With the solar mounted on top (part 1, part 2) and the wires run to the forward compartment (part 3), there was only one thing left to do. The next step in my project was to connect it all up! Underneath Cara’s bed is the wiring panel where the battery is connected to the rest of…
At the conclusion of Part 2, we had panels mounted on the roof and wired up to the combiner box. We connected the 6 gauge wire to the combiner box and dropped it behind the fridge. The next phase of this project involved running the wire from behind the fridge to the forward compartment. In…
At this point of the install, each panel was mounted on the roof, with a wire connected to each panel and routed along the roof to the fridge vent. The next phase of the project requires connecting the three panels together in what is called a combiner box. Each of the negative wires are connected…
Wow. Great post Sam. You are about two months ahead of me on my solar expansion. Keep the posts coming. I like the fridge vent idea; however I wonder if I can pull it off in the [Approved Interloper make inserted here]. A bit more complicated to remove at first inspection. Maybe ….as I also now need to become ‘A Special Kind Of Cheap’.ReplyCancel
Great site. When are you going to finish your series on your solar installation? I was really enjoying the first two posts about your DIY solar project. What happened once you got the basic wiring down the refrigerator vent?
The next step was the part I wanted to read about. Getting the wiring through the Airstream to the Batteries and installing the electronics and the remote monitor.
Did you just pay someone to finish off the technical part of finishing the wiring and the electronics?
Our plan to self-install solar was a good one. We planned to mail the solar supplies to a friend’s house, then courtesy park for the install using his garage and tools. As it turns out, our awesome friends Ben and Emily live on an Army Base, with plentiful restrictions that foiled our plans. Our Plan B was…
….. With Great Envy, I so want the same!….. I have asked the pros, well companies selling panels, what do I actually need, forget a bout it, lol… I have a vintage 31′ Land Yacht, trying to convert it over somewhat, for off grid…. If you have any ideas what a full kit purchase would be, for any wattage, I’d sure appreciate any and all input…. Looks like you really know what you’re doing here….continue to Enjoy your Adventures…. ( :ReplyCancel
After evaluating our needs, and figuring out what I don’t know about installing solar, we sought for recommendations for a professional installer. We began conversations that started good, and gradually got worse and worse. This happened while I was camping just next door to Dave Zimmerman in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Dave happens…
[…] My Plan for Self Installing Solar Panels Drop-in Multi-State Converter Upgrade Solar Power Install Part I – Panel Mounting Solar Install Part II – Self-Install Combiner Box Solar Power Install Part III – Self Install Running Wire Solar Install Part IV – The Wire Panel Adding Bigger Batteries Installing a 2000 Watt Pure-sine Inverter Automatic Transfer Switches Cost Breakdown […]ReplyCancel
Alright! Now I know that I can do this myself. Nice series of articles. Really liked the pictures.
I do have a portable 200w fold out that I charge with and a know that the angle of the panels and the declination makes a big difference as well, but we can’t keep moving our Airstream around to follow the sun. Do you believe you will ever add the tilt up brackets? I know Rich Luhr and he just has 2 panels (flat mounted) on his 31 footer and has never had to use a generator (or carry one). So, it is a detail and I’m not sure that I’ll consider it either. We are not big consumers of Amp hour.
Actually, our Zamp Solar 200w fold out charges our two stock 27 batteries up after a night of use. I know I’ll go over-kill on as many panels as I can fit on our 2015 27ft Serenity… so I’ll probably just run with them flat. Not even sure how I’d tilt them as we don’t carry a ladder.
Great article. Please f/u with an article on how the user interface works in real life, the amount of Ah you collect, your storage capacity as you use it with your particular habits, what you might have done differently or options for others, etc…
Thanks for spending the time reporting,
Dave
Agreed, great group of articles. We are considering going full time out onto the road and this would be a huge consideration. Like the previous comment stated if you could document actual usage and storage that would be great. I work online and have need for electricity. I would like to do some boondocking and this would help make that happen.
Thanks for an outstanding series of articles about your DIY solar setup, much appreciated.
Thanks for an outstanding series of articles about your DIY solar setup. It’s a very professional-looking job. Much appreciated. One day we hope to do the same, upgrading our dealer-installed 150 Watt Zamp system to something *much* more capable.
[…] II – Self-Install Combiner Box Solar Power Install Part III – Self Install Running Wire Solar Install Part IV – The Wire Panel Adding Bigger Batteries Installing a 2000 Watt Pure-sine Inverter Automatic Transfer Switches Cost […]