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Adding a 2nd Solar Panel

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#11 Bradders

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Posted 04 March 2023 - 07:51 PM

Check out these two You Tube videos which talk about connecting solar panels together. You may need to cut and paste as I'm not sure that the hyperlinks work.

 

  - DIY solar power with Will Browse 

 

 - Explorists Life - DIY campers

 

Will Prowse is excellent and is worth subscribing to as he does a lot of reviews on lithium batteries, etc.

 

What they basically say is that Parallel connected panels need to be the same voltage and series connected panels need to be the same amperage.

 

If you are going to use the splitter in the Amazon link above, you will need to get a panel which produces the same voltage as the one that is already on the roof as the splitter is wired in parallel.

 

Now with regards to the inputs on the back of the camper and on the roof, (and hopefully somebody will correct me if I'm wrong here) they must be wired in parallel otherwise there would be an open circuit when one of the outputs wasn't being used. In which case any panel that you connect to the rear input must be the same voltage as the panel on the roof.


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#12 GflGdog

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Posted 10 April 2023 - 07:19 PM

As a newbie to solar, it seems from my studies that one complication is the high voltage of the overland 160w panel that FWC installs on the roof. Voc is 32.8v, where most of the portable panels are around 18 or 19v. 


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#13 JohnathanAcevedo

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Posted 16 February 2024 - 06:29 PM

Congratulations on your new Grandby model! It's awesome that you're considering adding a second solar panel. Generally, if your camper is prewired for solar, the installation process for an additional panel should be relatively straightforward. However, it's essential to ensure that the existing wiring can accommodate the extra load. Consulting with a professional or reaching out to forums for advice from experienced campers might provide valuable insights.
Additionally, exploring solar panels cork could offer helpful information tailored to your specific needs and setup. Best of luck with the upgrade, and happy camping!


Edited by JohnathanAcevedo, 21 February 2024 - 12:45 PM.

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#14 SCHawk

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Posted 19 February 2024 - 12:49 PM

I mounted the portable solar panel that we got with our 2015 Hawk on the roof to the rear of the factory panel. I just plugged it into the provided receptacle on the back camper wall. I figured that since the camper was set up to handle both panels anyway that this was the simplest way to go. I haven't seen any posts about anyone else doing this.


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