Disconnect the rv batteries and measure the roof.
How to wire up solar panels on an rv roof.
The basic solar charging system consists of roof mounted solar panels running through a combiner box then dropping down to the charge controller and on to the batteries.
To understand how wiring in series works in comparison to how parallel wiring works let s think for a moment about how christmas lights used to work.
In my case with four 100 watt solar panels to work with the solution was to connect 2 solar panels together in a parallel configuration.
From the rooftop combiner box i ran 4 awg wire into the trailer through a hole cut in the roof through the microwave compartment down along the side of the refrigerator and into the area where the solar controller would be mounted.
Solid wire passes electricity at a capacity 1 size greater than stranded wire.
Here s how i wired my solar panels for rv boondocking why i chose 10 gauge romex wiring.
I decided on the back center huddled between our skylight and vent pipes.
Maximum power point tracking mppt charge controllers are for wiring solar panels in a series where pulse width modulation pwm charge controllers are used to wire solar panels in parallel.
Solar is typically a supplement that works seamlessly with shorepower or generator if so equipped.
Getting started with rv solar before we start it s important to note that the specifics of your setup will depend on your rig and solar kit what type of panels you have flexible rigid etc your roof size and type flat curved fiberglass rubber etc whether you have an rv or a trailer where your battery bank is located etc.
When you re routing wire from the exterior of your rv to the interior look for anything else that s already running from the inside to outside or all the way through the living area of your rv.
Place the batteries and connect them to the control box.
Be sure to consult the instructions provided with any.
Put in the control box.
The solar panel is held down with 4 bolts.
Solar panels in parallel arrays.
This creates a 12 volt 200 watt combination.
Our rv roof is mostly a flat surface so i had plenty of real estate to choose from.
In some of the newer instances that use this form of wiring the charge controller is already present the only piece that needs to be added is the solar panels themselves.
Do the same with the second set of 2 solar panels so you have 2 separate 12 volt 200 watt solar panel arrays.
This will give you the most sunlight available.
That means the 10 gauge wire works as if i had used 8 gauge automotive.
For my installation of rv solar panels 10 gauge household romex wiring was chosen for a few reasons.
Employing solar power in an rv is freedom.
Inside microwave compartment where wires enter trailer from roof top running wires inside.
Assemble the braces and frames then install the panels.
A good example is taking a wire from the roof down to the bottom of your motorhome or fifth wheel.
This prewired for solar rv included the installed charge controller but it did not have any solar panels installed from the factory.
