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solar charge controller [message #302361]

Sun, 19 June 2016 18:23

kstockwell

Messages: 367
Registered: May 2016
Location: Putney VT

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Where do people mount their solar charge controller?
Can i put it in the battery cabinet (along the wall?) Or do I need to run wires to somewhere?

I have a Renogy charge controller and 100W panel. I'm fine setting up the panel temporary each time I setup for now, but I want to hook up the controller to the battery

kelly
1978 kingsley

1978 Kingsley Putney VT

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302366 is a reply to message #302361]

Sun, 19 June 2016 18:50

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

kstockwell wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 16:23

Where do people mount their solar charge controller?
Can i put it in the battery cabinet (along the wall?) Or do I need to run wires to somewhere?

I have a Renogy charge controller and 100W panel. I'm fine setting up the panel temporary each time I setup for now, but I want to hook up the controller to the battery

kelly
1978 kingsley

I mounted mine on the wall inside the electrical cabinet on the right side.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46385-solar-controller-wired-up.html

I think it's better to mount it inside the coach rather than in the battery compartment where battery gasses could affect it.

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302371 is a reply to message #302366]

Sun, 19 June 2016 19:26

kstockwell

Messages: 367
Registered: May 2016
Location: Putney VT

Karma: 4

Senior Member

I think you're right. How did you get the wires in there? Did you have to make holes?

thank you
kelly

Carl S. wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 19:50

kstockwell wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 16:23
Where do people mount their solar charge controller?
Can i put it in the battery cabinet (along the wall?) Or do I need to run wires to somewhere?

I have a Renogy charge controller and 100W panel. I'm fine setting up the panel temporary each time I setup for now, but I want to hook up the controller to the battery

kelly
1978 kingsley

I mounted mine on the wall inside the electrical cabinet on the right side.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46385-solar-controller-wired-up.html

I think it's better to mount it inside the coach rather than in the battery compartment where battery gasses could affect it.

1978 Kingsley Putney VT

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302391 is a reply to message #302361]

Sun, 19 June 2016 23:31

Adrien G.

Messages: 474
Registered: May 2008
Location: Burns Flat, OK 73624

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Kelly, I mounted the solar panel controller in back of the ref, wires down the ref vent,
readout next to sys monitor, charger wires under Lav, bed and over to batt in gen box.
Solar panel mounted on top of cargo box.

Floor plan will somewhat dictate what or how you can do it.

Adrien & Jenny Genesoto 75 Glenbrook (26-3) Mods LS3.70 FD / Reaction Sys / 80mm Front&Intermidiate / Hydroboost / 16" Tires / Frame Rebuild / Interior Rebuild Yuba City,Ca. Text 530-nine-3-three-3-nine-nine-6

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302406 is a reply to message #302371]

Mon, 20 June 2016 09:33

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

kstockwell wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 17:26

I think you're right. How did you get the wires in there? Did you have to make holes?

thank you
kelly

Carl S. wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 19:50
kstockwell wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 16:23
Where do people mount their solar charge controller?
Can i put it in the battery cabinet (along the wall?) Or do I need to run wires to somewhere?

I have a Renogy charge controller and 100W panel. I'm fine setting up the panel temporary each time I setup for now, but I want to hook up the controller to the battery

kelly
1978 kingsley

I mounted mine on the wall inside the electrical cabinet on the right side.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46385-solar-controller-wired-up.html

I think it's better to mount it inside the coach rather than in the battery compartment where battery gasses could affect it.

I drilled a hole in the roof above the drawer stack and ran the cables down the back of that area:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46404-cabling.html

Then covered the penetration with a wall plate filled with sealant:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46410-roof-penetration.html

The cables from the controller to the batteries runs along the chase at the foot of the bed and down through the body to the battery bank (two GC-2s).

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46398-cables.html

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46401-battery-connections.html

Pretty simple (it had to be or I couldn't have done it).

