solar panel (1 Viewer)

boris

Free Member
Aug 7, 2012
8
2
brewood
Funster No
22,314
MH
Rapido
Exp
2
Hi, i am a new member and would like to know if anyone new the basics of wiring a solar panel into my Rapido.
I know the + & - wires go from solar panel to the regulator and then to the battery.
but there are then some more terminal connections on the drawing, showing connections to lights etc. "load 1 & 2 ?
am i right in saying you dont connect to these ?
 

Jaws

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 26, 2008
23,821
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Thetford Norfolk
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since 2006 ( I think ! )
Depends on the controller and what you want to do with it, but for basic battery charging what you say is 'perfik' and all you need to do :thumb:
 

pappajohn

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 26, 2007
43,207
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Since 2005
the extra two terminals, usually marked with a light bulb, will provide a very low current of around 2amps at most to feed back from the battery through the controller at night for a porch light etc..

not worth the trouble wiring it in.

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boris

Free Member
Aug 7, 2012
8
2
brewood
Funster No
22,314
MH
Rapido
Exp
2
the extra two terminals, usually marked with a light bulb, will provide a very low current of around 2amps at most to feed back from the battery through the controller at night for a porch light etc..

not worth the trouble wiring it in.

Thanks for that. I will be fitting it all tomorrow night after work. cus we are off to "scotland on Saturday for 2 weeks yippee!!
 
Jul 28, 2010
1,710
617
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1
Thanks for that. I will be fitting it all tomorrow night after work. cus we are off to "scotland on Saturday for 2 weeks yippee!!
be sure to cover the panel so it is not live when doing the wiring connections

simple mistake to short it out
 

pappajohn

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 26, 2007
43,207
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when you get round to fixing the panel to the roof make sure you tape the exposed ends of the panel wires or cover the solar panel with cardboard/towel/sheet etc......in sunlight they can carry over 17volts and if shorted together may damage the panel.

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boris

Free Member
Aug 7, 2012
8
2
brewood
Funster No
22,314
MH
Rapido
Exp
2
when you get round to fixing the panel to the roof make sure you tape the exposed ends of the panel wires or cover the solar panel with cardboard/towel/sheet etc......in sunlight they can carry over 17volts and if shorted together may damage the panel.

thanks for that. i would not have thought of it so, nice one
 

hilldweller

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Dec 5, 2008
605
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From Aug 2007
Thanks for that. I will be fitting it all tomorrow night after work. cus we are off to "scotland on Saturday for 2 weeks yippee!!

Fitting a solar panel for Scotland. Now there's optimism. Is it to run an electric midge zapper ?

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Geo

Trader - Funster
Jul 29, 2007
11,757
14,563
Mansfield,Notts
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35
MH
Autotrail Tracker FB
Exp
45 +years with breaks
I wired my spare terminals to a 12v ciggar socket and charge my phones and torch for free:thumb:
It should be noted these spare terminals will only be live when the batteries are full,ish, when they drop below a certain threshold the regulator will cut supply to them and send all available charge to the leisure batteries, when full again any spare power is sent back to the phone/torch socket, as John said at about 2 amp max:Cool:
G
 
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boris

Free Member
Aug 7, 2012
8
2
brewood
Funster No
22,314
MH
Rapido
Exp
2
Fitting a solar panel for Scotland. Now there's optimism. Is it to run an electric midge zapper ?

True. got my sun tan oil, midge cream, rain mac and back up generator

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boris

Free Member
Aug 7, 2012
8
2
brewood
Funster No
22,314
MH
Rapido
Exp
2
I wired my spare terminals to a 12v ciggar socket and charge my phones and torch for free:thumb:
It should be noted these spare terminals will only be live when the batteries are full,ish, when they drop below a certain threshold the regulator will cut supply to them and send all available charge to the leisure batteries, when full again any spare power is sent back to the phone/torch socket, as John said at about 2 amp max:Cool:
G

cheers for info but dont think i'll bother with the faf of extra wiring
 

pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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True. got my sun tan oil, midge cream, rain mac and back up generator
Oh dear :Doh:.....sun oil (along with any perfumed toiletries) attracts the little buggers and midge cream is pretty much useless.

if you have the time buy a bottle of Avon 'skin so soft' skin cream/softener (blue-ish green label)

the Army/SAS use it when on manoeuvres in Scotland, so it must work.
 
