Quote:
Originally Posted by billiards
as new as owner, and new to forum, need direction or ideas on solar panel connect.....#1 i am thinking i want to connect my solar panel (50 watt) so i am able to follow the sun light by hand moving it to direct sun light....#2 i would like the controller/display inside the trailer....do i use the prewire in any way or simply hard wire the panel to the battery and leave the controller position in such a way as to watch it through a window? maybe some of you folk have done this with ideas for me..thanks a million, jack
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I installed two 130 watt panels on the roof of our 2005 25 ft CCD using the solar prewires in the trailer. I choose to mount mine on the roof and believe that with panels capable of 260 watts I can accept the inefficiencies of them not being tilted and oriented towards the sun.
Airstream sizes the wires for 100 watts at a nominal 12 volts so they will be adequate for the 50 watt panel you want to use. The green and yellow wires terminate in the same location as in your Safari, inside the refrigerator opening, most likely in the bottom left corner when looking in from the outside. You could easily make a connection at that point and use an outside freestanding panel that you direct towards the sun periodically. I would use connectors such as the Anderson Power Pole Connectors offered in sizes of 35 amps, 45 amps and 100 amps; either the 35 or the 45 are more than adequate for 50 watts and they can't be connected wrong.
The hardest thing about the installation is connecting the yellow and green pre-wires up under the sofa to the controller (keep the controller inside) and the DC buss connections to the batteries. You might want to check out my article and pictures of our install on the Sierra Nevada Unit web site. Download the April 2007 newsletter:
http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/sn...snu-nwsltr.pdf
There is a problem with the online links in the article to the verbose description, use the following and select Energy & Power near the bottom of the following web page:
Maintaining your RV
If you need to PM me and we can talk by phone for more details. If you do decide to mount the panel(s) on the roof you need to use a drill depth gauge to make sure you don't drill in too deep and hit any of the other wires in the roof of the trailer.