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302407 is a reply to message #302361]

Mon, 20 June 2016 09:44

lqqkatjon

Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN

Karma: 5

Senior Member

I thought in my research, mount the charge controller as close to the batteries as practical. I agree that mounting it in battery area is not the best, and that it should be mounted in a more controlled location. Mine is mounted inside, in the small open hole between the aluminum generator compartment and the back wall in my palm beach. But took a little fancy mounts and such to get it serviceable.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKv6awLdHGw/T3ZR0U3EOmI/AAAAAAAAPQM/XldmaO9qs7Y/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG

I think I did same as carl with wire routing. Heavy awg through closet, behind driverside rear seating, and down to where charge controller is.

http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/search?q=solar

my system is still running well now for 4 years.

http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/search?q=solar

Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302408 is a reply to message #302407]

Mon, 20 June 2016 09:52

Justin Brady

Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN

Karma: 11

Senior Member

The solar charge controller should be mounted as close to the batteries as possible and connected with as large a wire as possible.
It shouldn't be in the battery compartment ideally.

Justin Brady http://www.thegmcrv.com/ 1976 Palm Beach 455

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302478 is a reply to message #302407]

Tue, 21 June 2016 13:43

trapper

Messages: 52
Registered: April 2015
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Karma: 0

Member

lqqkatjon wrote on Mon, 20 June 2016 09:44

I thought in my research, mount the charge controller as close to the batteries as practical.

VERY important point there. Ideally it will be within a foot or two of the batteries for full effect. I'd mount the controller right in the battery compartment...and have the monitor in the coach. You don't need to see nor access the controller regularly so it is OK if it is out of the way.

75 Glenbrook

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302486 is a reply to message #302406]

Tue, 21 June 2016 15:38

kstockwell

Messages: 367
Registered: May 2016
Location: Putney VT

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Nice job!
-kelly

Carl S. wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 19:50

kstockwell wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 16:23
Where do people mount their solar charge controller?
Can i put it in the battery cabinet (along the wall?) Or do I need to run wires to somewhere?

I have a Renogy charge controller and 100W panel. I'm fine setting up the panel temporary each time I setup for now, but I want to hook up the controller to the battery

kelly
1978 kingsley

I mounted mine on the wall inside the electrical cabinet on the right side.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46385-solar-controller-wired-up.html

I think it's better to mount it inside the coach rather than in the battery compartment where battery gasses could affect it.

[/quote]

I drilled a hole in the roof above the drawer stack and ran the cables down the back of that area:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46404-cabling.html

Then covered the penetration with a wall plate filled with sealant:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46410-roof-penetration.html

The cables from the controller to the batteries runs along the chase at the foot of the bed and down through the body to the battery bank (two GC-2s).

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46398-cables.html

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46401-battery-connections.html

Pretty simple (it had to be or I couldn't have done it). [/quote]

1978 Kingsley Putney VT

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302491 is a reply to message #302486]

Tue, 21 June 2016 16:52

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

kstockwell wrote on Tue, 21 June 2016 13:38

Nice job!
-kelly

Carl S. wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 19:50
kstockwell wrote on Sun, 19 June 2016 16:23
Where do people mount their solar charge controller?
Can i put it in the battery cabinet (along the wall?) Or do I need to run wires to somewhere?

I have a Renogy charge controller and 100W panel. I'm fine setting up the panel temporary each time I setup for now, but I want to hook up the controller to the battery

kelly
1978 kingsley

I mounted mine on the wall inside the electrical cabinet on the right side.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/solar-battery-charging/p46385-solar-controller-wired-up.html

I think it's better to mount it inside the coach rather than in the battery compartment where battery gasses could affect it.

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Re: solar charge controller [message #302527 is a reply to message #302478]

Wed, 22 June 2016 07:16

Matt Colie

Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan

Karma: 7

Senior Member

lqqkatjon wrote on Mon, 20 June 2016 09:44

I thought in my research, mount the charge controller as close to the batteries as practical.

trapper wrote on Tue, 21 June 2016 14:43

VERY important point there. Ideally it will be within a foot or two of the batteries for full effect. I'd mount the controller right in the battery compartment...and have the monitor in the coach. You don't need to see nor access the controller regularly so it is OK if it is out of the way.

I have to agree with Jon, but "trapper"'s idea to place any electronics in the actual battery space should be approached carefully. If your house bank is flooded cell, it will emit corrosive vapors. This is why is would find some place out off the battery spaces for it to live. Being close to the bank is advised.

Matt

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

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