My Solar Installation

[Paul & Deb]

So I've been talking about this in other threads but this will be my personal DIY Solar Installation thread. I've had most of my stuff for a few weeks but have been delayed by a bum post-surgical shoulder. I can add that after having repaired my leaking T behind the Kantleak panel, my shoulder isn't ready for this but I am down to a severe time crunch So we soldier on!

First I purchased a 300 watt ( 3 - 100 watt panels) Solar kit from Renogy with a Wanderer PWM controller. I also purchased tilt mounting hardware from AMSolar and a few extension cables and connectors.



As I do with most things, I laid out my setup on the garage floor to make certain I understood how everything fit together and ensure I had all the parts I may need. This is when I decided to order some extension cables and decided to dump the standard Z brackets that came with the kit and pop for the much more expensive mounting brackets from AMSolar.

http://www.amsolarrv.com/accpanels/35rocker
http://www.amsolarrv.com/accpanels/tilt155

My first challenge was to determine exactly how I was going to run my solar wiring from the roof to the basement. After a lot of reading and looking I decided to go with my first instinct and run them down the air vent on the roof. My first problem was that, although there is but one vent on the roof, there are 3 vent pipes (shown in the following picture) that drop into the basement behind the toilet in the 337.



I called Jerry and he was a little unsure and assumed there were multiple vents on the roof. No problem, while I was on the phone he went out to the factory and checked a live 337 on production. Sure enough, one roof vent that connects to all 3 vent pipes somewhere in the wall between the bathroom (behind the toilet) and the kitchen hutch. CRAP! Okay, which vent should I use? Looking at my vent pipes I decided the middle pipe which vents the bathroom sink and shower (and washing machine) gray tank would be best. So I ran a metal fish tape with a heavy washer on the end down the roof vent and then went to the basement with a strong magnet checking each pipe until I could find the washer. BINGO! sure enough the fish tape did take the middle route so I was good.

I decided I was going to be a bit anal, as I always am, and rather than just drilling a big hole to pull the wires through, I cut a section out of the pipe and popped a "T" in. The "T" has a threaded cap on the open hole which I will drill out for the wires.

[Paul & Deb]

Then I pulled the orange webbing you can see from the basement up through my T and the pipe to the roof.







That's all I could manage today as my shoulder is barking like a mad dog. I will get back to it in the morning and post my progress.

In to the shower and off to Physical Therapy where the masochist therapist will kill me some more

[offtohavasu]

Looking good Poppy!!

[TucsonJim]

I'll bet you've already knocked out the hardest part.

Jim

[Paul & Deb]

I'll bet you've already knocked out the hardest part.

Jim

Yeah, I think so too. I've got my controller mounted and my fuses so the easy part I suspect will be mounting the panels.

Tomorrow should be the day.

[TahoeTrekker]

Very nice!

[Dick 641]

You're right on that being the hardest part, that's how I ran mine the rest is a piece of cake. Looking forward on the rest of your install pic's.

[TucsonJim]

Poppy, did you see my test results from last week that showed only a 4.5% reduction in charging current between flat and tilted? Unless you need max charging, there is probably no reason to climb on the roof to tilt the panels.

Jim

[PaPa Bear]

Great job thinking of the T joint! Like others said, you've got the hardest part whipped! Looking forward to tomorrows photos and report!

Doc

[offtohavasu]

On another note, you probably picked the better vent for your run. Not sure you'd want anything electrical going down the vent that's venting off methane.