Geo Pro / E-Pro 15fbs approach and departure angle, and other issues

[BrucePerens]

Hi,

I have a 2025 Geo Pro 15fbs coming. Does anyone know the approach and departure angles? To be more simple, this would be the angle from the surface of the wheel touching the ground to any obstruction front or back.

Also, is the solar controller really PWM? I would replace it with MPPT if so, PWM doesn't have any advantage (it mostly is a simple design from before integrated circuits were available) and MPPT can eke out a bit more watts from the panels.

Any experience installing ham radio?

Do they use black-white wiring colors on both 12V and 120V circuits? This always struck me as unsafe, but it seems to be to code.

Thanks

Bruce Perens K6BP

 

[bikendan]

Moved thread from the Towing, Tow Vehicles and Hitches sub-forum to the TT/5th Wheel section's Rockwood sub-forum since the OP is asking for specific information on a Rockwood product and is asking multiple questions that don't pertain to Towing, Tow Vehicles and Hitches.

 

[KethCamps]

The approach and departure angles aren’t usually listed for 15FBS, so better to check with the manufacturer. Swapping out the PWM controller for an MPPT one should be a solid move for better efficiency. Black and white wires for both 12V and 120V circuits are normal in RVs.

 

[HRYSER]

I can't answer your first question however, it is correct, the 15FBS uses a PWM controller. As much as I love this camper, It is very unfortunate that Forest River doesn't provide wiring diagrams or component layout plans of the camper's solar system. Plus, most of the solar components are hidden behind panels and spread out across the entire camper.

 

[BrucePerens]

Spread out? That's an interesting complication, I would have thought it would all be part of the visible control panel. In any case I expect to have a look at all of the electronics I can, as I will be modifying the unit to be RF-quiet, since I am adding an HF ham radio. This means chokes and capacitors in a lot of places. Even the lights have switching regulators these days. I have already done this at the remote ham radio site I built into a freight container, with 8 panels and MPPT, so nothing new to me, just a lot of detail work.

 

[HRYSER]

Bruce
Yes, all solar components are pretty much spread out in the front half of the camper. The charge controller is inaccessible inside the bathroom/hallway wall, the AC converter at the entrance, in the floor cabinet (no access to the wiring, the inverter is behind a panel in the left front storage compartment, the inverter user panel is inside the left bed's nightstand, most of the wiring is either inside the C-profile frame or below the floor, there must be more fuses and breakers that I haven't found yet. Wiring for the external port for additional solar panels is behind panels and I have no clue where the wires are going to or if there are additional inline fuses.
Consequently, I requested a wiring diagram and a component location diagram from FR, but my request was denied