Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-23-2017, 11:14 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Milpitas
Posts: 1,627
Jayco Solar Ready Connector/Controller

I have a 23MRB with a "solar plug" (SAE) built in. I purchased a 100 watt panel with a Controller (Renology).

The controller panel with the optional SAE connector plugs directly into the trailer. This means that the Controller, rather than being in series between the solar panel and the battery, will be connected directly to the battery.

Will the Controller still control the voltage input from the solar panel even though it is connected separately.
__________________
2019 Chevy express 2500 Van Coversion. 2017 Jayco 23MRB: 26' total and Glacier Package. 2 Renogy solar panels. Married 49 years. Haley the mutt, 4 years old. "Excited to learn new things everyday and humbled by those who offer to help." And very grateful to our Moderators!
travelingjw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2017, 12:12 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 1,073
I don't think it will work that way. If your are prewired for solar, the controller needs to be installed in the wall inside your RV. The wires In The wall are all capped off ready to hook up to the controller, having a panel plugged into the prewired plugs on the roof or near the ground don't go to the battery, they go to where the controller should be installed. There are normally two connections for your panels, on the roof and near the ground. Mine is in the pass through storage area.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
__________________
2017 Eagle 291RSTS
2017 Chevy Silverado Duramax 2500
GHen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2017, 07:10 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Milpitas
Posts: 1,627
Thanks, after reading your reply I called Jayco direct. In the 2017 Whitehawk the solar plug is wired directly into the battery. Their position is that you must use a suitcase type set up where solar panel connects to controller which then connects to the Jayco plug.
__________________
2019 Chevy express 2500 Van Coversion. 2017 Jayco 23MRB: 26' total and Glacier Package. 2 Renogy solar panels. Married 49 years. Haley the mutt, 4 years old. "Excited to learn new things everyday and humbled by those who offer to help." And very grateful to our Moderators!
travelingjw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2017, 07:16 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 1,073
That makes total sense, the controller must be installed somewhere between the panels and the batteries to avoid overcharging the batteries. Glad you got it figured out!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
__________________
2017 Eagle 291RSTS
2017 Chevy Silverado Duramax 2500
GHen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2017, 06:54 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Atlee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Mechanicsville
Posts: 1,479
Have you had a chance to use your new solar panel yet? If so, how well does it work? If you haven't, could you come back to this thread and report how well it works? Thanks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by travelingjw View Post
Thanks, after reading your reply I called Jayco direct. In the 2017 Whitehawk the solar plug is wired directly into the battery. Their position is that you must use a suitcase type set up where solar panel connects to controller which then connects to the Jayco plug.
__________________
Erroll and Mary Doss and Duffy (RIP)
2018 Jayco Redhawk 22J

2014 F150 SC, 4x4, HD Pkg, Sterling Gray
Atlee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2017, 07:41 AM   #6
Site Team
 
Mustang65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
Hope you got everything wired in properly! Let us know how the SOLAR is doing. Do you have a Digital Voltage Display to keep tract of the SOLAR/BATTERIES? Not sure if you have visited or joined our RVing with SOLAR social group, there is a lot of GREAT information there regarding SOLAR , batteries, installations. Stop by and join! The link is below.

Don


My Registry

RVing with SOLAR
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73,Max Tow Pkg.
Our Solar Album https://www.jaycoowners.com/album.php?albumid=329
Mustang65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2017, 09:30 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
BCx213's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Langley
Posts: 516
Quote:
Originally Posted by Atlee View Post
Have you had a chance to use your new solar panel yet? If so, how well does it work? If you haven't, could you come back to this thread and report how well it works? Thanks.
I have a 120 watt Go Power folding suitcase solar panel, It has a 10 amp digital controller built in. In full sun, it will put out 6.7 amps and is more than adequate for our needs and keep the battery topped up. Still have my inverter generator for back up on those less than ideal days where solar isn't effective.
__________________
2012 Jayco Jayfeather X213
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Quad Cab 4x4
BCx213 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2017, 02:25 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Milpitas
Posts: 1,627
Hi,
We took the solar panel out on our last trip. We ran the battery down to "2/3" and then hooked up the panel. Within 10 minutes it had the battery back to full. This panel is 100 watts. We purchased it as we were using a 43 Watt panel that would "sustain" a charge but it would not actually increase the charge. Now we can run everything except our air-conditioner and microwave.
__________________
2019 Chevy express 2500 Van Coversion. 2017 Jayco 23MRB: 26' total and Glacier Package. 2 Renogy solar panels. Married 49 years. Haley the mutt, 4 years old. "Excited to learn new things everyday and humbled by those who offer to help." And very grateful to our Moderators!
travelingjw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-16-2017, 02:11 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Ward
Posts: 121
Does anyone know what the battery level lights in the camper refer to in terms of voltage of the battery? I'm assuming that 1/2 is not less than 10.1v for instance.
__________________
2017 Hummingbird FD
2012 Tacoma TRD OME Dakar Springs
Thighmaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-16-2017, 02:14 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Ward
Posts: 121
I'll be trying new Thunderbolt 100w panels with controller (unknown voltage) for our Hummingbird this spring. First time to try solar. Any tips on how to understand "BULK - ABSORPTION - FLOAT charging?" Initially I assumed I could just plug the panels in and trickle as needed, but... what's this other stuff???
__________________
2017 Hummingbird FD
2012 Tacoma TRD OME Dakar Springs
Thighmaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2017, 07:50 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Milpitas
Posts: 1,627
Hi,
You cannot plug the panels into anything but the controller first, since it is not built in to your unit. The controller will assure that the batteries are not overcharged. Make sure you follow the directions on your unit as to what gets hooked up first. On mine, I have to hook the controller to the battery before I hook up my solar panel.
__________________
2019 Chevy express 2500 Van Coversion. 2017 Jayco 23MRB: 26' total and Glacier Package. 2 Renogy solar panels. Married 49 years. Haley the mutt, 4 years old. "Excited to learn new things everyday and humbled by those who offer to help." And very grateful to our Moderators!
travelingjw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2018, 10:28 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Ward
Posts: 121
I would really like to configure this set-up somehow: solar panels plug into a-frame plug, run that into controlled which is mounted inside the TT, then run line to batteries. Anyone tried this? Ideas for solar panels to controlled mounted inside, then to the battery?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
__________________
2017 Hummingbird FD
2012 Tacoma TRD OME Dakar Springs
Thighmaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2018, 05:41 AM   #13
Site Team
 
