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Old 06-22-2018, 10:40 PM   #1
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Seneca solar install

Just got done adding a Renogy 400 watt system on our 2018.5 Seneca. Everything way pretty easy, laid the panels out and marked mounts, pilot drilled all the holes with a 3/16” bit, then put dicor over the holes and area of the mounts and set panel in place. I used #14 x 3/4” Stainless hex head screws and ran them in by hand so they wouldnt strip out in the thin roof. I ended up punching a third hole in each mount so there are 12 screws in each panel...everything is very solid. Then put more dicor over the screws and placed zip tie tabs for the wires down on roof with dicor. Found the prewired behind a marked cover just up behind the inverter and made a plywood panel to mount everything on. Wired everything up and brought it online today, everything works great. Got the optional Bluetooth module and have the app to monitor and set up the controller via phone.
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Old 06-23-2018, 02:48 AM   #2
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Very nice layout and install .
I am trying to determine the difference between the units on their site. Did you order a kit or buy the components individually? What size wire from the controller to the batteries? That system should keep you charged up.
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Old 06-23-2018, 09:53 AM   #3
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Very nice layout and install .
I am trying to determine the difference between the units on their site. Did you order a kit or buy the components individually? What size wire from the controller to the batteries? That system should keep you charged up.

I ordered the Premium 300 watt kit. Once I laid the panels out on the roof there was plenty of room for a 4th so I added one more. The pre-wire from the roof down is 8ga and the kit comes with tray cables that are 8ga. The only other thing I had to get was the disconnects off Amazon. If you order from Renogy and it is your first order the coupon code is WELCOME10 for a 10% discount.
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Old 06-23-2018, 10:45 AM   #4
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VERY NICE JOB!!!!

Very professional looking. Welcome to the RVing with SOLAR family! If you have time, put a few pictures on the RVing with SOLAR community group

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Old 06-23-2018, 12:33 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Rustynuts View Post
Just got done adding a Renogy 400 watt system on our 2018.5 Seneca. Everything way pretty easy, laid the panels out and marked mounts, pilot drilled all the holes with a 3/16” bit, then put dicor over the holes and area of the mounts and set panel in place. I used #14 x 3/4” Stainless hex head screws and ran them in by hand so they wouldnt strip out in the thin roof. I ended up punching a third hole in each mount so there are 12 screws in each panel...everything is very solid. Then put more dicor over the screws and placed zip tie tabs for the wires down on roof with dicor. Found the prewired behind a marked cover just up behind the inverter and made a plywood panel to mount everything on. Wired everything up and brought it online today, everything works great. Got the optional Bluetooth module and have the app to monitor and set up the controller via phone.

Very professional looking!! Thanks for sharing!!
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Old 06-24-2018, 05:05 AM   #6
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Thank you. I think I am going to start with the 200 premium system. Now I have to use your install as the standard as it is beautifully done . What is the material you used for the backer board?
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Old 06-24-2018, 10:42 AM   #7
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Thank you. I think I am going to start with the 200 premium system. Now I have to use your install as the standard as it is beautifully done . What is the material you used for the backer board?

The panel is just 3/4" Birch plywood painted with Rustoleum Spray on Bedliner which makes a nice textured and durable finish.
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Old 06-24-2018, 12:07 PM   #8
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Thanks. It looked different than plywood. The Berliner product explains that. I have some Baltic birch that will work perfectly. Again thanks for the excellent photos and descriptions.
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Old 06-26-2018, 06:04 AM   #9
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Nice install!

What batteries are you using? I have the older Renogy Tracer 4210 w/AGM's. Was thinking about upgrading to the Rover controller for more settings. I have a custom display in the trailer now rather than the Renogy display. What does the phone app show?
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Old 06-26-2018, 08:51 AM   #10
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I have a bank of 4 Trojan 105's for Batteries
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Old 07-01-2018, 04:28 PM   #11
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Update: just got back from 5 days of dry camping on a river bar and the solar worked great. Had stereo going all day, outside tv a couple times during the day and then the grandkids got popcorn and movie night before bed each night. The only time the entire trip we ran the genny was for the microwave and the AC one evening.
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Old 07-01-2018, 04:45 PM   #12
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Update: just got back from 5 days of dry camping on a river bar and the solar worked great. Had stereo going all day, outside tv a couple times during the day and then the grandkids got popcorn and movie night before bed each night. The only time the entire trip we ran the genny was for the microwave and the AC one evening.

Awwww, so cute!!
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Old 08-28-2018, 12:56 PM   #13
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Any issues with Bluetooth connection dropping on the Renogy interface?

Does it provide charts of usage/solar for the day/wk/month?
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Old 08-28-2018, 10:14 PM   #14
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Any issues with Bluetooth connection dropping on the Renogy interface?

Does it provide charts of usage/solar for the day/wk/month?
Yes the Bluetooth connection drops frequently. Renogy said they are working on the app. It does provide lots of info in charts and graphs by I haven’t used that much as my system is off when in storage.
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Old 08-30-2018, 11:00 AM   #15
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Yes the Bluetooth connection drops frequently. Renogy said they are working on the app. It does provide lots of info in charts and graphs by I haven’t used that much as my system is off when in storage.
I just ordered the Rover 40A Li from Amazon here in Canada. Should have it by mid next week and I'll swap it in place of the Renogy 4210 I have. Wanted to be able to get more info from the solar system.
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Old 09-06-2018, 10:03 AM   #16
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Yes the Bluetooth connection drops frequently. Renogy said they are working on the app. It does provide lots of info in charts and graphs by I haven’t used that much as my system is off when in storage.
I got the Rover and replaced the Tracer I already had installed. The BT interface was screwed to the wall just inside the basement to hopefully provide the best signal.

You're right. The app disconnects all the time. It'll work for a few minutes then just keeps popping up "Disconnected" for hours on end. Pretty much useless for monitoring the controller. I don't know if the charts actually show anything as the app doesn't work long enough. If I can't get it to work reliably it'll all go back and I'll change brands.
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Old 09-06-2018, 11:35 AM   #17
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I had contacted Renogy about this and their solution did nothing to fix the issue. Just been to busy this summer to deal with it but just now sent them another email about the issue and stating that another new install is having the same issues I am. We'll see what they say.
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Old 09-07-2018, 07:21 AM   #18
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VERY NICE JOB!!!!

Very professional looking. Welcome to the RVing with SOLAR family! If you have time, put a few pictures on the RVing with SOLAR community group

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Just a friendly reminder to us here to consider cross-posting to and browsing JOF's RVing with SOLAR community; perhaps someone there has addressed these issues.
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Old 11-06-2018, 09:44 AM   #19
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Rustynuts,

Have you check the voltage on the battery connections of the Rover vs what it says on the display? Mine is consistently higher on the battery terminals by 0.25-.30v over what is show on the LCD. I initially thought it might be the temp comp but if I disconnect the sensor the temp shows as 25c which would mean no compensation.
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Old 11-07-2018, 08:06 AM   #20
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Beautiful install! Looks great. Super clean.

It looks like the panels are wired in series? That would make sense for the mppt controller. I'm curious because it looks like you have a disconnect switch for the panels but in series it should be about 72volts coming in from the 4 panels. Almost all of the standard disconnect switches I've looked at are only rated to 48v max or less.

Wired in parallel it would be fine. I'm working on a wiring diagram for my install and the disconnect switch for the panels is tripping me up at the moment.
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