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Old 03-17-2016, 08:28 PM   #1
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Solar Prep

Waiting on delivery of my jayco28rls,it says it is solar prep? Does anyone know if that means what? That the wires are in wall? Is there a connection on the roof? Solar controller installed? Looking to have solar panels installed on roof,not sure what comes with "solar prep". Any and all information would be most helpful.
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Old 03-17-2016, 09:05 PM   #2
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Solar prep is just pre wired...there's a connection on the roof, the 8ga wires are run from the roof to the area where your GoPower template sticker is (varies)
Then from that spot the wires go to the battery area.
All you need to do is add the controller. From what I read you should have a fuse/breaker after the panels and before the controller that you will need to install yourself.
There is a 30 amp breaker pre installed in the battery area and from there the wire either is already hooked up to a battery junction post (my rig) or ready to attach to the battery.
The side solar on the side of your rig is directly wired to a 20a breaker and attached to a battery junction near the battery.

This is how my 5ver is pre wired. Some tend to have other opinions, but that is how mine is done and I can't see jayco doing it much different on other trailers.
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Old 03-17-2016, 09:57 PM   #3
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Congratulations on your new trailer and welcome to the JOF.
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Old 03-18-2016, 12:18 AM   #4
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Thank you much Klassic for the detailed information, hope you are right because that's a whole lot of work I won't have to do....lol
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Old 03-18-2016, 12:20 AM   #5
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Thank you for the welcoming Oldman, it's good to know I can reach out with questions.
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Old 03-18-2016, 06:04 AM   #6
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I have a connection on the roof and one at the front near the tongue.

I believe both are limited to 20 amps. I am guessing around 200 watts of panels tops.

Enough to charge your batteries, but not much else so do not get too excited if you are looking to keep your refrigerator running or something more substantial.
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Old 03-18-2016, 07:33 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fairenatic View Post
I have a connection on the roof and one at the front near the tongue.

I believe both are limited to 20 amps. I am guessing around 200 watts of panels tops.

Enough to charge your batteries, but not much else so do not get too excited if you are looking to keep your refrigerator running or something more substantial.
Actually 100 watts would be the lower limit on keeping the batteries charged with not much else taking place. With 200 watts you can use all your things throughout the sunny days, providing you have around 220Ah of batteries, and bring the batteries to a full charge by end of SUNNY day.

I have 250Watts of SOLAR and 260Ah of batteries, I run the Tv or radio, use the water pump, 2 Ceiling vent fans running, interior LED lights, and during the peak part of the sunny day, even the microwaver for short usages, and the batteries are finished charging by 2 or 3PM each SUNNY day, by 4 or 5 on cloudy/rainy days.
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Old 03-19-2016, 04:12 PM   #8
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Actually 100 watts would be the lower limit on keeping the batteries charged with not much else taking place. With 200 watts you can use all your things throughout the sunny days, providing you have around 220Ah of batteries, and bring the batteries to a full charge by end of SUNNY day.

I have 250Watts of SOLAR and 260Ah of batteries, I run the Tv or radio, use the water pump, 2 Ceiling vent fans running, interior LED lights, and during the peak part of the sunny day, even the microwaver for short usages, and the batteries are finished charging by 2 or 3PM each SUNNY day, by 4 or 5 on cloudy/rainy days.
Don
Lots of ifs but I agree with your extra hardware setup.
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Old 03-19-2016, 04:19 PM   #9
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Does anyone know if the 5th wheel pre-wire any different than a TT? I'm waiting on my TT to be delivered and hope that the solar pre-wire is heavy enough guage to support 200W worth of panels.
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Old 03-22-2016, 01:18 AM   #10
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Solar prep

Was hoping someone replied to your question Sheldon. Doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there kinda surprised.
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Old 03-22-2016, 01:20 AM   #11
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Thanks for the info fairenatic, most helpful.
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Old 03-22-2016, 05:23 AM   #12
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I wouldn't think they prewire a TT different then a 5th.
If they aren't using 8ga from the roof connection, the roof solar would be about useless. Just the fact the run would be 20-25 or more feet to the batteries makes me think they are using 8ga.
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Old 03-22-2016, 06:59 AM   #13
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Thanks for the info fairenatic, most helpful.
No problem. That is what this forum is all about.
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Old 03-22-2016, 09:07 AM   #14
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This thread has some more info on the prewired units.

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f6...rop-33934.html
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Old 03-22-2016, 09:29 AM   #15
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Was hoping someone replied to your question Sheldon. Doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there kinda surprised.
Here's to hoping mine comes in from the factory quickly and I can answer for you!

-Jeff
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Old 04-06-2016, 02:58 PM   #16
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The pre-installed wiring could also handle more than 200Watts of power. If you assume the 20 amp limit as mentioned before that would be around 300 watts using 12v nominal panels 17-18 volt panels. If you use high voltage panels and a MPPT controller the sky is the limit really. Theoretically you can have 20 amps and 150 volts coming from your roof for a total of 3000 watts and not exceed 20 amps. You would have to upgrade the wiring between the controller and the batteries but that is a short run hopefully.

A single 36 cell panel (260 watts) will only output around 8-9 amps. Pair that with an MPPT controller and you would have a pretty capable system. Add another panel and you would have lots of power and still be under 20 amps.

Or you can use the smaller 12 volt panels and wire them in series for higher voltage from the roof.

Hope that makes sense.

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