SOLAR INSTALLATION on Palomino Bronco...Done!

Great job! Toilet, ac and now solar! Your the king of Bronco Mods!

Kudos to you and great job! AND.. WOW how inexpensive! If they are still available payday I'm buying one too!

Thanks!
Dak

Excellent write up and pictures. Really great job. Thank you for the post.

Very nice install, and thanks for the link, now I have more reading to do. Also awesome job on the fix for the toilet, at least now you can use it.

Beefie

I'm sorry to say I see a huge problem!!!!

In your Research and Development you have neglected to install on an 07 Sunlite!!!

When can I expect you? :B

Very, very nice BTW!!!

Does the kit come with the cable for panel to controller? If so, can it be cut to length?

Thanks.....DJ

Thanks for the kind words!
The kit comes with attached, fully weatherproof connections for the panel. You simply plug in the connections that are on the end of the cable in the kit.

There are only four connections to the controller....Two wires from the panel and two wires to your battery. On the 12V+ lead to the battery I installed a 20amp fuse in a holder I bought at the auto parts store. You want a very heavy duty one with the largest wire possible.

I used stainless steel 1 X 10 Pan Head Screws to secure the panel to the roof along with 3M 5200 adhesive/sealant. It ain't going anywhere!

NOW....If I was to do it again.....I'd rather not use the Phocos controller and digital panel that comes with the kit. I'm sure it will work fine, but it seems flimsy and not well thought out.

I would use a Morningstar Sunsaver SS20L 20A, 12V Charge Controller


http://www.solarblvd.com/Charge-Controllers-PWM-Charge-Controllers-Morningstar-Charge-Controllers/c6_48_100/p638/Morningstar-Sunsaver-SS20L-20A,-12V-Charge-Controller/product_info.html

This controller is universally paraised by all in the Solar industry. No negatives what so ever and at roughly $75 it seems like a bargin.

And a Trimetric 2025RV battery monitor


http://www.bogartengineering.com/products/TriMetric

This device is a "Must Have" according to Handy Bob....What! You haven't read any of Handy Bob's blog....STOP! you must read this http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/ before you proceed. I'm a nut about Solar but I learned so much from this guy. There is a whole lot of BS out there about solar.....Amazing how little folks that are selling it actually know!

I think I'm going to call Solar Blvd today and see if they will take my Phocos in exchange for the two units above. Be aware, Solar Blvd does not show the 2025RV on their web page. They do show the older 2020 unit so they are a dealer.

This system would end up costing about $100 more (Roughly $400)

On Saturday morning, with the panel lying on the ground next to the camper, I turned on the Propane refrigerator with three 12V fans on the heat exchanger, turned on one of my overhead LED lights and every three hours or so plugged in my Dell laptop for an hour.

Here it is Monday AM and my battery is showing 12.5V and the sun is just coming up. So I've been up and running on Solar for 48 hours (less about three hours as I was installing the panel yesterday) with no issues.

Seems good so far!

thank you thank you thank you. i have the palomino bronco 1500. was need to get it done by end of september before a family camp with my son's scout group. this way I can at least have the 12v for the thermostat on the fridge for propane and run a couple of led lights if needed to see at night.

By the way. awesome job and awesome write up. If you are willing, but I am sure the instructions in the kit explain. I would like to know more about how the wires hook to the panel on the roof and then a little more about hooking up the items on inside.

thanks again

Nice job! What kind of screws did you use to fasten the panel mounts to the roof? Thanks.

The prices for quality panels and full kits have come WAY down!

I had my whole house done a few months ago.....So far, I haven't had an electric bill since February!

The electric company OWES ME $93!!!

Nice install! The original owner of my TT had a solar panel and the wiring is still there...on my list of things to add eventually.