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12-03-2018, 08:13 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 35
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Solar Panel Fuse Question
Hey Guys, I recently bought two 100 watt Renogy mono solar panels for my Coachmen Apex TT. I don't plan to mount them permanently, just move around on the ground as necessary to catch the most sun. My question is what size maxi blade fuse should I use between the battery and the charge controller. Thanks
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12-03-2018, 12:20 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 152
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Solar Panel Fuse Question
I have 8 100 watt panels and i have a 15 amp fuse per panel.
The picture is when I was in the process of installing the panels
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12-03-2018, 12:50 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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I have a circuit breaker sized to at least 20A above my max current expected. In my case I use an 80A fuse for 50A peak. It's really for catastrophic failures. I use a breaker that is designed to be turned on and off.
I know you didn't ask about solar panels to controller but I use a breaker right after the junction box near the ceiling where the cable feeds through. It's main purpose in my opinion is a way to turn off the solar panel power.
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12-04-2018, 07:17 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,827
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kisatchie
Hey Guys, I recently bought two 100 watt Renogy mono solar panels for my Coachmen Apex TT. I don't plan to mount them permanently, just move around on the ground as necessary to catch the most sun. My question is what size maxi blade fuse should I use between the battery and the charge controller. Thanks
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Sizing of Fuses or Circuit breaker should follow the specs of your Solar Charge Controller.
If you have a Renogy Wanderer - 30A PWM Solar Charge Controller. Page 12 of the install manual:
I purchased circuit breakers to also use as a shut-off.
IE: 50 Amp In-Line Circuit Breaker for my 50a MPPT.
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12-05-2018, 04:06 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SO-CAL
Posts: 503
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RedDragon
I have 8 100 watt panels and i have a 15 amp fuse per panel. Attachment 192564
The picture is when I was in the process of installing the panels
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Wow what a setup. I just got my 2 100w kit from windy nation. Had a 100w kit on old RV and worked great. I have a fiberglass roof and going to use 3m VHB tape to hold them on. I watched a few videos on the tape on RV's and after a year it is still on their roof.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Phil
__________________
RETIRED U.S. NAVY
2017 FORESTER 3051S
IN SO-CAL
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12-05-2018, 06:32 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,827
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Philkaty
Wow what a setup. I just got my 2 100w kit from windy nation. Had a 100w kit on old RV and worked great. I have a fiberglass roof and going to use 3m VHB tape to hold them on. I watched a few videos on the tape on RV's and after a year it is still on their roof.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Phil
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I use Z-brackets for air flow under the solar panels. Heat will reduce the output of a solar panel.
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12-05-2018, 06:58 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SO-CAL
Posts: 503
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rk06382
I use Z-brackets for air flow under the solar panels. Heat will reduce the output of a solar panel.
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yes I will use the Z brackets it came with. I don't want to screw into my roof.
__________________
RETIRED U.S. NAVY
2017 FORESTER 3051S
IN SO-CAL
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12-05-2018, 09:15 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,827
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Philkaty
yes I will use the Z brackets it came with. I don't want to screw into my roof.
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Use a stud finder to locate the cross members. I made sure the front two Z brackets for the front solar panels were on in stud. The front solar panels take the blunt of the wind. Use Dicor sealant to weather proof the Z brackets.
I used the refrigerator exhaust vent to run cables to the roof.
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12-05-2018, 09:47 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 36
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I believe the output of your controller is what you want to size for
example 20 amp controller = 20 amp fuse 30=30
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12-05-2018, 11:52 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 852
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Reddragon: What accessories can you operate during the day as compared to at night and how many batteries do you have? 12 volt or 6 volt ? Thanks !!
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12-06-2018, 07:00 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 152
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I run everything but the AC during the day. the fridge I’ll switch over to propane once the sun begins to set just to conserve battery power. I have 8 6v golf cart batteries with a 3000 watt pure sine wave converter.
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12-06-2018, 09:34 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SO-CAL
Posts: 503
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rk06382
Use a stud finder to locate the cross members. I made sure the front two Z brackets for the front solar panels were on in stud. The front solar panels take the blunt of the wind. Use Dicor sealant to weather proof the Z brackets.
I used the refrigerator exhaust vent to run cables to the roof.
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Not sure I will find studs since they are made out of Aluminum. Yep down the vent like my last RV worked out great.
__________________
RETIRED U.S. NAVY
2017 FORESTER 3051S
IN SO-CAL
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12-08-2018, 08:11 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rk06382
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Thanks rk. That's exactly the info I needed. Got a 30 amp maxi fuse and holder to go between the TT battery and the 30 amp charge controller. Ordered 20 amp fuses and holders to go between the two panels and the controller.
Thanks again.
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12-08-2018, 08:18 AM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beck
I believe the output of your controller is what you want to size for
example 20 amp controller = 20 amp fuse 30=30
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Thanks Beck. My Wanderer controller is 30 amp so I went with a 30 amp maxi fuse.
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12-08-2018, 08:49 AM
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#15
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Trailer Park Supervisor
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,450
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RedDragon
I have 8 6v golf cart batteries with a 3000 watt pure sine wave converter.
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Holy cow!!! At 64 lbs each for flooded, you are carrying over a quarter ton of batteries! That's not even including weight of all the solar panels. Do you do journeys of biblical proportion, like 40 days in the desert?
__________________
2019 Rockwood Geo Pro G19FD w/off road package
2015 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4x4 V8
Yes, I drink the water!
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12-08-2018, 08:52 AM
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#16
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Trailer Park Supervisor
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,450
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__________________
2019 Rockwood Geo Pro G19FD w/off road package
2015 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4x4 V8
Yes, I drink the water!
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12-08-2018, 12:59 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 152
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NJKris
Holy cow!!! At 64 lbs each for flooded, you are carrying over a quarter ton of batteries! That's not even including weight of all the solar panels. Do you do journeys of biblical proportion, like 40 days in the desert?
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Lol. Where I go for half my vacation ( 5 weeks in Canada)I have access to water but no electric. There are times when it gets cloudy for a few days. The other half (5 weeks in NH)I’ve got both.
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12-08-2018, 01:04 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 152
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NJKris
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Along with what the article states I have my panels wired to a fuse block. I have each panel fused independently so if one panel should happen to short it won’t effect the other panels.
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