I have a 2018 Thor Four Winds class C with ready solar on top of the roof. It has no solar converter or inverter. I am trying to find where the solar connection line on the roof terminates in the RV. Does anyone have an idea? Thanks in advance.
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I have a 2018 Thor Four Winds class C with ready solar on top of the roof. It has no solar converter or inverter. I am trying to find where the solar connection line on the roof terminates in the RV. Does anyone have an idea? Thanks in advance.
It is likely terminated in the Battery bay or in the place where the converter, inverter, and all the other electrical stuff is located. Look for capped wires. If you repost this in a new more descriptive thread about the location of the solar wiring and include your coach year and model information you may even find someone who knows exactly where and what to look for.
I have a 2018 Thor Four Winds class C with ready solar on top of the roof. It has no solar converter or inverter. I am trying to find where the solar connection line on the roof terminates in the RV. Does anyone have an idea? Thanks in advance.
Look for a pair of cables, usually 10AWG, and can be both black, or white and black together. I would hope they would land near the electrical panel, but could be in any cavity below the gland on the roof. Coiled up, or loose. You'll just have to start opening compartments and see what you can find.
Based on my experience with Thor's wiring practices, they may not be capped and just jammed into a compartment. I had a data cable just jammed into the ATS bay of my Tellaro, so I gathered it up into a tidy coil and secured it inside.
If you're "lucky", Thor will have put a lot of cable in one spot that you can untangle and run to the new controller you will be adding.
Then go to Renogy to design the system. I would recommend an MPPT controller for best solar collection efficiency. PWM is cheaper, but if you're going to add solar, might as well do it with the best components. Panels can be in frames mounted with SS hardware,, or flexible, to be secured to the roof by adhesives. I have had both- used flex panels on my last RV, and held down with VHB tape in the center, and Eternabond tape along the edges. Current RV has framed panels, so I used metal brackets to add another panel. https://www.renogy.com/on-sale/?limit=100
My advice would be to cover the roof with as many panels as you can to maximize solar gain. The MPPT controller will give you the maximum gain as well, over PWM.
See my PDF below as a guide to create a new system- this was on my 2001 Rialta that had no solar at all. I used monocrystalline flex panels on that roof.
I will add to use Dicor as a sealant over what the pdf suggests. Self-leveling on flat surfaces.
You may already have an inverter that runs off the battery system- see what you have- the solar goes to the batteries via the controller, not to the inverter. Design your system carefully and spare no expense- you'll only be doing it once on this RV most likely. Do not expect to run off the solar for long- mostly depends on system size, and battery bank.
I have 600A battery bank, 380W solar, 30A MPPT controller, 3000W inverter/converter, and will be changing my roof AC to a 12V unit, so I can run it for days instead of hours.
Keep in mind that the controller does get warm, and should be in a well ventilated spot, especially MPPT.
I also added Blue Sea Series A toggle breaker to be able to shut down for winter storage, or for when working on the power systems. Amazon is where I got mine. Seen in pic below. Breakers are between my master switch and Balmar gauge, above my new MPPT controller.
Add up your watts, or convert to determine how much you will be using (V x A = W) and go from there. Good luck!!
Yes, but the OP wants to locate the other end of those wires inside the coach.
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I realize that- that's the first step, verifying it is truly 'solar ready' by seeing that gland.
They will have to dig a lot to find them inside as mentioned by opening up all cabinets, compartments until he finds them. No telling where Thor put them- for all I know they left the wires coiled up inside the headliner!
I have a 2018 Thor Four Winds class C with ready solar on top of the roof. It has no solar converter or inverter. I am trying to find where the solar connection line on the roof terminates in the RV. Does anyone have an idea? Thanks in advance.
Some manufacturers put a sticker or label on a wall or cabinet where the color cabling terminates. In a Thor we looked at the hanging label was on a cabinet. On my rig the label was on a box in the storage compartment behind my battery box.
On my 2020 the PV positive wire was ORANGE 10AWG, and the negative was a WHITE 10AWG... white is typical for grounds in Thor wire color scheme. Mine had a 10 amp solar charge controller pre- installed as part of the solar prep package.
