Solar assistance, please

[RoninRV]

Greetings. I have a 2024 Rockwood 2515 S with solar on top from the factory. 200 W. I am trying to add a portable solar panel and have purchased one that seems to work but the extension cord I bought independently might be too heavy gauge and I cannot figure out if in fact, my batteries are being charged utilizing the Gopower port on the side of the camper. Does anyone have a recommendation as to the appropriate size and gauge of wire needed for this extension?

 

[RhumbleFish]

Howdee and welcome.

Your 200w rooftop panel runs to your internal solar controller and then on to your battery. That guy IS (or, rather, should be) charging your battery.

The "solar on the side" port on the SIDE of the camper is JUST a proprietary plug with wires which (should) run DIRECTLY your battery (SOMETIMES this is not connected to your battery). You can test for 12v at the plug - if you have it, you're connected and ready to go. If no 12v at the port, then you'll need to trace the lines and connect them to your battery.

Note that there is NO inline charge controller for the solar on the side connection; you'll have to provide one. Unlike the panels on the roof, ground deploy panels sometimes have a charge controller baked into the panel.

10 AWG PV is (likely) best suited for your application.

Hope this helps.

 

[RoninRV]

Thanks for that info. I do have a DOKIO 220 W solar panel that I purchased separately and it does have a charge controller. I had it hooked up today and it was throwing off about 14 1//2 volts. I just couldn’t tell if my connection into the solar on the side Was working and perhaps I can use a multimeter to figure that out.

 

[Aussieguy]

disconnect the battery and shorepower
throw a blanket over the roof panel

point the ground panel at the sun
measure voltage at the battery cables or the solar on side wires..............
make sure you use multimeter to determine which wire is POSITIVE then make sure that wire gets put onto the positive side of the battery system

put positive probe of the meter on the solar on the side wire you think is positive ... negative on the other wire...
If they are swapped meter will indicate the voltage withe a - (minus sign)

NO multi meter?
a good hobby meter can be gotten at any hardware store for about $30-50 (haven't priced one in a while)
always carry a multi meter in a RV..

If you intend to add more panels or use meter to measure amps OVER 10 amps
Buy a meter that can read DC amps via an amp clamp...
more expensive but the ease of use to measure amperage is worth it!........... hobby version is about $70-100


lots of good videos on youtube on how to use one
if something broken.. google..................... video how to use multimeter to test xxxxxxxxxxxxx in a RV
replace xxxxxxxxxxxx with the name of the thing not working

video how to use multimeter to test solar controller in a RV

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