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03-15-2018, 12:15 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 4
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What is the "Solar Prep" package include on 2016 XLR HL 29HFS
What do you get if the coach has a "Solar Prep" package?.
Im wondering if that includes a charge controller and wires run to the battery specifically.
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03-15-2018, 01:05 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Usually only includes a proprietary plug and wires that are too thin to properly charge a battery.
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03-15-2018, 06:11 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Brazoria County, Texas
Posts: 1,460
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A joke is what it is. I'd probably pay for it if it included a charge controller, etc. But, for just a proprietary plug and some wires, it's not much more than a marketing gimmick.
__________________
2015 Chevy Silverado LTZ - HD tow package
2017 Rockwood 2703WS Emerald Edition
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03-15-2018, 06:13 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by babock
Usually only includes a proprietary plug and wires that are too thin to properly charge a battery.
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I can't say for sure about the gauge of the wires because I don't need to care... but the rest is entirely correct for my unit. My wires in the inside and just hanging loose, as we say.
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2015 FR Wildcat 295RSX / GMC Sierra
Nights Camped: '13 = 49/'14 = 74/'15 = 74/'16 = 85/'17 = 110/'18 = 111/'19 = 86/'20 =108/'21 = 115/'22 = 135/'23 = 78; Booked for 2024 = 69
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03-15-2018, 06:14 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 2,139
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A 5$ plug and a sticker to you make you feel good and a real good marketing scam.
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03-16-2018, 12:48 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Rio Hondo, TX
Posts: 608
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I agree with all of the above.
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Chuck & Denise + Pata, The Purple Princess Peanut, Ziggy the pole cat and Kazumba the parrot
2015 23 BD Gray Wolf
2008 Dodge Ram 2500 TX Edition 2015 - 7 nights, 2 trips, 2016 - 2 trip, 24 nights, 2017 1 trip, 3 nights 2018 1 trip, 93 nights
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03-16-2018, 07:24 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,305
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Here is the solar package. 20 bucks and a little effort and you've got it.
CNLINKO USA INC
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2003 Duramax
2017 Crusader 315
2016 Boston Whaler Montauk 150
Former Montana owner
Colorado Cruiser, Over the Pass and Down the Hill
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03-17-2018, 08:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Somewhere in the Ozarks...
Posts: 1,133
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You guys are so right. The "solar prep" package is a joke.
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2015 Forest River Rockwood Signature Series Ultra Lite 8289WS w/Diamond pkg.
2014 RAM CTD 6.7 Tradesman 4WD Auto Crew Cab Long Bed
Honda eu2200i generators
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03-17-2018, 08:11 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Use a voltage drop calculator to limit the voltage drop to 3%. Use the roundtrip wire length.
If each wire is 40 feet, you would use 80 feet.
If you ever think you might add more panels, go up in size accordingly.
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03-17-2018, 08:19 PM
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#10
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Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,293
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Most new campers now come solar ready so, take it for what it's worth. Later RJD
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2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing. Traded 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
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03-31-2018, 11:19 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 18
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The solar prep package is adequate for 300 watts. Its a ten gauge wire. The real issue is its setup to place the panels on the ground next to the rv. I would have preferred if forest river would have run it to the roof for permanent mounting. Thats the avenue I will be going.
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03-31-2018, 01:38 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HighDes
The solar prep package is adequate for 300 watts. Its a ten gauge wire. The real issue is its setup to place the panels on the ground next to the rv. I would have preferred if forest river would have run it to the roof for permanent mounting. Thats the avenue I will be going.
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Keep in mind that with 300W you will have around 16.5A peak. If you want to keep the voltage drop below 3% for a 20 foot run(That's 10' for each conductor) you will need 8 gauge wire. I will have 700W on my roof. I will be using 4 gauge from my combiner box on the roof to my controller.
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03-31-2018, 05:22 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 18
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Thanks. I'm a GC and we do lots of solar setups. Even here in NM in ideal conditions peak is a small window. The exception to that for us is using a single axis tracker. That being said, I highly doubt our rv will ever even see 60% where we're planning on using it. LOL
Quote:
Originally Posted by babock
Keep in mind that with 300W you will have around 16.5A peak. If you want to keep the voltage drop below 3% for a 20 foot run(That's 10' for each conductor) you will need 8 gauge wire. I will have 700W on my roof. I will be using 4 gauge from my combiner box on the roof to my controller.
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04-03-2018, 02:06 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 18
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Can you plug in a solar panel just to keep a slight charge on the battery while the unit is sitting in the yard waiting on the next trip?
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04-03-2018, 05:23 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RollTideRam
Can you plug in a solar panel just to keep a slight charge on the battery while the unit is sitting in the yard waiting on the next trip?
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Only if the solar panel output is so low that it doesn't go above float charge when the battery gets fully charged
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04-03-2018, 05:31 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 621
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Quote:
Originally Posted by babock
Only if the solar panel output is so low that it doesn't go above float charge when the battery gets fully charged
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Well, no.
One needs
- A panel or panels to generate electricity
- A controller to regulate when and how that power is allowed to go to the batteries. The controller is responsible for not overcharging the batteries.
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04-03-2018, 06:20 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnbryanpeters
Well, no.
One needs
- A panel or panels to generate electricity
- A controller to regulate when and how that power is allowed to go to the batteries. The controller is responsible for not overcharging the batteries.
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Well...yes and no.
If you attach a 15W or less trickle charger panel, you will not over charge your batteries. The person who asked the question didn't specify how large a panel he was putting on. There are dozens of trickle panel panels out there that never intend to have a controller on them and they don't need them.
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04-03-2018, 06:32 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 621
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Quote:
Originally Posted by babock
Well...yes and no.
If you attach a 15W or less trickle charger panel, you will not over charge your batteries. The person who asked the question didn't specify how large a panel he was putting on. There are dozens of trickle panel panels out there that never intend to have a controller on them and they don't need them.
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All of the 15 W "trickle charger" panels that I can find using Google have controllers built in - am I missing something?
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04-03-2018, 06:37 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnbryanpeters
All of the 15 W "trickle charger" panels that I can find using Google have controllers built in - am I missing something?
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You may have seen some that have them. Most don't. Since it is putting out 800mA or less, you really don't need them. That's why I stated, see if the voltage range when it's fully charged is in it's float voltage range.
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05-25-2018, 11:53 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 86
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So has anyone used it yet?
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