Adding Solar to my 17B

[MBtigger]

I got my 17B early last year, and while I ordered it with solar pre-wiring, I did not actually include panels or mount. I am currently tempted to get the following for my 17B. Do these look reasonable?



I know I will also need to install a charging monitor / controller Are there other things I will need?


Thanks for any advice or assistance.


MB


https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-175-Wa...98&sr=1-3&th=1



https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-RNG-MT...062347750&th=1

[Doug & Betty]

Check out AM Solar in Springfield OR if you haven't already. They sell RV solar products for DIY folks (that's where I got mine) but more apropos, their site has a wealth of information and educational links to access. It is an excellent resource for RV solar.

Safe travels, stay healthy,
Doug

[Doug2000]

Other members are using Lensun panels. They are thin flexible that are attached with tape around the edges. This is the route I expect to go. I don't like the look of the large rigid panels. Takes away from the beauty of the trailer.

[Bayner]

If I were to upgrade or expand mine, I'd take a hard look at the Zamp Obsidian panels and try to justify the cost.
In my opinion, they're some of the nicest panel and mounting systems and should still have domestic build quality. A better diversity of panel dimensions as well.

https://www.zampsolar.com/pages/obsi...s-solar-panels

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

Other members are using Lensun panels. They are thin flexible that are attached with tape around the edges. This is the route I expect to go. I don't like the look of the large rigid panels. Takes away from the beauty of the trailer.

Interesting brackets, I haven't seen them before.

Yes, I'm a great fan of flexible panels. Those folks who study solar systems to the nth degree don't seem to agree with using them but I don't study solar stuff ad nauseam so I don't know any better. I just put a flexible panel on the roof with Eternabond tape, worked way better than expectations, hooked it up and my battery gets charged. Works for me but then I don't have every appliance that I have at home in my kitchen.

The spare panel, also a flexible panel with a light weight frame and being very light weight, can go anywhere to catch the sun. I use it on a pole if I'm set up for a few days. Very efficient. Normally I just connect it separately to charge my two lithium trolling batteries.

Ron

[Centex]

Originally Posted by MBtigger

I got my 17B early last year, and while I ordered it with solar pre-wiring, I did not actually include panels or mount. I am currently tempted to get the following for my 17B. Do these look reasonable?
>>>>
https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-RNG-MT...062347750&th=1

Those mounts do look interesting, but they seem to require that the mounting surface be truly flat and parallel to the plane of the panel in all directions so all of the corner and side bracket-bases are in the same flat plane for adhesive contact to the roof (Renogy product page with installation manual download is here).

I'm not so sure the curves of the Escape roofs lend to that application - suggest you might want to cut a piece of rigid plywood the size of the panels being considered (plus 5" length and width for the bracket base beyond the edge of the panel) and see if that lays truly flat against the trailer roof where you want to install it.

If that 'mock-up pattern' does not lay perfectly flat and tight against the roof at all corners and side-midpoints, I would not use those particular brackets.

Just for your consideration among the other suggestions posted, Have Fun!

[cpaharley2008]

Ron,
Do you have a brown cover on your roof refer vent?

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Ron,
Do you have a brown cover on your roof refer vent?

No, that's just a piece of wood temporarily covering the top of the vent.

Removing the vent top cover, 4 screws, makes for an easy route to run roof top wires to the interior. It's a clear drop down the fridge chase to the area accessible from the fridge hatch on the side of the trailer. From there it's easy to run the wires forwards or backwards, wherever you want them to go.

Ron

[AKCamper]

Originally Posted by Doug & Betty

Check out AM Solar in Springfield OR if you haven't already. They sell RV solar products for DIY folks (that's where I got mine) but more apropos, their site has a wealth of information and educational links to access. It is an excellent resource for RV solar.

Safe travels, stay healthy,
Doug

I agree if you’re not going with flexible panel then I would watch the AM Solar videos. As far as a controller goes don’t go cheap and mount it close to your batteries. A portable panel is an excellent addition especially if you are parking in the shade. I chose to mount two hundred watt panels on my truck canopy and have a portable hundred watt Renogy panel

[TahoeJoe]

Another great source of info is these guys, great videos and they even offered me some direct guidance and they do specialize in Renogy products (in fact they give discounts on them):
https://www.youtube.com/c/FreedominaCan/videos

And here's my thread about my DIY project, more info here and let me know if you have any questions about it:
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...all-21816.html

[HABBERDABBER]

I'm curious. What brand of flexible solar panel did you use on your roof?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by MBtigger

... I am currently tempted to get the following for my 17B. Do these look reasonable?
...
https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-RNG-MT...062347750&th=1

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Interesting brackets, I haven't seen them before.

Neither have I, but fundamentally they are a moulded thermoplastic variation on the mounting feet from various suppliers, providing some height above the mounting surface and more area for adhesive mounting than just sticking the panel's frame to the roof.

Originally Posted by Centex

Those mounts do look interesting, but they seem to require that the mounting surface be truly flat and parallel to the plane of the panel in all directions so all of the corner and side bracket-bases are in the same flat plane for adhesive contact to the roof (Renogy product page with installation manual download is here).

I'm not so sure the curves of the Escape roofs lend to that application - suggest you might want to cut a piece of rigid plywood the size of the panels being considered (plus 5" length and width for the bracket base beyond the edge of the panel) and see if that lays truly flat against the trailer roof where you want to install it.

If that 'mock-up pattern' does not lay perfectly flat and tight against the roof at all corners and side-midpoints, I would not use those particular brackets.

I agree - these would be useful in some cases, but not any any part of any Escape roof. The aluminum mounting feet could be bent to fit the roof contour, but not these.

A 3D printing enthusiast might try printing similar feet angled to match a specific location on a specific Escape trailer roof, if they would prefer that construction to bent aluminum sheet.