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Wildman

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May 30, 2008
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8,470
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since 1967
the extra two terminals, usually marked with a light bulb, will provide a very low current of around 2amps at most to feed back from the battery through the controller at night for a porch light etc..

not worth the trouble wiring it in.

Not usually the case, loads 1 and 2 are for connecting everything up to the total wattage of the controller, then when the battery falls to a preset level those loads will be disconnected to protect the battery. I run my TV, sat system and inverter ect from the load rather than direct from the battery. Not only do you get protection for the battery but you also get voltage spike protection as it is a regulated output. These facilities are usually ignored but they are there for a purpose. The Rapido does I believe could be wrong I often am) have a Schudlt electrabloc fitted to handle all of the electrics in the van that being the case it is possible to get a matching regulator to plug straight into the electrabloc rather than connect straight to the batteries. The advantage of this is the ability to charge the engine battery as well as the hab battery.

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boris

Free Member
Aug 7, 2012
8
2
brewood
Funster No
22,314
MH
Rapido
Exp
2
is it ok to just bed the solar panel down on silicone, it has an aluminium frame about 1 1/2" I have a plastic junction box siliconed to the roof above the wardrobe for the wires to go through.
 

pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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may be the case on some Rogr, but the controller on the kontiki had a max load of 2 amps and only worked when the panel was 'dead'...ie night time.

basically if the panel was producing power it switched off the aux output....hence me saying it is for a porch light etc.
 
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boris

Free Member
Aug 7, 2012
8
2
brewood
Funster No
22,314
MH
Rapido
Exp
2
Oh dear :Doh:.....sun oil (along with any perfumed toiletries) attracts the little buggers and midge cream is pretty much useless.

if you have the time buy a bottle of Avon 'skin so soft' skin cream/softener (blue-ish green label)

the Army/SAS use it when on manoeuvres in Scotland, so it must work.

think we'll go to France instead then, at least i can test the solar panel

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tonka

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Jul 2, 2008
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I cant see that its been mentioned yet But..
Connect the regulator to your leisure battery FIRST, leave it on a few mins and connect the solar panel last..
 

Wildman

Free Member
May 30, 2008
0
8,470
Ilfracombe, Devon
Funster No
2,913
MH
Amazon Ambassador
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since 1967
may be the case on some Rogr, but the controller on the kontiki had a max load of 2 amps and only worked when the panel was 'dead'...ie night time.

basically if the panel was producing power it switched off the aux output....hence me saying it is for a porch light etc.

The reason for that John is the contoller used was intended for automatic lighting rigs, however there is a setting Number 6 if memory serves correctly that allows output all the time and you could use the red button to switch on and off if you held the button down for a longer time it would change the programable settings for automatic varying lengths of light on. Cheapo controllers not original intended for motorhome use. I did run my TV etc though one of those in the old beast. But even then output was the same as controller was rated at. 10amp From memory, I still have the paperwork so will look it up.
 

Kayold

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Oct 23, 2011
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May I ask, if these usually unused connections were wired to a 12v socket or inverter would an additional fuse be required between the controller and new outlet?

Thanks

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Theonlysue

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Sep 14, 2009
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Hi,
I thought that you had to leave a gap between the panel and roof for air flow to keep it cool? hence brackets seemed to be usually used
S
 

Jaws

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Sep 26, 2008
23,821
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Thetford Norfolk
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since 2006 ( I think ! )
May I ask, if these usually unused connections were wired to a 12v socket or inverter would an additional fuse be required between the controller and new outlet?

Thanks

There is an old saying, you can never have enough fuses !

OK, strictly speaking that is not exactly true, but a feed line that is fused is always safer than one that isn't :Smile:

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