Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: MR B2 on January 14, 2014, 09:32:17 am
Title: Wire from roof,
Post by: MR B2 on January 14, 2014, 09:32:17 am
Is there any where beside your drivers chair, That I can run a wire down from above the windscreen and down to the floor,
Thanks, Brian,
Title: Re: Wire from roof,
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on January 14, 2014, 10:27:09 am
Brian,
If you now drive on the wrong side ;) , you should have a roll of wires in the small flip up compartment next to you with the other ends in the compartment above. Large and small but no coax.
Pierce
Title: Re: Wire from roof,
Post by: MR B2 on January 14, 2014, 11:08:09 am
If you now drive on the wrong side ;) , you should have a roll of wires in the small flip up compartment next to you with the other ends in the compartment above. Large and small but no coax.
Pierce
Thanks, Pierce,
I want to run my Solar cable down from there, I will come in beside the Radio aerial, Hole in floor and straight into the Genny Bay, Saves a heap of cable instead of down the Fridge Tube, and then back across to the Genny Bay, Moving my Batterys into the Genny Bay, Easier to get at, And will give me better access to the Electrics I put in there,
I have plenty of Excess Copper 400 Amp Welding Cable,
I am glad we sorted out which side, Hahahahha. I did say, Your Drivers Chair, Hahahaha
Its hot here today, 42 + Celcius we are expecting, I wont be on the roof, Hahaha
Title: Re: Wire from roof,
Post by: Michael j on January 15, 2014, 01:14:48 am
Brian, When you says electrics, do you mean your electronic hardware for solar or just the fuses, switches and wire?
Title: Re: Wire from roof,
Post by: MR B2 on January 15, 2014, 09:10:16 am
I want to run my Solar cable down from there, I will come in beside the Radio aerial, Hole in floor and straight into the Genny Bay, Saves a heap of cable instead of down the Fridge Tube, and then back across to the Genny Bay, Moving my Batterys into the Genny Bay, Easier to get at, And will give me better access to the Electrics I put in there,
I have plenty of Excess Copper 400 Amp Welding Cable,
I am glad we sorted out which side, Hahahahha. I did say, Your Drivers Chair, Hahahaha
Its hot here today, 42 + Celcius we are expecting, I wont be on the roof, Hahaha
You should only be bringing two MC-4 cables with #10 wire down from the roof to a breaker and then the controller. Possibly four if you have a lot of panels up there. Run the controller as close to the batteries as you can but your idea of the welding cables almost to the controller with a buss close by and then a short section of two #10 wires (through another set of breakers) to the controller is good. Series wiring reduces the need for a nest of wires and cuts the loss by a big factor at the same time. Good charts for wire length loss online. A 1% to 3% loss adds up over time.
We have 1140 watts worth of panels up top but only four wires coming through the roof.
Pierce
Title: Re: Wire from roof,
Post by: MR B2 on January 15, 2014, 06:45:13 pm
You should only be bringing two MC-4 cables with #10 wire down from the roof to a breaker and then the controller. Possibly four if you have a lot of panels up there. Run the controller as close to the batteries as you can but your idea of the welding cables almost to the controller with a buss close by and then a short section of two #10 wires (through another set of breakers) to the controller is good. Series wiring reduces the need for a nest of wires and cuts the loss by a big factor at the same time. Good charts for wire length loss online. A 1% to 3% loss adds up over time.
We have 1140 watts worth of panels up top but only four wires coming through the roof.
Pierce
Four Panels on the roof, All soldered Joins, Then the two feed wires down to the Controller, 270 Watts, Its ample for me, Two X 85 Watts and Two X 50 Watts, All the same voltages, Etc,
The two 50's joined to the 85's then to the controller, Via a Fuse box, I think I have it wired right,
Controller will be behind the couch some where, It will be less than two feet from and just above the Batterys, One inch Hole in the floor under the couch, for the wires, Then silicone the hole up, Easy Fix,
The Welding leads are for moving the Batterys only, Run welding leads to the new battery position in the Genny Bay, Leaving all existing wiring as is,
There is only about four active wires in the Battery box, I may even move those as well, I really haven't had a good look and think about it yet,
I like to think things out before I do any thing, It takes extra time, But I only want to do it, Once, and do it right,
I dont want to be Playing Mechanic, once I am finished all the work and am on the road full time, I want to enjoy my Retirement, Not work my self thru it,
The Redundant Battery Box under the stairs would make a Good Tool Workshop, Jacks, Tow Chains, Etc, Its already been beefed up underneath it as the Batterys were Falling out onto the road,
The Fridge working so well is a Relief, Its Excellent, Icy Cold Beer, Speaks for itself, hahahahaha,
.00 is the BAC level for Driving my Coach here, So I cant even have one Beer, when I am driving the Coach, Find a good secluded spot, Nice views. Scenery, Creek or River, Down the Beach, Etc, Couple of days parked, Then have a Beer or five,, Hahahaha
Its nearly there, Almost Ready to Roll, The effort was worthwhile, I have a Magnificent Coach, I am more than Pleased with it, The Help I have received on here, Is More than I can Say, But Thank you all, It is very much Appreciated,
Title: Re: Wire from roof,
Post by: MR B2 on January 17, 2014, 06:27:20 am
A few Piccys of the Solar panels on the roof,
I joined the 50 watt panels to the 85 watt panels on the Bus Bar in each panel, The 50 Watt under the 85 Watt connection, The I will run the main cable down to the controller and then to the Batterys,
I have no idea on the Multi Meter, It was just to make sure the panels are working,
Feel free to comment if they are set up wrong,
They were in total cloud cover at the time and one panel was upside down, But all four connected,
Is that a good or bad reading on the Multi meter,
Title: Re: Wire from roof,
Post by: Rich Bowman on January 17, 2014, 06:32:47 pm
I currently have the two covers off the pillars on each side of the front window. Each has one or two wires running from top to bottom. They come off with pop off buttons and then 3-4 screws.