Solar Wire Management
For those of you who have installed solar on your RV I would be interested in hearing what you have done with the rooftop wire management issue. I'll have four panels with two #10 wires each needin...
Forum Discussion
Almot wrote:
Exactly - What panels and what controller :). Alright, let's assume - for the lack of response - that he had checked the specs and estimated max string voltage in his intended area of camping.
Zip ties? Mex, - not where you are, for sure. At these latitudes sun really does a number on polyethylene.
To the OP:
You are planning on tilted. Depending on where you are and who you are, it might be worth to reconsider the plan. I planned tilting too, can do it to either long side of trailer, but I don't do it. Don't enjoy it and, luckily, don't need it with my solar wattage and my energy needs. Get more wattage and forget the tilting, it's not fun, especially if you stay put less than a week.
Wire management on the roof does not need to consider tilting - not much. You run the cables to the pivoting point and clip the rest to the underside of the panel, together with the connector (to keep it away from sun and rain). If you have more than one possible pivoting side (tilting to 2 opposite sides), you run cable to some point on the panel that will most likely remain low during the tilting, and again clip the rest to the panel, with some slack to allow for tilt. You might end up with a length of coiled cable under the panel - especially with tilting, it complicates things.
Panels are Kyocera KC130TM, 21.9 VOC
Controller is Morningstar TS-45
My wires are now too short to run to the pivot point. Bad planning on my part but it it what it is now unless I want to re-run all the panel wiring. It's an excellent idea though.
I was planning to try an NOT to tilt unless I need to but want the option. I'm not a fan of climbing on the roof either. Plus the panel assembly is heavy to lift up and tilt.
