Solar panel

[Making Journeys]

We are looking to add solar to our 2015 Axis. The dealer quoted me $1026.00 for one 170w panel + 30 amp controller .My thinking is adding the inverter later (1500 or 2000 w) myself if possible.
Is this a fair price to pay to the two item & installation?

Thx for any advise you can provide.

[lo-tek]

Originally Posted by Making Journeys

We are looking to add solar to our 2015 Axis. The dealer quoted me $1026.00 for one 170w panel + 30 amp controller .My thinking is adding the inverter later (1500 or 2000 w) myself if possible.
Is this a fair price to pay to the two item & installation?

Thx for any advise you can provide.

It seems pricey. I would shop around for dedicated solar installer. Look up Brian Boone on Facebook as an example.

[jpmihalk]

That seems very pricy. There are 400W/30A solar kits on Amazon for around $600. For anyone who knows what they are doing, it would take about 2 hours to install the kit.

The first question really is - what are you installing solar for? To just keep your batteries from discharging when in storage? To be able to boondock without using the generator? There are a lot of people on the forum who have installed varying degrees of solar on their rigs with a lot of experience. Let us know what you are trying to accomplish and we can point you in the right direction.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by jpmihalk

That seems very pricy. There are 400W/30A solar kits on Amazon for around $600. For anyone who knows what they are doing, it would take about 2 hours to install the kit....

I agree... Even if you allow four hours for installation time: their quoted price seems too high...
Good luck, and happy shopping!

[Making Journeys]

Thank you for the reply, I did look up Brian Boone and I’ll look to get a quote from him.
Also @jpmihalk, I’m looking in long term goal is to be able to boondock without using the generator.

[scrubjaysnest]

As a general rule the RV dealers are over priced and don't know how to properly install solar.
Read the blog here for general info https://freecampsites.net/ before contracting anybody to do the work for you.

[jpmihalk]

I also recommend reading a blog post called “The 12 volt side of life” which is all about budgeting for your power needs and sizing your batteries and solar panels accordingly. Great read to get you thinking towards that goal.

[Making Journeys]

Originally Posted by scrubjaysnest

As a general rule the RV dealers are over priced and don't know how to properly install solar.
Read the blog here for general info https://freecampsites.net/ before contracting anybody to do the work for you.

That was a very helpful blog thx

[jpmihalk]

Here's a link to "The 12 volt Side of Life" for you. The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

[carlgorski]

Rip Off!!!

[Making Journeys]

Thx everyone for your feed back I put off doing the solar and will do some research with the link that Everyone offered

[Bob Denman]

Most of the fun is in the shopping anyway...