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Old 05-14-2015, 02:28 PM   #1
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Solar Prep on the 2016's Pinnacles

I just got the information back on the basic part of the solar prep for the 2016 Pinnacles. What they have done should make installing the panels quite easy.

What I still don't know is if they ran any cables back to the main control panel area from the location the solar controller will go so one can install monitoring and control devices.

Here is what they sent me.

Quote:
The attached .jpg image shows the roof solar prep interface. Most commercially available solar panels have the mating connector pre-installed on them. The roof solar prep interface is wired with 8 gauge TEW wire. These 8 gauge wires run from the roof connectors to a location behind the rearmost bulkhead wall in the front storage compartment (where a customer provided solar charge controller would be installed) and then run to the battery compartment.
Rather than to include the picture of the place I've included the sell sheet for the GoPro Solar Kit which can be purchased from Outside Supply in case you want to do your on install on a pre 2016 trailer coach. This cover plate can also be used for other applications that requires wiring to the roof. More on that in a future post.

Note the use of 8GA TEW wire which is rated at 105ºC and 600 Volt so the prep can be used for both a low voltage parallel panel and a high voltage series panel configuration.
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Old 09-25-2015, 12:37 PM   #2
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Were you ever able to connect panels to this roof connection? If so, how many watts of panel will that connector accept?
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Old 09-25-2015, 01:47 PM   #3
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I believe you could do a lot better that the 50 watt gopro kit for $387 ($7.75 a watt), when you can get a Renogy 100 watt solar kit for $194 ($1.94 a watt) and for an extra $144 you could add another 100 watt panel and have a 200 watt solar system at $1.69 a watt.

Some of the members have these panels and love them.

Don


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Old 09-25-2015, 03:10 PM   #4
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I've already got two 150w SunTech panels, a Rouge controller/charger, and a 2000w PSW inverter. I'm just trying to figure out of the Jayco supplied cable and fitting will be heavy duty enough for this, or if I will need to run a larger cable from the roof to wherever I mount the controller/charger, by the batteries.

Does anyone know what gauge wire that Jayco uses for this run on their "factory prep".
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Old 09-25-2015, 04:51 PM   #5
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Send an email to support@jayco.com along with your TT's VIN and ask them what size wire was used. They will not respond without the VIN.

Don
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Old 09-25-2015, 08:12 PM   #6
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No VIN yet. Prelim order placed at Hershey Show last weekend, which just locks pricing. Have to do actual contract and order with dealer still....
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Old 02-19-2016, 02:08 PM   #7
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Support Email address rejected

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang65 View Post
Send an email to support@jayco.com along with your TT's VIN and ask them what size wire was used. They will not respond without the VIN.

Don
I tried to do just that and the email address bounced with:
"Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:

support@jayco.com

Technical details of permanent failure:
Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the server for the recipient domain jayco.com by us-smtp-inbound-2.mimecast.com. [205.139.110.242]."
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Old 02-19-2016, 02:51 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Onefastdaddy View Post
I tried to do just that and the email address bounced with:
"Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:

support@jayco.com

Technical details of permanent failure:
Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the server for the recipient domain jayco.com by us-smtp-inbound-2.mimecast.com. [205.139.110.242]."
I apologize for the error, the correct address is service@jayco.com
Don
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Old 02-19-2016, 03:31 PM   #9
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Ok, thank you, I sent another to service at jayco.
Hoping to hear they used 8 gauge up there in the roof of our new 2016 26.5 BHS 5th wheel. I want to put two 250w panels up there.
-David
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Old 02-19-2016, 03:35 PM   #10
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That's an easy answer... Yes they used 8ga wire
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Old 02-19-2016, 07:42 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by klassic View Post
That's an easy answer... Yes they used 8ga wire
Ok, great, thank you very much. That's a good answer as 8ga should be fine for my 500w needs up there (2x Grape Solar 260w panels). My charge controller is a Morningstar TS-60, 60Amp MPPT controller.

Thank you,

-David
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Old 02-19-2016, 08:07 PM   #12
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not sure if 8ga would handle 2 260w panels in parallel . Maybe ask Mustang. He seems to know his stuff
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Old 02-19-2016, 08:53 PM   #13
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Well, just a matter of reading lookup tables once you know the details. Basic Math when you get the right info. Experts correct me if I'm wrong but.

For lookups to determine if the wiring is sufficient gauge just know the current, gauge, length of run:
1. Run length
2. Gauge of wire (8 gauge)
3. Panel voltages, amps which multiplied together gives watts
* My panels info is 8.15A, 30.7v, 250W (30.7 x 8.15)
Home Depot: Grape-Solar-250-Watt-Monocrystalline-Solar-Panel-with-Black-Frame-

Run in series I just up the voltage, parallel up the amperage. The sum of the multiplications adds up to 500w. I was going to run them in series. The charge controller TS-60 says it can do up to max "Solar voltage" of 125v. My two panels in Series would be a max of 61.4v. Should be good. Just need to look up the chart for 8 gauge stranded and see if the length is ok for those values. Charts all over the Internet but it looks like for about 15A @ 12v 30' 8 gauge should be ok.

-DC
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Old 02-25-2016, 12:14 PM   #14
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I called about my 2016 Eagle HT FW - talked directly with Go Power. Tech said the wire is 10G not 8. Using their 30 amp solar unit, it will support up to 500W. Now, trying to figure out where the wires are since Jayco nor my dealer have a clue. I removed the panel behind the slide outs and water control panel, but nothing there that looked like them. A customer service tech at Jayco said she is asking her superiors for more training on the solar items since no one seems to have a clue about it.
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Old 02-25-2016, 12:40 PM   #15
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Seems odd they would run different sized wire in different models for the same advertised function.

Here are my pre run 8ga solar wires.
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Old 02-25-2016, 12:42 PM   #16
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I agree - seems like not a lot of info flows between Jayco construction/installers and customer service. Where exactly are those wires? I just checked again and don't see anything - wires or template.
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Old 02-25-2016, 12:45 PM   #17
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Just thought about something - does yours have the sticker for Canada on it - I think it's a Maple leaf - I remember my dealer saying something that it means it meets Canada build specs - maybe that is the difference in wiring? I would think that since it's an off-the-shelf install kit they use from Go Power, that it would all be the same.
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Old 02-25-2016, 12:50 PM   #18
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The wires are coiled up and hung behind the wall in the front storage. Where the rats nest of wires and plumbing are.

Here is the template, it is attached to the wall. Read the bottom line in yellow.

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Old 02-25-2016, 12:53 PM   #19
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You might need to take the whole wall down. I never saw them until I opened the wall.
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Old 02-25-2016, 12:54 PM   #20
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Thanks - nothing there, but I do have the solar prep connection on the roof - guess I'll be going back to the dealer. Thanks!
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