Pls define "solar ready" in terms of RV industry

[CopilotCompanio]

Does this mean there's a place to plug in a solar panel & they've run cable to the battery bank? Does it imply there is a trickle charger? Does this phrase imply the coach is equipped with an inverter? Does it imply there is a visual panel for managing & monitoring all of the above? Is the definition standard in the industry or does it vary by manufacturer?

Thanks, in advance, for your replies.

/CC

[Vintage465]

My Creek Side came with two heavy solar wires from the roof top "quick connect" to a location convenient for a controller and two #8 wires to the battery. So mine is actually Solar Ready and now has a Samlex 30a Controller and 300w of panels. Works like it should or at least I never seem to run out of power if I don't do something stupid.

[Cydog15]

RJsfishin wrote:
For all yous that condemm anything a factory does, what do you consider to be undersized wire ? In reality, 10 ga is good for 3-400 watts, which even in parallel, puts the running voltage from the panels at about 18 volts. And most the installs use series, which could then make 10ga wire overkill.

Bingo even with administrator admonishment lol

[CopilotCompanio]

I appreciate all the replies. Since I'm probably not gonna pull cable by myself, I'll pay close attention to what gauge wire they've used. I suspect that will quickly become my limiting constraint. Very helpful replies. Thank you.

[RJsfishin]

For all yous that condemm anything a factory does, what do you consider to be undersized wire ? In reality, 10 ga is good for 3-400 watts, which even in parallel, puts the running voltage from the panels at about 18 volts. And most the installs use series, which could then make 10ga wire overkill.

[dougrainer]

1. It means that they ran the 2 wires from the battery area to the roof area
2. It means that they ran the wires from the battery area to a spot on an inside wall and then ran 2 more wires up to the roof. This spot is for the Controller if used.
3. It can mean wiring for anything from trickle charge for the batteries to a LARGE charger type solar which they will run 8 to 12 gauge wiring depending on what they felt they wanted to offer.
4. It all depends on the OEM and your particular RV. Doug

[2oldman]

pianotuna wrote:
In 2004 the pre wire for solar on my unit was #10 wire.

Same here in 2002. It carries up to 600w @ 100VDC. Works fine.

[CJW8]

It means they were kind enough to run some pull wires so you can install sufficiently sized cables.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

In 2004 the pre wire for solar on my unit was #10 wire. I worked with this and used an MPPT controller. Line losses are less than 1%.

[dons2346]

Trackrig wrote:
It means they ran two undersized wires down from the roof to someplace near the batteries. It's more of marketing gimmick than anything else. Usually their solar ready means you can install 100W to maybe 200W and use their wiring. You'll still have to install a small controller which will still require some hole drilling and additional wires being installed.

Bill

Yup. If I was an installer, I would not use anything that I didn't install. No way would I warrant an installation with someone else's junk wire.

[mike-s]

I suspect Zamp provides free "solar ready" kits to manufacturers. It's a win-win for both. The manufacturers get to advertise "solar ready," and Zamp more than makes back the couple of dollars it costs per unit if they sell their overpriced panels/controllers to even 1% of the owners. Many of them don't know any better, or are simply willing to overpay for something which is "plug and play."

[CopilotCompanio]

Many thanks for all the replies, as usual.

[Cydog15]

red31 wrote:
http://www.zampsolar.com/rv-solar-kits/solar-ready-rv-solar-kit-srrv/

I would use Zamp panels regardless who did the pre-wiring and would think it could be upgraded to better wire if it's not already Zamp ready (or equivalent) using the same holes.

[doughere]

It means whatever the manufacturer feels like doing.

Doug

[BFL13]

It must vary by RV brand and model. Our Komfort (no longer made) came with #8 wire for the solar pre-wire. One pair from roof (actually was dangling in the fridge vent ready to be hauled up to the roof) to the kitchen where it was taped to another pair going from the kitchen to the battery area up front, dangling there.

The idea was to put the panel(s) on the roof and attach the pair out of the fridge vent, insert the controller in the kitchen area between the roof pair for input and the battery pair for output, attach lugs to the battery end wires and connect to battery.

This left the controller miles from the battery, so the other way is to join the two pairs where they meet in the kitchen so it is one long pair from roof to battery area, put the controller there with that long pair as input, use short wire you supply from controller output to battery with a fuse you supply on the pos wire near the battery.