Solar Controller and Panel Install on a 2003 Journey DL 34HD

[TDServices]

Looking to install a solar controller and solar panels on my 2003 34hd and wondering if anyone else Has already done this, trying to see the best spot was thinking by the charger on the drivers side , but now I’m thinking maybe in the storage bay in front of the heater ( passenger side) because I know most people run there cables through the rv refrigerator vent on the roof anybody with photos or suggestion would be appreciated

 

[Zoohelp]

Thought I have a different rig, I installed my 2 200 watt panels behind the fridge vent, ran cable down it, and installed controller in storage bay next to battery compartment to keep cables short going to batteries

 

[TDServices]

Yea that’s what I wanted to do but the storage bay next my batteries is the 30 gallon propane tank

 

[keithd311]

I have 800 watts on my 2004 29B. The panel wires run down the refrigerator channel and are routed to the front storage cabinet. The feed to the batteries, which are under the entry steps, run from the cabinet to the battery box. Everything works great. I have 2 - 280Ah lithium batteries and the solar is able to keep up with my usage.

 

[TDServices]

Nice setup did you do that yourself ? Anyway this is my setup (coach wise )

 

[keithd311]

Nice setup did you do that yourself ? Anyway this is my setup (coach wise ) View attachment 2447304

On mine, the refrigerator section and where I put the charge controller, etc. is on the same side. But since the volts/amps coming from the solar are fairly low, you can use a little larger wire to connect that to the batteries. Output from the batteries to the inverter and other circuits should be as short as possible with the correct rated wires.

 

[TDServices]

Well from the inverter to the batteries is about 4 ft and I’m using 4/0 welding cable to do that it’s just for the solar I have to figure out how to run the wire somehow

 

[keithd311]

Mine was not perfect as I had to run the wires from the panels from the refrigerator galley around the battery box and propane tank compartments into the front storage compartment and then back to the batteries on the MPPT output side. Distance from the batteries to the MPPT is probably 6 feet or so. Like you, the battery to the inverter is fairly short with heavy welding wire. My inverter is only 2000 Watt, so used 2/0 for that and between the batteries.

Afraid I don't have any pictures at the moment. BTW, I see you are in Colorado, as am I. You are welcome to come see how I did my install. I am in Bailey, CO.

 

[TDServices]

I’m over in delta

 

[TDServices]

Mine was not perfect as I had to run the wires from the panels from the refrigerator galley around the battery box and propane tank compartments into the front storage compartment and then back to the batteries on the MPPT output side. Distance from the batteries to the MPPT is probably 6 feet or so. Like you, the battery to the inverter is fairly short with heavy welding wire. My inverter is only 2000 Watt, so used 2/0 for that and between the batteries.

Afraid I don't have any pictures at the moment. BTW, I see you are in Colorado, as am I. You are welcome to come see how I did my install. I am in Bailey, CO.

Also wondering I am installing lithium batteries and I heard somebody saying something about the alternator on the coach not being able to keep up or something

 

[klook]

Yes, if you have a lot of AH of batteries they can pull more then the Alternator can output and burn it up. 200 to 300 ah depending who you talk to. I just went ahead and put a dc-dc charger in mine and I ended up with 514ah anyways. It worked very well in the 4000+ miles I did last winter. But I lost the aux start option. I don't need that.