solar charge controller

[jmatthewmc]

We have a 2020 19cb Caravel and I am adding some solar to the roof. Is the wire to connect the charge controller behind the interior wall so it can be easily accessed.
Thanks

[daleyocum]

Originally Posted by jmatthewmc

We have a 2020 19cb Caravel and I am adding some solar to the roof. Is the wire to connect the charge controller behind the interior wall so it can be easily accessed.
Thanks

Not sure on your floor plan but on most modern Airstreams the yellow and green solar prewires from the roof terminate in the “rats nest”. That’s the term we all use for the mass of DC wires that come together near the front of the trailer often on the curb side. It might be under a hatch under a cushion or under a bed.

The wires will have a label that reads “Solar.”. Yellow is meant to be positive and green negative.

[smsasf]

Originally Posted by jmatthewmc

We have a 2020 19cb Caravel and I am adding some solar to the roof. Is the wire to connect the charge controller behind the interior wall so it can be easily accessed.
Thanks

My 2020 Bambi 20’ has front bed and the wiring was through hatch under bed on street side. See where your 7 pin umbilical from outside goes into trailer. Most likely front street side. I think the 19’ has front dinette. So I would pull up cushion on left/street side of dinette and see if there is hatch to get to wiring bundle. In case you are unfamiliar I will say: I had factory Zamp 90W on roof and they used a rudimentary Atkinson solar charge controller. When I added another Zamp 90W to the roof I changed that out and put in what lots of forum folks suggested, a Victron 100/30 charge controller ( you might just want a 75/30). Also added a Victron SmartBattery Sensor which is about size of matchbox and wires directly to battery and you just lay it in battery box. It transmits battery box temperature, via Bluetooth, to the Victron charge controller which uses temperature as part of the bulk, absorb, float charging. You can download free apps and if within a few meters of them can monitor. Good luck, Stephen

[jmatthewmc]

Thank you Stephen! I will take a look shortly and may have a couple more questions.

[jmatthewmc]

Sure enough

[jmatthewmc]

Where did you mount the Victron charge controller?

[daleyocum]

Originally Posted by jmatthewmc

Where did you mount the Victron charge controller?

Typically you'd mount it inside that same compartment where the wires terminate. With Victron you can either mount an external display or just connect to it with your phone.