Solar Panel Prep Option on new FW

zackyboy3rs wrote:
There is a plug (solar panel prep) near the battery. Forgive me for not being up to the "green" thing but what exactly can I do with that panel?

The solar prep package solves one of the biggest solar panel installation issues - it gives you factory installed wiring so you don't have to drill any holes or fish wires to the panels.

Not sure how Jayco does their solar prep, but it is probably just the wiring. The wires are probably run to a plug or connection on the roof. Depending on what the prep package is sized for, you can do a lot with it. Installing a small panel, like 60 watts and a charge controller would maintain your battery when the trailer is in storage. No need to plug in or disconnect the battery (as long as you store the trailer in the sun). If you go bigger, like 200-300 watts you can maintain a charge when camping without electric. Adding an inverter to the setup lets you run 110v stuff off the battery.

zackyboy3rs wrote:
There is a plug (solar panel prep) near the battery. Forgive me for not being up to the "green" thing but what exactly can I do with that panel?

Not clear. What sort of plug? Is there a panel on the roof or did you typo "panel" for "plug"?

Our trailer came new "pre-wired for solar" It had the #8 wire pair hanging down beside the battery compartment and also a #8 pair hanging down from the top of the fridge roof vent. They were not connected, so it was a mystery.

Turned out there was also a spot under the kitchen sink with four wires that were two pairs (sorted out with multi-meter after much fiddling which red went with which white) and this was where you were to insert the solar controller. The wires down the vent were to be hauled up onto the roof to go on a panel and the ones by the battery were to come from the controller back at the kitchen sink. (Batteries up front, rear kitchen!!!)

I changed it all at the top of the fridge vent to splice the pair that go to the panel to the pair that go to the battery and put the controller near the battery instead of back at the kitchen sink. Then I added short #8 from the controller to battery.

So I got the panel to controller long run and the short controller to battery run that is preferred. The way they had it would have been too long for the controller-battery run.

Adding a panel and controller will keep the battery charged when sun is available.

zackyboy3rs wrote:
There is a plug (solar panel prep) near the battery. Forgive me for not being up to the "green" thing but what exactly can I do with that panel?

Take a pic & post it.

Is the other end on the roof?

I was installing some solar panels on a fifth wheel, - Holiday Rambler - if I recall right (back in 2006). Basically the factory said 'Measure from the bathroom skylight, 12" this way and 12" forward of the skylight, cut a hole into the roof and retrieve the wires out of the roof. The other end of the wires where already in the battery compartment.

So basically I was cutting a 'Huge' hole in someone else's RV and hoping it would never leak. I covered the hole with a 2X4" outdoor handy box (weather tight box) and raintight cover. I put LOTS of rubber roof sealant under the box, and hoped for the best. I had to cut a hole about 2" diameter, before I could get a coat hanger inside the roof area, found the 'other' end of the wires, and pulled them out. Placed the box, and cut the wires to about 5" above the roof. Wired in the new 400 watt solar panels, and put the controller in the battery compartment, on the steel wall (to act as a heat sink).

I also installed a 1,500 watt inverter at the same time, along with a second pair of batteries. The owner had a fairly large load, a CPAP machine, and it would draw all 4 batteries down at night, then recharge in the day.

WE bought the solar panels in Quartzsite where I installed the system. Now days you can get a great deal on solar panels from this place. SunElec.com


Good luck!

Fred.

2oldman wrote:
What panel?

Panel or plug or something. Covered like an outside receptical. Never seen it before on any unit. Something built into Jayco's costomer value pack.

Moved from technology corner

What panel?

Nothing until you add solar panels and a charge controller. Then with a properly matched system you will be able to recharge the batteries with out connection to shore power.