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Thread: Pop top solar panel wiring

  1. #1
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    Pop top solar panel wiring

    I have mounted 2 x 190w panels to my caravan roof and now the dilemma is how to get the wiring into the battery compartment, ideally a cable gland under each panel into the roof cavity but cant work out how to access this cavity without destroying the roof panels ?
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  2. #2
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    The cable gland doesn't have to be under the panel. And both sets of cables should be able to go through the one gland. This is what I used on the D4.
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    2013 D4 expedition equipped
    1966 Army workshop trailer
    (previously SII 2.25 swb, SIII 2.25 swb & lwb, P38 Vogue, 1993 LSE 3.9V8 then HS2.8)

  3. #3
    josh.huber Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by loanrangie View Post
    I have mounted 2 x 190w panels to my caravan roof and now the dilemma is how to get the wiring into the battery compartment, ideally a cable gland under each panel into the roof cavity but cant work out how to access this cavity without destroying the roof panels ?
    Cut out a square, get another square much bigger cut out aswell. Do your work. Sika the new square over the hole with the glands in it?

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by DieselLSE View Post
    The cable gland doesn't have to be under the panel. And both sets of cables should be able to go through the one gland. This is what I used on the D4.
    I know but if i'm going thru the roof i may as well make it as neat and waterproof as possible, this means no cable runs out from under the panel.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by josh.huber View Post
    Cut out a square, get another square much bigger cut out as well. Do your work. Sika the new square over the hole with the glands in it?
    Glands will be on the roof and would rather not cut the roof, going internally if possible.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  6. #6
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    Panels mounted and cable routing almost complete, decided that a single hole in the roof was unavoidable so did it as neat as I could.
    Used flexible conduit so that when the roof is closed it just sort of bends out of the way, cable then runs thru a split cable cover down to under the seat where the solar reg and batteries are.
    The single 150AH will be replaced with 2 x 100AH AGM's which i already have, bluetooth receiver for the reg i will stick to the cupboard wall.
    I made a small shelf for the reg to sit on and a small length of cable cover to keep the cables tidy.


    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  7. #7
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    Wiring all done and Bluetooth receiver mounted, just need to fill that hole where a stereo was .
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  8. #8
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    Found a kings power panel filled the hole in the cupboard nicely, double USB/2. x 12v sockets and a voltage meter.
    Wife got a 12v TV with DVD player at Vinnie's and I mounted it with a locking swing out bracket, I made up a 12v power lead that plugs into the power panel.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  9. #9
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    Mounted a 2000w inverter under the seat and ran a fixed extension lead under the floor thru conduit to a cupboard on the kitchen side of the van into a double GPO.
    Then using double sided tape stuck a power board to the wall and ran the lead thru an existing hole in the bench and plugged it into the GPO.
    Finished the diesel heater ducting running thru 90mm PVC pipe to each end of the van.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  10. #10
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    On the weekend i fitted a set of uprated gas struts to make lifting the roof easier with the added weight of the solar panels, originals were 350n and new ones are 435n.
    Used a ratchet strap to compress the old and new struts while removing and fitting.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

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