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Old 06-11-2018, 11:44 AM   #1
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Solar Help

Hey guys, I've been checking this site for months and and getting tons of valuable info, so first off thank you. I just ordered my first 5th wheel and was wondering if anyone had set up an Eagle for off grid solar and could share their setup. I've read tons of posts on this issue but every time I think I understand it I read something else that makes me realize I have no idea what I'm doing.

What I'm working with is an Eagle 355MBQS with the solar prep and factory inverter for the residential fridge. Trying to understand what you guys have done with a similar factory setup to achieve continuous power for everything other than A/C while on solar. With a trailer this big I know I'll be limited on where I can go in national and state parks, so I'm hoping to set her up for boondocking away from the crowds. Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings and provide any feedback.
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Old 06-11-2018, 11:54 AM   #2
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I don't have a res fridge with factory inverter.

I installed panels on my fiver and ran everything I needed as there was no prep. If the prep gives you a cable drop from the roof that's big enough then you can use it, otherwise use it to pull in a bigger cable set.

I have 2 160w panels and am adding another pair this summer. Depending on where you camp and what time of year you'll need to figure out your energy usage in order to figure out panel & battery needs. The res inverter will just hang off the batteries as it does now.
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Old 06-11-2018, 12:24 PM   #3
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Thanks for the feedback. From what I've read on this forum the solar prep is limited to 20a so I think your suggestion of using the existing cable to pull through a bigger cable is what I'll need to do. I was thinking 4x100w panels and 4x6v batteries minimum for our needs. Got to make sure the wife and 1 year old get their power! Aahaha
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Old 06-11-2018, 01:27 PM   #4
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3 years in to Our Solar with a Res fridge we have 3 Zamp panels, 6 Agm batteries. I just replaced the factory inventor ( 1800 watt Xantrex) that went haywire with Xantrex Freedom X 2000 watt.
Been boondocking for 7 days now and haven’t run gennie since coffee this morning. Currently 2 TVs and sound bars running plus fridge. The new inventor is great, has no loss of power when switching from batteries to gennie. Solar keeps up all day with robust Amp useage. My panel are actually pulling 480 Amps right now. After dark we run generator to charge AGM s to get thru night. I sleep with CPAP, getting older......’
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https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/m...albums843.html Check this out.
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...s-34672-3.html
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Old 06-11-2018, 01:44 PM   #5
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Thanks for the info Loboclone. So before you switched inverters, was the factory one providing all the power to your outlets or just the fridge?
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Old 06-11-2018, 02:05 PM   #6
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Thanks for the info Loboclone. So before you switched inverters, was the factory one providing all the power to your outlets or just the fridge?
Outlets with inverted power are limited in our Sesimic. Fridge is one of them, TVs, counter, and garage has one outlet inverted. You would have to rewire to get every outlet inverted. We boondock 90% of the time, New Mexico has so much public lands. Cell data is a premium and we also have cell booster on 24/7.

Coffee pot, micro wave etc need a generator to operate. If I could afford a Lithumn Phosphate battery system I would have it vs AGM. We dry camp so much that lead acid batteries would only last a year due number of cycles. I laugh every time I see these RV buying shows that state drying camping requires propane fridge is required.
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https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/m...albums843.html Check this out.
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...s-34672-3.html
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Old 06-11-2018, 02:32 PM   #7
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Great info. Thank you very much. I'm such a rookie at this it's embarrassing. Wife and I decided to take a year off exploring the country once I get out of the Marine Corps this summer. People think we are insane but you only get one life to live!
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Old 06-11-2018, 02:41 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by fabes View Post
Great info. Thank you very much. I'm such a rookie at this it's embarrassing. Wife and I decided to take a year off exploring the country once I get out of the Marine Corps this summer. People think we are insane but you only get one life to live!
Thanks for your service. Vietnam Vet here, Army Veterinary Specialist
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https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/m...albums843.html Check this out.
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...s-34672-3.html
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Old 06-11-2018, 02:50 PM   #9
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Thank you. And thank you for your service as well. Seriously, THANK YOU! Us younger guys have never had to deal with a lack of support.
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Old 06-12-2018, 05:55 AM   #10
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Before you pick your panel size get up on the roof with a tape measure and see where you can put them and where your downfeed will go. I went with 160w panels as they were the largest I could install and still be able to move around up there. The 260ish ones are large and will go halfway across the roof. Don't worry about whether someone says they are for RV's or not, all the same for the most part. I made my own brackets so that I could line up with the rafters.

