2017 FC 23FB Rooftop Solar Add

[ibosket]

I've been considering adding two 90-watt Amp panels to my coach and was asking Zamp directly about their Obsidian panels. I have one of their suitcase portables which works great, and it has a pre-wired controller included. I asked Zamp if I will need to purchase a separate controller for the rooftop panels and they said 'yes.' This morning my wife noticed on the Live Riveted blog this information:

"Airstreams come pre-wired to support up to three roof-mounted solar panels. Travel Trailers ranging from 16' to 23' get the option to add a 90W solar package (1 panel)."

I'd never heard that before. I had always assumed I could add up to three panels without additional hardware and wiring. So does that mean I can add one panel without adding another controller? Can anyone clarify this?

Thank you!

[Bobbo]

You have a 3 outlet port on the roof. You can plug 1, 2, or 3 panels into it. It has a pair of wires running down into the electrical bay where they are just laying, not hooked up to anything. You need a controller no matter how many panels you add. Hook the panel(s) to the ports on the roof. Hook the wires in the electrical bay to the solar controller. Hook the solar controller to the battery wiring. I have done this with 2 panels on my 2017 FC23FB. (My one difference, I manufactured an adapter so I have my 2 panels in series and am only plugged into 1 of the ports.)

[10Smiles]

Bobbo makes a good point. If you wire the panels in series, you can use more panels through your existing attachment point on the roof. The advantage to wiring them in series is that the voltage goes up, but the current stays low. That way you can live with the smallish wire that Airstream uses, probably 10 AWG. If you do that, make sure you get an MPPT Solar Charge Controller that can handle the higher voltage from the panels. I have four 100 watt panels on my roof, all wired in series using the "solar prewire" that came with the trailer.

[waninae39]

best to go series/parallel if you have 4 or more panels
with fewer than 4 parrellel is the best option

with all series, voltage is lower and current is higher, but if one panel gets shade, the total flow is reduced to the lowest of the three panels.'
with all parallel, the voltage is lower but the panel current is the some of the panels

[ibosket]

That makes sense. I can’t find anything but very basic information about adding solar in all the literature that came with the coach, so this makes me feel better about making a decision. Thank you!

[ZeGermans]

Originally Posted by waninae39

best to go series/parallel if you have 4 or more panels
with fewer than 4 parrellel is the best option

with all series, voltage is lower and current is higher, but if one panel gets shade, the total flow is reduced to the lowest of the three panels.'
with all parallel, the voltage is lower but the panel current is the some of the panels

The other way round, series means higher voltage lower current, parallel lower voltage, higher current...

[Bobbo]

The electrical bay is not where the electrical panel/converter are. Every model has it in a different place. Since you only said you have a 2017 23' Flying Cloud, but didn't tell us the exact model, I don't know where YOUR electrical bay is. I have a 2017 Flying Cloud 23' Front Bedroom. (The 23' Flying Cloud also comes in a rear bedroom.) In MINE, it is under the head of the bed. Tell us which model Flying Cloud you have and someone can probably tell you exactly where it is located. Or, better yet, put the year and model in your signature. It will post every time.

[Dennis C]

I had four Zamp 90W panels on the roof of my 23FB. The Zamp control module was mounted on the galley wall, close to the inverter switch. It worked very well and it was fantastic for boondocking.

[ibosket]

Originally Posted by Bobbo

The electrical bay is not where the electrical panel/converter are. Every model has it in a different place. Since you only said you have a 2017 23' Flying Cloud, but didn't tell us the exact model, I don't know where YOUR electrical bay is. I have a 2017 Flying Cloud 23' Front Bedroom. (The 23' Flying Cloud also comes in a rear bedroom.) In MINE, it is under the head of the bed. Tell us which model Flying Cloud you have and someone can probably tell you exactly where it is located. Or, better yet, put the year and model in your signature. It will post every time.

I have a 23FB also.

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by ibosket

I have a 23FB also.

In that case, under the head of the bed, on the side farthest from the closet. You will have to remove some screws and a plywood sheet. You do not have to remove the part that pivots up, just the panel between the hinge and the wall.

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by Bobbo

In that case, under the head of the bed, on the side farthest from the closet. You will have to remove some screws and a plywood sheet. You do not have to remove the part that pivots up, just the panel between the hinge and the wall.

I forgot to add, remove the entire sheet, not just that little access port.

[ibosket]

OK - I’ll take a look. Thank you for the information!