CoreyTrevor
Senior Member
First post, so hello to all WTWers! I will confess to lurking off and on for years.
I want to put 2 of the Renogy 160 amp flexible panels on my 2012 Eagle roof. I've read lots of threads with differing opinions on whether the 12g existing solar wiring is adequate, and also how running the panels in series will allow more current with smaller wires. I don't really want to rehash those old topics.
I had an idea that I haven't looked into details on the actual work needed to do it, but was hoping for some input on the concept itself.
The thinking is to use the roof structure and camper frame structure as the ground from the panels to the controller, and then use both 12g existing wires, hot and ground, for the hot side. I would run a good sized ground wire from the roof frame to the camper frame, behind one of the lift panels, then ground the panels to the roof frame and ground the controller to the camper frame.
All that aluminum should be able to carry lots of amps with no real voltage drop. I would just have to come up with a really good way to make the connections so they don't degrade over time. Dielectric grease would help to prevent corrosion.
I don't see any reason the ground side wouldn't work fine, but is there any reason that the 2 hot wires running side by side would be any problem? I just see this as an easy way to get more amps from the roof to controller without ripping half the camper apart to run larger wires.
I'm pretty good with vehicle electrics, but I'm sure there are people here that have more in-depth electrical and FWC knowledge than I!
Thanks!
I want to put 2 of the Renogy 160 amp flexible panels on my 2012 Eagle roof. I've read lots of threads with differing opinions on whether the 12g existing solar wiring is adequate, and also how running the panels in series will allow more current with smaller wires. I don't really want to rehash those old topics.
I had an idea that I haven't looked into details on the actual work needed to do it, but was hoping for some input on the concept itself.
The thinking is to use the roof structure and camper frame structure as the ground from the panels to the controller, and then use both 12g existing wires, hot and ground, for the hot side. I would run a good sized ground wire from the roof frame to the camper frame, behind one of the lift panels, then ground the panels to the roof frame and ground the controller to the camper frame.
All that aluminum should be able to carry lots of amps with no real voltage drop. I would just have to come up with a really good way to make the connections so they don't degrade over time. Dielectric grease would help to prevent corrosion.
I don't see any reason the ground side wouldn't work fine, but is there any reason that the 2 hot wires running side by side would be any problem? I just see this as an easy way to get more amps from the roof to controller without ripping half the camper apart to run larger wires.
I'm pretty good with vehicle electrics, but I'm sure there are people here that have more in-depth electrical and FWC knowledge than I!
Thanks!