Last winter was my 2nd with the panels, 3rd with the batteries. I never used the genny at all last year and we boondock about 1/2 the time for up to 2 wks ea. This winter it will stay at home. I have room to install probably 8x 160w panels and still be able to walk front to back on the roof.

I have a Xantrex 2000w PSW and can run the m/wave, blender, hair dryer, etc off it (one at a time). My fridge is propane but I can run it on AC off the inverter.
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Old 06-12-2018, 10:38 AM   #11
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I put 3 200 watt panels and ran my wires down the black tank vent to the basement. I ignored all the Jayco solar prep as in my opinion the wires are to small and places the controller in the hallway. I wanted the controller/charger as close to the batteries as I could get. This also allowed me to expand in the future if I wanted.
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Old 06-12-2018, 11:10 AM   #12
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Take a look at MPPT controllers, and higher voltage panels.
I have a 2016 355MBQS. The factory wiring was 8ga, which is plenty for 400 watts of solar with 12 volt panels, but can do 800 watts or more at higher voltages....
I did mount my controller in the basement closer to the batteries, but the factory roof wiring is pretty robust....
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Old 06-12-2018, 12:30 PM   #13
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We have a 16 Eagle 321 RSTS according to Go Power, we were limited to a 30 amp MPPT controller.We have one 275 Watt industrial panel maybe 120 cells.We were surprised how little room there was on the roof for panels.Wish we had done 40 amp controller.Go Power suggest we could add one more 100 watt panel and use the extra plug in by black and gray tank controls.Never can have enough panels. We love what we have, just added two 225 amp hour 6 volt batteries. Thanks
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Old 06-12-2018, 12:35 PM   #14
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Old 06-12-2018, 01:30 PM   #15
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The Frigidaire RESIDENTIAL fridge, when in defrost mode, uses 45Amps @ 12VDC. There is no cut and dry logic as to when the fridge goes into defrost mode. It may be the humidity/temp in the fridge, the number of times that the fridge door is opened, BUT the defrost mode could be on multiple times a day.


So, I know you have (2) deep cycle batteries and a 260 amp alternator in the TV. There is no way that that little 12AWG wire from the alternator is going to push 40 amps to the TT batteries.


Is there a fix? Some newer RESIDENTIAL fridges may have an option to disable the defrost mode, and you may want to check the documentation to see if your model has this feature. If not, while you travel and if the fridge defrost mode kicks on, your batteries will not be fully charged at the end of the day.


One of the members made a defrost mode bypass circuit that does not allow power to go to the fridge's defrost circuit. When he gets to shore power, he reactivates the fridge's defroster.


Here are a few posts regarding the RESIDENTIAL fridge.
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...tor-46127.html

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...mod-47511.html

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Old 06-12-2018, 03:46 PM   #16
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Should have plenty of room though I don't know about the bigger panels like you have. I put 3 200 watt panels on and figured I have room for at least 6 more without any problem. I have a 27.5 RTLS with 2 A/C's. I've maxed out my solar charger so will probably just add a second one when I add more panels.
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Old 06-12-2018, 07:59 PM   #17
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Thanks everyone for all your valuable input. You've given me a lot to chew on. I'm going to start compiling a system online from what you guys have suggested. I'll post the setup before I purchase in hopes someone spots my errors before I click buy. Thanks again everyone!
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Old 06-13-2018, 10:03 AM   #18
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We will pass on the residential frig definitely a power hog!Thanks
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Old 06-16-2018, 12:33 PM   #19
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We have a Northpoint 387RDFS. I put an 3000w inverter charger on and upgraded to 3 4D AGM batteries. Then added 4x100w panels with a Victron 100/50 charge controller. This will run the entire rig, including residential fridge, mini-fridge in the back compartment, satellite, and Keurig for two or three days without any other external power input.
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Old 06-16-2018, 01:49 PM   #20
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Adding panels is good and all, BUT!

Adding Panels added wattage. Great more power. But it also adds Voltage in the line from the panel to you Charge controller. If you more panels you will need a charge controller that can handle the added amps coming in. Or you will fry the system.
I actually built out my system with 4, 310w panels and all the fixings. A 400 Watt pure sine wave inveter running into a 30Amp rv outlet. And I can run my A/c and microwave at the same time.
But the Factory installed hardware would never handle that much power.
Be careful.

btw, I'm an electrician for a solar power company. nabcep certified.
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