Forum Discussion

hawkeye-08's avatar
hawkeye-08
Explorer III
Aug 20, 2014

Arctic Fox 27T solar ready, what does this mean exactly?

I am told and have seen the stickers that the 2013 Arctic Fox 27T is solar ready. Salesmen tend to spin a story, often not making sense. I don't find anything in the manual or by searching this site on what is really meant.

I found some loose wires in the rear overhead cabinet (behind where the sticker says solar ready). Where are the other ends? Why would they put wires to the rear cabinet? The batteries are upfront, the converter under the kitchen counter. Do they expect a solar control unit to be placed there and then run (long run) down and to the front?

Has anyone installed solar panels on 27T and can answer these questions?

Thanks in advance for information solving this mystery (no, I have not contacted Northwood, it seems answers can vary)...
  • oughtsix's avatar
    oughtsix
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2014
    I would not be surprised if many manufactures defined "solar ready" as... "has a roof". :D

    Seriously, those wires are probably what they define as solar ready. They probably terminate next to the converter. Everything I have read says that the solar controller should be put as close as possible to the solar panels. So you put the solar controller in the cabinet then breach the roof to run wires to the solar panels. I have also read that even a partial shadow on a single panel can greatly reduce the output of a bank of panels.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Aug 20, 2014
    The wires probably terminate on the roof.
    oughtsix wrote:
    I have also read that even a partial shadow on a single panel can greatly reduce the output of a bank of panels.
    Wow, I didn't know that.
  • n7bsn's avatar
    n7bsn
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2014
    The wires you found are to connect to meter, there should be other wires, maybe at the refer vent what would connect to the panel. Theses should (?) be connected to the battery via the meter.

    Personally I would call/e-mail customer service at Northwoods, they should be able to give you exact locations.
  • thomasmnile's avatar
    thomasmnile
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2014
    Wonder if they mean 'solar ready' in the sense the trailer is pre-wired for a small panel that would be sufficient to maintain the house battery?
  • afraid_of_bears's avatar
    afraid_of_bears
    Explorer
    Aug 21, 2014
    On our Nash, also made by Northwood, solar ready meant that there were wires that ran from the roof to a panel above the stereo. From there, another set ran to the batteries. All we had to do was put in a charge controller and slap on a solar panel.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Aug 21, 2014
    afraid of bears wrote:
    On our Nash, also made by Northwood, solar ready meant that there were wires that ran from the roof to a panel above the stereo. From there, another set ran to the batteries. All we had to do was put in a charge controller and slap on a solar panel.


    This is how my buddies new AF that's "Solar ready" is set up.
  • mrkoje's avatar
    mrkoje
    Explorer
    Aug 21, 2014
    mine was "solar ready" as well however it came with a zamp solar controller and a measly 20w panel mounted on top of the ac unit. The setup is useless - I'm hoping I can use the existing wires and just replace the controller and panels to have a better system in place.
  • hawkeye-08's avatar
    hawkeye-08
    Explorer III
    Sep 02, 2014
    Northwood emailed me asking for mailing address so expecting them to send me something...

    While chasing a different problem (water heater stopped working on gas, posted another thread), I was fixing the ground near the battery boxes and noticed the other end of solar wires near the battery boxes. It is 8 gauge (red and white) pair that goes from back overhead cabinet to the front near the battery box. It will be interesting to see what Northwood sends me.

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