Solar Prep 2020 Reflection 260RD

[terryriddle]

Got the RV and it has remained in storage due to the virus. It came with a box on the roof (Jaboni) label and I see a red & black wire with a tag (solar) in the front storage area near the battery. Know little to nothing about solar. I see this and attempt to find U tube installations and the more I see and read, the more confused I get. So..am I correct in saying that somewhere there is a group of wires that need to be connected to a solar charge controller? Then there is the question of a control panel..is that needed and is there a wire for that somewhere as well? Once these items are or are not installed, a solar panel can be added to the roof, plugged in and wires near the battery connected to the battery to keep it charged. Is that the general idea of needs? Nothing in the reading material or instructions provided by Grand Design or Jaboni. Anyone actually installed a solar panel with the Jaboni prep on their unit? Thanks..

[jh.xsnrg]

We do not have ours yet (counting the days), but from what I have researched, you have most of the story accurate. The roof penetration and wiring is done for you (as long as 10 gauge is large enough for you). With just the prep, it is up to you to install an appropriate charge controller and fusing, along with the solar panel on the roof. A factory roof penetration is a great thing, IMHO, and I am looking forward to it. If you had the solar installed, you would have received a 300w single panel with a Jaboni charge controller already hooked to the battery bank. I don't agree with the price they charge for that simple setup, but for those not wanting to do it themselves, it would be ready to use.

Jim

[Grandesigner]

Okay, time to update this thread. Just got my 260rd and looking forward to 300-400 watts of solar.

[DaveMatthewsBand]

Okay, time to update this thread. Just got my 260rd and looking forward to 300-400 watts of solar.

Wrong thread? You’ve never posted in it so how would you be updating it?


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[Grandesigner]

Like this...took a while but here is what is near the battery. There is a Jaboni port on the roof.
There is no documentation that came with our new 5W on this...just a placard saying solar prepped.

The title of this thread matches my situation exactly, so why start another?

[Grandesigner]

I was thinking of something like this.
https://bhasolar.com/product/400w-rv...el-system-kit/

Any experience with this brand?

[Grandesigner]

The last solar controller I hooked up had 5 wires. Pos and neg for the panels, the batteries and a temp sensor. So why are there only 2 wires available near my battery?
Has the OP or 2P of this thread made any progress yet?

[Grandesigner]

Hmmm...maybe we are talking about different setups or I am completely confused now. Does the pic above show enough detail?
The Jaboni port on the roof provides pos and neg from tbd panels using mc4 connecters, as there are no panels provided with the solar prep package. I was hoping those 2 wires would lead down to near the battery. It is not clear that is the case based on the pic, but maybe that is what they are?
I could then create pos and neg to the batteries on my own if that is the case.
I would be nice if Grand Design provided instructions...

That's what I get for not quoting the response...the above refers to a deleted post.
Still looking for answers though.

I guess I can pull out the multimeter and do some probing here and there to figure it out.

[gbkims]

Hmmm...maybe we are talking about different setups or I am completely confused now. Does the pic above show enough detail?
The Jaboni port on the roof provides pos and neg from tbd panels using mc4 connecters, as there are no panels provided with the solar prep package. I was hoping those 2 wires would lead down to near the battery. It is not clear that is the case based on the pic, but maybe that is what they are?
I could then create pos and neg to the batteries on my own if that is the case.
I would be nice if Grand Design provided instructions...
That's what I get for not quoting the response...the above refers to a deleted post.
Still looking for answers though.

This looks like the 10 Awg wires coming down from the Jaboni port on the roof.

From a GD drawing I saw once, "Layout, Solar/2K Inverter" it showed:
10 Awg pair from Jaboni > Solar Charge Controller > 30A Auto Reset CB via 10 Awg to Battery +, -DC 10 Awg to Batt -
Battery + > 300A fuse via 4/0 wire > Disconnect Switch > Inverter DC+
Batt - via 4/0 to Inverter DC-.

[Grandesigner]

Thanks,
Maybe tomorrow morning before it gets too hot I'll investigate further.