2018 Aria 3901 Solar Wire Routing

[vette454]

Folks,

Do any of you have experience tracing the wire route for the factory installed solar panels on the 2018 3901? I get power from the panel disconnects, but nothing at the controller. I'm pretty sure it comes down the wall by the TV/Heater or down the wall and under the bed where the circuit breaker panel wiring lives before going aft to the inverter bay.

I've downloaded the wiring diagrams from Thor, which are moderately helpful, but they don't give a clue on what part of the coach needs to be opened up just to find the right wires to shoot. And of course, nothing is labeled...

Any help is appreciated...

Scott

[16ACE27]

When you say "I get power from the panel disconnects" I assume you mean you get voltage from the solar panels?

You should have a straight double wire run from the roof to the controller input.

There are a number of ways to test the continuity of one or both wires with a multimeter. Have you verified you have an open in a wire?

If so, there are "ringers" that will tell you how far down the wire the break is and allow you to trace the wire. For under $50 thos would work:

https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Mult.../dp/B08334R9KP

[vette454]

Ya know, I haven't used a TDR for 30 years... Forgot all about that... Great idea... Could have used that on a boat issue I had last week as well... I'll let you know how it goes. And yes, the panels produce power at the levels they should... Just open when I get to the controller...

[DavidEM]

I too am a bit confused about where you measured voltage. I suspect 16ACE27 is correct in that panel disconnects mean the MC4 cables on the roof. But where are you measuring voltage at the controller- output to the batteries or input from the panels. Disconnect the input leads to the controller and measure the voltage at those leads. If you have voltage there then the continuity is good.

Then realize that measuring the output from the controller with it disconnected from the battery will usually read zero. The controller needs power from the battery to operate.

David

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by vette454

Ya know, I haven't used a TDR for 30 years... Forgot all about that... Great idea... Could have used that on a boat issue I had last week as well... I'll let you know how it goes. And yes, the panels produce power at the levels they should... Just open when I get to the controller...

I haven't used a true TDR for at least 25 years (Nuclear Instrumentation cables), but I have used network line testers frequently with that feature. Good Luck!

[vette454]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

I too am a bit confused about where you measured voltage. I suspect 16ACE27 is correct in that panel disconnects mean the MC4 cables on the roof. But where are you measuring voltage at the controller- output to the batteries or input from the panels. Disconnect the input leads to the controller and measure the voltage at those leads. If you have voltage there then the continuity is good.

Then realize that measuring the output from the controller with it disconnected from the battery will usually read zero. The controller needs power from the battery to operate.

David

Yes, started by checking for voltage at the input lines at the controller, voltage = 0. I disconnected the wires coming out of the panels. Measured output power coming from the actual solar panel disconnect. I then jumped those wires, climbed back down, and and checked for Open, resistance = infinite. Check for short between wires, and to ground... None. With these checks, I say I have a broken wire or a broken connection some place... That's why I'm trying to figure out where to look in the coach for the wires as they run through the chassis, floor, walls and roof... Really don't want to run a new harness.

[m1noel]

I had the same issue. I could not find the wire routing either, but I suspect they run down by the bedroom slide. I lost the ground first, then the next year the hot. I kinda think the slide was rubbing on them somewhere. I was able to run new wires down next to the vent stack into the water compartment, then across the coach to the controller. Was a pain, but no further issues.
Mike