Forum Discussion

moss9994's avatar
moss9994
Explorer
Dec 17, 2019

Wiring solar in a lance 1181

I was wanting to put solar panels on the roof.
The camper is pre wired for solar.
I can find two sets of white and blue wires behind the cabinet front above the sink,where the gen start and tank gages are.
I can trace one set of the wires to the roof plug. I have had zero luck figuring out where the other set of wires go. I looked in the cavity above the bathroom mirror and only saw one set of blue and white wires. I am not sure where the second set of wires go.
I have one of those tone generators for tracing wiring. I can’t get it to find the second set of wires.
I have talked to lance and they were some help initially but I still can’t find the set of wires behind the battery box. I have taken the storage tray out and looked didn’t see them. Took the panel off the bottom of the campe behind the battery box and looked all over no loop of blue and white wires anywhere I can find unattached.
I did find some blue and white wires that ran into what I will call the rear bumper area. I pulled on them a little and they weren’t coming out easily. I was afraid to pull to hard and pull them loose if they serve some other purpose. There was no signal on them from the wire tracer connected to second set of wires from above the kitchen sink.
Is anybody familiar with the 1181 enough to help me figure out where I am going wrong trying to find the set of wires that go to the batteries?
Thanks Randy
Truck Campers
  • flakjacket's avatar
    flakjacket
    Explorer
    Dec 17, 2019
    On mine when the storage tray is out, on the left side there is a blue wire with a 10 amp fuse inline. That is the positive wire from the controller. The white wire goes to the ground block. My 1181 is 2007.
  • moss9994's avatar
    moss9994
    Explorer
    Dec 17, 2019
    Thanks for the reply.
    Was yours already set up with solar installed from Lance?
    I wish mine was so easy to find.
    I forgot to mention mine is a 2012.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Dec 17, 2019
    What’s the wire size? Length of the run? You may want to do your own wiring. Personally I’m in parallel with 10 gauge from each 100 watt panel to the combiner box, 8 from the box to the controller and 6 from the controller to the batteries. See this chart:

    https://www.windynation.com/jzv/inf/choosing-right-wire-size
  • bighatnohorse's avatar
    bighatnohorse
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2019
    I was never able to find the blue white wires on my 2014 model. There were so many construction discrepancies that I gave up and did my own 8 gauge wire installation.
    It's pretty easy. I did a report on it on the Lance forum.
  • moss9994's avatar
    moss9994
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2019
    Bighatnohorse thanks for the reply.
    Found your write up on the lance forum. I am going to borrow your idea and do exactly what you did.
    Just a follow up on the lance factory wiring. Best I can tell tracing the wires that are suppose to go to the battery box seem to end up above the kitchen cabinets next to the bathroom wall. Looking at the construction of the cabinets no way I am going to investigate if that’s correct, way to much to go wrong trying to gain access above the kitchen cabinets.
  • moss9994's avatar
    moss9994
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2019
    Kevin, wow you still have the 1121, it’s looking good. Quite the upgrade on the truck from what you used to pick up the 1121.
  • NRALIFR's avatar
    NRALIFR
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2019
    Yeah, I’m kind of a hoarder. I buy stuff and just hang on and on. Actually, I consider buying the 1121 one of the smartest purchases I’ve ever made. :B

    On your solar project, you might consider installing a DC-DC charger that has a solar input instead of a dedicated solar controller. I installed one a few years ago, and while I’m not taking advantage of the solar input yet, I could very easily. In the meantime, I have up to 25 amps of charging current available whenever the truck is running. Redarc also makes a 40 and a 50 amp model, and if you’re really needing to burn through a bunch of cash, they make the REDARC Manager30 Battery Management System that can do the work of six other expensive components.

    Here’s a link to a topic I posted about my install.

    Redarc DC-DC Battery Charger

    :):)
  • PNW_Steve's avatar
    PNW_Steve
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2019
    A great resource for good solar info from very knowledgeable folks is:

    Http://www.solarpaneltalk.com

    I have also had good experiences with Renogy Solar. I have installed a couple of systems for folks that bought Renogy kits. The components were well matched with the application. I have had several occasions to contact their tech support for pre-sales and post-sales support. I have been pleased with their support.

    I recently put a "budget" system on my little 5er using one of Renogy's Rover charge controllers. For the price it is a decent piece of kit. Definitely sticking with Midnite on my new rig though.
  • BDMajor's avatar
    BDMajor
    Explorer
    May 11, 2024

    I'm sure you've figured this out by now but for others that read this: I have a 2006 1181 Lance truck camper. The other half of the solar set up in under the step that goes up to the bunk. A dizzying array of stuff under there. It's behind where the circuit breaker and fuses are.

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