Wire location in roof for pre-wired solar?

[achiral]

I purchased a used 2006 Grandby about a year ago, have done various updates and minor maintenance, and now would like to install solar.

The camper appears to be pre-wired based on this thread (two set of wires going up to the roof and build date is 2006):
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/13974-what-year-did-they-start-prewiring-the-roof-for-solar-panels/?hl=%2Bsolar+%2B2006#entry164462

So there are wires, but there is no feedthrough/plug through the roof panel or any visual way to see where one could cut through the roof to access the wire ends.

I contacted 4WC with the build and delivery information (e.g. build date, original purchaser, serial number), but their customer service said that they are unable to find the records or documentation for this build.

I haven't seen any pictures of someone using these wires on Grandby, and reading these forums it sounds like there is some variability in wire placement, particularly on the first year after pre-wiring started.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to find the wires (without making cuts in the roof or headliner), or has anyone found the wires on a Grandby from this year?

 

[larryqp]

The wires on my 2014 Eagle shell we under the forward wooded piece that is screwed to the ceiling and serves as the point to push up the roof, after I remove it there was a junction box with 2 wires, The jct box had a hole, thru which I drill thru the roof. If you have not looked there, then try it. You may already know this from previous posts.

Good luck

 

[achiral]

The wires on my 2014 Eagle shell we under the forward wooded piece that is screwed to the ceiling and serves as the point to push up the roof, after I remove it there was a junction box with 2 wires, The jct box had a hole, thru which I drill thru the roof. If you have not looked there, then try it. You may already know this from previous posts.

Good luck

Thank you - I had not seen that before, but it would make sense from an access perspective. I'll take a look under the front lift board.

It sounded to me like the more recent campers were both better laid out and more consistent in wire routing for solar, so I'm a bit dubious that one of the earlier pre-wired campers will be the same. This is all based off of reading, so my perception may not be accurate.

 

[DavidGraves]

Howdy

Good luck finding the solar wiring...it will be a red and black wire pair and the front roof push panel is a great place to look.

Also, there will be TWO strouded wire sets going up behind the front roof support panel if you have solar wire routed into the top.

One can see these when the roof is up...usually on the left side at the front.

David Graves

 

[achiral]

Howdy

Good luck finding the solar wiring...it will be a red and black wire pair and the front roof push panel is a great place to look.

Also, there will be TWO strouded wire sets going up behind the front roof support panel if you have solar wire routed into the top.

One can see these when the roof is up...usually on the left side at the front.

David Graves

There are two shrouded wire sets in the driver's side front corner going to the hinged lift panel, so it does appear to be pre-wired.

Hopefully the roof panel/lift board will gain access to the wire terminations.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I don’t believe it will. I have a vague memory of a thread that discussed the solar pre-wire being very near the roof vent. Hopefully, someone will be able to provide better info.

 

[PaulT]

Look into one of these or equivalent tools. https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-26000900-Pro3000-Generator/dp/B000FTADX0
Search for “wire tracing fox”Attach the transmitter to the solar wiring near the batteries and the receiver should hear the tone so that you can trace to the other end without taking down the ceiling fabric.
Paul

 

[achiral]

Look into one of these or equivalent tools. https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Networks-26000900-Pro3000-Generator/dp/B000FTADX0
Search for “wire tracing fox”Attach the transmitter to the solar wiring near the batteries and the receiver should hear the tone so that you can trace to the other end without taking down the ceiling fabric.
Paul

I had been thinking of a field meter with DC or an antenna with AC or RF on the lines, but the aluminum structure could radically complicate detection.

I hadn't seen an audio transmitter/detector like this, but it seems like a far more robust method than electrical. Thank you very much for the idea.

 

[DavidGraves]

ACHIRAL

Hi, you know the front push bar may be a bit misleading as I own a Hawk....about 16" shorter.

Regardless....the wires are almost certainly behind the push board or the vent fan shroud/trim.