Mustang65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thighmaster View Post
I would really like to configure this set-up somehow: solar panels plug into a-frame plug, run that into controlled which is mounted inside the TT, then run line to batteries. Anyone tried this? Ideas for solar panels to controlled mounted inside, then to the battery?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
That is the way most permanent setups work.

SOLAR panels connect to either the roof/side connectors, the SOLAR roof/side pre-wired connector cables run to the battery area and you connect them to your SOLAR Charge Controller that you mount as close (inside) to the batteries as you can and finally the SOLAR Charge Controller cables (output) are connected to the batteries.

All you need to do then is plug in the SOLAR panels into the roof/side connectors.

Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 284BHS
2012 Ford F150XLT, EcoBoost w/3.73,Max Tow Pkg.
Our Solar Album https://www.jaycoowners.com/album.php?albumid=329
Mustang65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2018, 12:13 PM   #14
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Loveland
Posts: 18
I just got a new x213 with the a-frame Jack and got a renogy 200w system. The thing I noticed was the placard for the Jack is rated 20A and the wanderer controller that came with my panels is a 30A controller! I considered getting a 20A controller, but I'll probably just run cables from controller to the battery. I'm going to mount the controller to the A-frame in a box like a friend of mine did. I'll post pics whe I get around to doing that!
mrkarl4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2018, 12:17 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Ward
Posts: 121
Would love to see the photo. Sounds good. No desire to mount controller inside the TT?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
2017 Hummingbird FD
2012 Tacoma TRD OME Dakar Springs
Thighmaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2018, 06:45 PM   #16
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Lehi
Posts: 1
I just bought this system from HF as well. How did it work for you? Instructions are horrible! Did you get it all figured out?
__________________
Mike
2018 Jay Flight 287BHSW
Justmrt24 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2018, 09:40 PM   #17
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Loveland
Posts: 18
Solar almost in

I just have to hook up the battery (ran out of time today), but ran the wires down the right side (pax side) of the front of the camper and have the charge controller in an ammo box on top of the battery box. (no, the panels are not plugged into the controller yet!) I'll have pics up soon (at work now, and will be a couple days until I can get back to the camper to finish). Another thought was a Pelican box somehow u-bolted (or similar) to the side of the A-frame, not too keen on drilling holes into the frame! Don't know if they make a u-bolt the size I would need, so contemplating a couple steel plates with bolts on top and bottom. We'll see how the first set up works though!
mrkarl4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 08:41 PM   #18
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Loveland
Posts: 18
All exterior solar set up!

I got my solar all installed and it works great! I put the 2 panels on the right front (about the only place they can sit next to each other). The outer mounting holes lined up beautifully with the trusses, and the inner holes for the clamps, I used well nuts as they recommend on the Renogy website, they worked great! I ran the cables down the side of the front and put them in command strip clamps. I used a $4 ammo can from HF (dry box can) and put 3 velcro type command strips in it, and of course, strips on the charge controller as well. I mounted the ammo can on top of the battery box. to do that, I just drilled 3 holes in the ammo can that are on the outer perimeter of the battery box, and had some spare bolts and nuts. I used the vinyl washers that i didn't use on the solar panels, in between the ammo can and battery box. Drilled my holes for the cables going in and out of the charge controller, and everything is working great! I have no trouble getting the battery box top off, or the propane cover off. I did drill a new battery vent area since the ammo can covered it, don't know if it was necessary, but additional places for the battery gasses to go isn't a bad thing I guess! I haven't trimmed the cables yet either, but I'm not worried about that, this system charged my battery on a completely cloudy/rainy day in about 2 hours! I was happy!
Attached Thumbnails
solar1.jpg   solar2.jpg   solar3.jpg   solar4.jpg   solar5.jpg  

mrkarl4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2018, 08:42 PM   #19
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Loveland
Posts: 18
Well, dang! Jayco put my pictures sideways!
mrkarl4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2018, 08:27 PM   #20
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hillsboro
Posts: 87
mrkarl4, that looks like a nice set up for those who don't want to drill holes in their TT while it is still under warranty.

Do you have any concerns about heat build up in the ammo box around the controller if it is on all the time, especially in the summer when the outside temp is around 90??
__________________
2018 Jay Flight SLX 212QBW Rocky Mountain Edition
2016 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew 3.5L Ecoboost
HD Towing Package 145" WB
Andersen WDH
560 watts solar, roof mounted and portable suitcases
2000 watt PSW Inverter
OregonPerson is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
solar, solar controller

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.