also to make sure these mounts and panel "stay on" the roof of the rig for long.

Thanks for your Time.

Yves G. [emoji41][emoji604]

Look at the reviews for the drill less mounts on Amazon. Most use them for their intended purpose. That is, as a drill less mount, no screws in roof.

That said, you have 3 options...
1. Sikaflex adhesive only. Lightly rough up the roof surface, rough up the mount surface, add the adhesive
(Screw on the panel to the mounts on a flat surface. When installing, loosen those same screws so that the mount is flat on the roof, then adhere)
2. Sikaflex + 1 screw in the front two mounts or 1 screw in all 4-6 mounts used
3. Sikaflex + Eternabond tape around the outside edges of the front mounts or each of the mounts

Like I said, I used Sikaflex only. And using 8 mounts on two 100 watt panels, I have traveled over 10,000 miles in 18 months. Nothing is different on the roof today since the moment I installed them.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by macdaddy1111

Making power baby!! 200 watts in panel! 5 batteries always charged and runs frig when parked!

Way to go!! Congratulations!

[MountainGaut]

Originally Posted by taylorbob1

Look at the reviews for the drill less mounts on Amazon. Most use them for their intended purpose. That is, as a drill less mount, no screws in roof.

That said, you have 3 options...
1. Sikaflex adhesive only. Lightly rough up the roof surface, rough up the mount surface, add the adhesive
(Screw on the panel to the mounts on a flat surface. When installing, loosen those same screws so that the mount is flat on the roof, then adhere)
2. Sikaflex + 1 screw in the front two mounts or 1 screw in all 4-6 mounts used
3. Sikaflex + Eternabond tape around the outside edges of the front mounts or each of the mounts

Like I said, I used Sikaflex only. And using 8 mounts on two 100 watt panels, I have traveled over 10,000 miles in 18 months. Nothing is different on the roof today since the moment I installed them.

Again, thanks for your help, these details are precious to me for this task.