Solar Installation

[Patandlinda]

Ours are wired in parallel too . Lensun panels . Pat

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

It you set up parallel would be the way to go. as others have mentioned with 3 panels it would not take much to get shading on one panel.

[Pembyescape]

Thanks all. I will definitely wire them in Parallel. Next question. Fuse each panel separately with 5A inline MC4 fuse? Or - at 15A just before controller?
Specs
80W
Max power current 4.44A
Short circuit current 4.89A

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Pembyescape

Thanks all. I will definitely wire them in Parallel. Next question. Fuse each panel separately with 5A inline MC4 fuse? Or - at 15A just before controller?
Specs
80W
Max power current 4.44A
Short circuit current 4.89A

Cable entry plate:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

All the panels just get connected using MC4 connectors on the roof before they hit the cable entry plate. These work well for this:
https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Solar-...8812111&sr=8-3

A solar breaker before the controller works well.
https://www.amazon.com/MidNite-Solar...8812565&sr=8-1

You need a breaker before and after the solar controller. This box allows mounting the breakers in an enclosure and makes for a neat installation.
https://www.amazon.com/MIDNITE-SOLAR...8812810&sr=8-2

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Originally Posted by Pembyescape

Thanks all. I will definitely wire them in Parallel. Next question. Fuse each panel separately with 5A inline MC4 fuse? Or - at 15A just before controller?
Specs
80W
Max power current 4.44A
Short circuit current 4.89A

you really don't need a fuse,as long as the wire can handle the amps, there is now way the panels can produce more than there short circuit current . so all your protecting is the wire . some people like a shut off. If you want you could use a 15amp circuit breaker that would act as a shut off. not sure how many amps the controller is . when escape install they bring wires into fridge vent,no holes taht way. but if you get solar ready they do put a mc-4 fitting in. so you need to firgure what would work best for you

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

picture

[Davin]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

This was my trailer roof this morning.



This was my trailer roof this afternoon.



All the exterior work is done. The four 60W semi-flexible panels are installed. I wired them in two parallel sets of two panels wired in series, so the system voltage to the solar controller will be 36V. I held them down with Eternabond tape around the entire perimeter. I taped cable tie holders down with the tape too. They entered into the trailer via a Go Power Cable Entry Plate supplied by Escape.

This is one of the panels in my garage. I pre-cut all the pieces of tape ahead of time.



Tomorrow I will install the solar controller and tie everything in, including a tap for my 80W portable panel. I will do a follow up post later tomorrow.

Hi Jim, There seem to be a variety of eternabond products on the market that resemble tape. Can you please send a link or more specific description of which you used? Thanks!

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Davin

Hi Jim, There seem to be a variety of eternabond products on the market that resemble tape. Can you please send a link or more specific description of which you used? Thanks!

I am on my phone right now, so getting a link together is not so easy. What I used was 2" wide Eternabond tape. I don't think there aww options to this

[Jim Bennett]

This is a look at the strips I cut for the installation.

[Davin]

Thanks!

[cpaharley2008]

Davin,
Remember Jim B. Escape is the 5.0 TA and the roof layout maybe different that yours.....

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Davin

Hi Jim, There seem to be a variety of eternabond products on the market that resemble tape. Can you please send a link or more specific description of which you used? Thanks!

Davin used the same 2 in Eternabond tape as Jim . We have a 19 also and our layout is the same as Jim’s with the 60 watt panels just with 3 Lensun panels . On Jim’s roof he has 4 panels with 2 in front . There is just 1 in front on the 19 . That is the only difference . Pat

[jphil23462]

I have been asked about panel type, placement, and installation. I went with simple. I have an angle bracket attached to the front and back of both panels. On the two panel setup, I have a tie bracket that goes front to back. The panels are connected via an L bracket that is attached to the roof with VHB and bolts. The both passes through the fiberglass and has a plywood backing plate. I have made several trip now with this setup and have had no issues traveling at 70 mph. My Dodge 2500 diesel mileages goes down significantly above 70, so that is my max speed.

[jphil23462]

Second set of pics.

[Centex]

Joel, I can't express enough how grateful I am for your panel specs and nearly straight-on photos.

With basic Microsoft Paint and a bit of simple pixel/inch ratio calculation, they're an invaluable tool for schematizing 'what can fit' on a 5.0 roof.

Not exact measurements but darned good for basic 'feasibility' checks.

Thank You!

This a 'width check', I've done the same with the vertical pic for a 'length check' ...

[MVA]

Originally Posted by jphil23462

Second set of pics.

Joel,

Very nice installation. I noted that you opted for slotted steel as opposed to aluminum angle. Was that based on material availability or structural integrity? It appears you used aluminum cast L brackets.

--Steve

[AndNeitherDoI]

Originally Posted by Davin

Thanks!

I used Jim’s install for inspiration too and used the 2 inch eternabond with white color. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

I posted my (not so great) pics over here:
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...21c-19919.html

[Jim Bennett]

Thought I would do an update on the system I installed. During a thorough trailer roof cleaning in preparation for waxing, I did a full inspection of my now 4 year old solar system.

Pretty much everything looked great, including panels and wiring. Very glad for that. A quick wipe with water was all these components got.

I did find a could things that needed addressing. A few of the corners of the Eternabond tape white surface had lifted, but just a wee tiny amount easily trimmed with a sharp knife. The Eterbabond tape overall was still in excellent condition and doing it's job well.

The biggest thing I had to make a change on were all the white cable ties I used, which had become brittle under the sun. There were a couple black T&B straps that were still going strong so today after waxing I will just be installing new black ties.

Very glad that the working components still looked in top form. Performance has not lessened at all so I had assumed all was good, and I do have a look once in a while, but this was my first look real close at everything.