Additional Solar Panel on 2025 Imagine 2800BH

JStriber

New Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2024
Messages
2
Location
Grand Blanc, Michigan
Hi all: I am brand new to the Grand Design forums so I hope I am posting this correctly.
We just purchased (3-4 weeks ago) a 2025 Imagine 2800BH. It came with a factory installed solar panel which is great. However in my situation I park my camper under a RV carport, so the built-in solar panel does not really get any sun. Thus without running a generator, my battery slowly dies. I have been searching and searching for information on the built-in solar setup, but most of what I am finding is about folks adding new solar to a travel trailer. What I want to know is how I can add a external solar panel to my camper without causing any damage to the existing setup. Is it possible to simply daisy chain another panel to the existing panel on this Imagine? Does it have the daisy-chaining capability? My thoughts are to purchase another 185watt panel and mount it on the roof of my RV carport and hopefully just simply connect it to the existing setup. Then I can simply disconnect when I pull the camper out. Please understand that I am still learning about solar and would consider myself a novice so any responses in very simple terms is greatly appreciated.
 
First, welcome to the forum. Your best bet would be to add your second panel with its own solar charge controller. That way, you won't have to worry about the existing panel. A smaller panel and an inexpensive controller would be fine for keeping the battery charged while in storage. You might even find a "battery tender" solar kit.
 
Thanks for the advice. Would I connect this panel & controller directly to the battery as there is not an additional 'solar connection' on this TT. Would I need to disconnect the existing solar at all? Even if disconnecting using the 'solar disconnect' in the convivence panel?
 
Yes, attach it directly to the battery. Many of the kits come with clips to make the connection easy. There is no need to worry about the existing system at all.
 
Hi all: I am brand new to the Grand Design forums so I hope I am posting this correctly.
We just purchased (3-4 weeks ago) a 2025 Imagine 2800BH. It came with a factory installed solar panel which is great. However in my situation I park my camper under a RV carport, so the built-in solar panel does not really get any sun. Thus without running a generator, my battery slowly dies. I have been searching and searching for information on the built-in solar setup, but most of what I am finding is about folks adding new solar to a travel trailer. What I want to know is how I can add a external solar panel to my camper without causing any damage to the existing setup. Is it possible to simply daisy chain another panel to the existing panel on this Imagine? Does it have the daisy-chaining capability? My thoughts are to purchase another 185watt panel and mount it on the roof of my RV carport and hopefully just simply connect it to the existing setup. Then I can simply disconnect when I pull the camper out. Please understand that I am still learning about solar and would consider myself a novice so any responses in very simple terms is greatly appreciated.
I bought a portable solar panel with built in kick stands that lean the panels back at a good angle to the sun. I also bought a vectron brand solar controller that i mounted permanently in the basement next to the batteries. You can buy portable solar panel kits that come with basic controllers but the Vectrons are better. With this system I can use it at home or take it along to supplement the roof top panel. Especially useful when there are trees around the camper casting shade. Happy Camping!
 
I would also add an another angle to consider besides the excellent advice above - eliminate the parasitic current draw from CO and smoke detectors etc with the RV in storage by installing an on/off switch straight from the battery. I installed one (even my RV had one, but was downstream of wiring for low consumption devices mentioned) and noticed that the battery would last months and not deplete much at all.
I got this one plus a short power cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00558LSJE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
 

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