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Old 05-10-2016, 04:09 PM   #1
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Join Date: May 2016
Location: jackson
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Wyoming
Solar question

I am hoping to install a 150W solar panel to my TT.
I am dropping cable down from the roof through the refrig vent, and have seen this done on videos (no drilling except for feet install.). I am wanting to connect the charge controller to the batteries (2x12vlead acid located outside on tongue) at the dist. panel.
Since I am admittedly no electrician, I am trying not to re-wire anything if possible.
Based on the pics, how do I tie in to the battery cables?
The converter is a WFCO 8955 and it appears that the white cable at the top of the control board is the negative battery cable (1 of the 2 at the top lug, the other connects to the converter) and the positive is the black cable at the bottom with an open lug)
I have seen it done utilizing wire nuts (charge contr. cables simply added to existing wire nuts, but my TT does not have wire nuts. On the neg. cable there's a busbar that I assume I can connect through? On the positive cable there's an open 'lug' on the board, so I assume I can connect through that? Or cut battery cables and tie in with wire nut?
Please see pics for reference.
Thanks in advance!
Tim
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Old 05-10-2016, 04:56 PM   #2
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Welcome to the forum, Tim.

I'm not a fan of tying in at the power distribution panel or any other place, other than directly to the battery.

I know guys that have taken the easy way and everyone of them went back to rewire it direct to the battery.

May be completely of the make, but it seems to me tying in at the distribution panel your solar will be trying to meet the 12V load and the battery will be deprived of a charge.

When I did my solar I built in expandability as well by sizing the wire I used from the controller to the battery. Paid off as I've added another panel and still have room to spare.
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