The prep consisted of a solar panel connection gland on the roof and the 10 amp controller pre-wired and installed on the side of the cabinet in the entry stairway. The orange and white wires went into a wire loom behind the cabinet with a gob of other wires... then disappeared into who knows where.
Thor typically color codes wiring, so I'd look around your under-steps battery area for a couple wires taped together (orange and white)... and also behind drawers near that area. Many times it will be a capped wire ready for a dealer install.
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On my 2020 the PV positive wire was ORANGE 10AWG, and the negative was a WHITE 10AWG... white is typical for grounds in Thor wire color scheme. Mine had a 10 amp solar charge controller pre- installed as part of the solar prep package.
The prep consisted of a solar panel connection gland on the roof and the 10 amp controller pre-wired and installed on the side of the cabinet in the entry stairway. The orange and white wires went into a wire loom behind the cabinet with a gob of other wires... then disappeared into who knows where.
Thor typically color codes wiring, so I'd look around your under-steps battery area for a couple wires taped together (orange and white)... and also behind drawers near that area. Many times it will be a capped wire ready for a dealer install.
That would be nice if they are in fact colored orange and black- mine were white, w/ spiral black stripe, and black.
It would be wise to verify by applying a load at the gland, small battery, like a 9V one, as an example, and testing the free ends once discovered- once found, would be good to post pics so others can find as well. Also finding a controller, if present, would be nice too.
You could also try calling TMC (good luck with that) to see if they have a clue, or check owner's resources in schematics to see if you can find any evidence of location of the cables.
Thanks for the reply. I have a controller from my old rig so I'm ready to install. I'll look for the back and white cables and trace them. Much appreciated.
You know I called TMC and they or she did not have a clue. She wished me luck. LoL...if I find the ends. I will be sure the post.
Not surprised about Thor's answer- surprised they even picked up the phone. They really need to get their sh** together and learn how to build these things and how to give better customer service.
I gave up day one when I bought my 20A and then my 20L. I would guess wires will be inside and not underneath, but under would also not surprise me!
I spent 5 days moving all my batteries and electrics up from the bottom to inside my 20L. Much more manageable now!
Thank you for the feedback. I do not have a converter or inverter. Just the basic setup. I will check the battery and post it in another area.
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Originally Posted by JamesK
Thanks for the reply. I have a controller from my old rig so I'm ready to install. I'll look for the back and white cables and trace them. Much appreciated.
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Originally Posted by JamesK
That's correct
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Originally Posted by JamesK
Thanks for the reply. I will need to get under the rig and look around for the cables. I've been concentrating mostly on the inside of the rig.
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Originally Posted by JamesK
ok will do and thanks for the advice! This was very helpful.
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Originally Posted by JamesK
You know I called TMC and they or she did not have a clue. She wished me luck. LoL...if I find the ends. I will be sure the post.
If you QUOTE the post you are responding to it would make a lot more sense.
You DO have a converter for SP and the generator to supply DC power to DC loads and charge batteries.
As you know from your previous RV, Solar panels needs a charge controller which Thor installed in some Solar equipped RVs, but not in "Solar Ready" RVs.
Not surprised about Thor's answer- surprised they even picked up the phone. They really need to get their sh** together and learn how to build these things and how to give better customer service.
I gave up day one when I bought my 20A and then my 20L. I would guess wires will be inside and not underneath, but under would also not surprise me!
I spent 5 days moving all my batteries and electrics up from the bottom to inside my 20L. Much more manageable now!
Good luck and Happy New Year!!
Thanks, Mark, and Happy New Year to you and your family. It is frustrating when TMC has the Solar product and no help solution to finish it. That's why I joined this forum to speak with great folks like yourself and other members. I'll let you know what I find.
If you QUOTE the post you are responding to it would make a lot more sense.
You DO have a converter for SP and the generator to supply DC power to DC loads and charge batteries.
As you know from your previous RV, Solar panels needs a charge controller which Thor installed in some Solar equipped RVs, but not in "Solar Ready" RVs.
Thanks, Ted, and Happy New Year. Mine did not come with the Inv. and Converter. I have those from my previous RV. I want to install them in the solar-ready RV in which I am trying to find the lines.
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