Let us all know as inquiring minds want to know.....and help solve the mystery.

This forum is pretty old fashioned in that we all really do try and be helpful.....we are all neighbors here.

David Graves

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Send me an e-mail if you could with camper model, serial number, or original owners name.

Stan@fourwh.com

I'm buried right now and falling a bit behind.

But I will see if I can find measurements for you when time allows.

If anyone can find them, it might be me.



Stan

 

[achiral]

Send me an e-mail if you could with camper model, serial number, or original owners name.

Stan@fourwh.com

I'm buried right now and falling a bit behind.

But I will see if I can find measurements for you when time allows.

If anyone can find them, it might be me.



Stan

Thank you, Stan - I really appreciate it. Information is on its way!

 

[achiral]

I would really like to thank Stan.

Not only was he able to find the build information, but he already e-mailed the expected wire location to me.

Kudos for some great customer service from him.

 

[Alley-Kat]

So, you're not going to share the information you received?
Add to the communal WTW knowledge base?

 

[achiral]

So, you're not going to share the information you received?
Add to the communal WTW knowledge base?

That's a rather odd presumption to make, and not in a very collegial manner, but so be it.

For this camper, the documented location is just aft of the front vent cover, and just outboard of the cover towards the drivers side. Note that this is for an early 2006 build, a Grandby model, and non-extended cabover. The location is clearly different than on the newer models, as referenced above where there would be access from under the front push panel.

Stan also indicated that 4WC uses a several inch rectangular aluminum plate that is welded to one of the fore/aft roof support members as a wire feed and connector support. This plate has a small diameter hole drilled through it for wire routing and for the connector. Nominally, if one presses on the roof at the expected feed/plate location, one may be able to feel additional support underneath the roof sheathing where the plate is located. It seems like this is the case here, but I'll definitely be drilling a small pilot hole and have some sealant on hand.

 

[ckent323]

achiral,

Those instructions and the location are very similar to what FWC told me when I decided to add solar to our 2007 Keystone.

By pressing down with my fingers I was able to feel the coil of wires under the roof skin.

I removed the horizontal lift board mounted to the inside ceiling of the camper and I was able to locate the aluminum plate with the hole in it.

Here is a write up on my efforts:

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/15644-solar-connector-mount/?p=185595


I hope this is helpful.

Craig

 

[achiral]

achiral,

Those instructions and the location are very similar to what FWC told me when I decided to add solar to our 2007 Keystone.

By pressing down with my fingers I was able to feel the coil of wires under the roof skin.

I removed the horizontal lift board mounted to the inside ceiling of the camper and I was able to locate the aluminum plate with the hole in it.

Here is a write up on my efforts:

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/15644-solar-connector-mount/?p=185595


I hope this is helpful.

Craig

Craig,

Thank you for the link - I don't recall finding that thread before. I have not yet had the opportunity to work on this project, so the install pictures are very helpful.

I also had not decided what type of bulkhead to use for wiring (I was considering just a basic SAE surface mount), but I see some real advantages to your bulkhead passthrough. I need to think this through a bit more since the install will be hard to reverse.

 

[achiral]

I finally was able to install solar in July, so I'm putting up a couple of pictures of the roof feedthrough. The original stated location was 54 3/4" from the front of the camper and 23" from the driver's side for the hole in a metal plate. Stan wasn't 100% certain whether the numbers were from the frame or the finished dimensions, but the metal plate could clearly be felt in that region.

I drilled several pilot holes to ensure I was roughly correct, then used a 3/4" bit to drill through the full aluminum sheet. As can be seen by the first picture, it appears that those dimensions are likely from the frame itself, as the hole was off 1/4" fore/aft from the hole in the mounting plate. There was almost a foot of stranded 10/12 gauge wire taped to the mounting plate to work with.

After a bit of time with a half-round file and some adhesive heat-shrink butt connectors, I had an SAE connector ready to install with some #10 x 3/4" self-tapping stainless screws.