3 replies to this topic

[nevaska]

I have searched through the forums regarding wiring for solar but most seem to be relevant to models that are pre-wire. I have a 2005 Eagle without solar wiring and I am looking for insight on routing of the solar wiring from controller to roof. I have mounted the panel to the front of the roof and will likely punch through at the front lift board. It seems like a big kpb to remove the headliner, and I drive through too many tight trees to run through cables along the side. Any help or photos would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[ski3pin]

http://www.wanderthe...-not-pre-wired/

[ckent323]

You might start by contacting FWC and see if they have a photo of the roof structure of your camper or an equivalent camper without the skin on it.  You may be able to identify a good place to run wires.  Certainly you do not want to accidentally cut into a structural part and compromise the roof strength.
 

Do you have a powered vent in the roof?  If so you may be able to pull wires along the existing path for those wires.

 

I am not sure how FWC routes the wires past the front roof support member that runs around the top perimeter of the roof and down behind the lift panel.  However, that is another good question for them to see if you can easily pull wires.  It may require removing the lift panel at the ceiling in order to pull the wires down between the  the canvas interior surface and the lift panel (unfortunately, perhaps not simple and maybe tedious).

 

The roof skin is thin so with the top down and while standing on a tall ladder you may be able to press your fingers on the roof skin and feel where the Aluminum roof beams are.  Similarly inside the wood strips are stapled to the aluminum rafters which makes them easy to locate.

 

Once you find a location where you want to place your roof penetration box, gland or whatever, you might want to look at the brief write up I gave about putting solar on my camper (see link).  I used a Go-Power entry plate and I am happy with it.

http://www.wanderthe...e-2#entry185595

 

I note that you already mounted your panel and don't want wires down the side of the camper.  For others reading this another approach is to use a deployable solar panel and not put holes in the roof.  The up-side is that you don't need to park the camper in the sun.  The downside is you cannot use solar to charge while you are driving around.

I have a plan, not yet implemented, to put a Zamp (or other appropriate) Solar cable interface on the side of my camper under the roll over couch in the plywood box.  The idea is to use a deployable Solar panel that I can connect to the batteries and Solar charger that are presently under the couch. 

Alternatively one could penetrate the Aluminum side and attach an entry plate..  Either way sealing the flange of the interface with 3M 4200 or 3M 5200 or equivalent is appropriate.

Edited by ckent323, 28 April 2019 - 09:10 PM.

[nevaska]

Thank you for the detailed response. I ended up running the cables form the solar controller up the wall and beneath the front wooden push bar, and out the roof through a LinkSolar gland. Still need to hide the wires along the wall better.