Trying understand solar and put back in the system prior owner removed.

[RustyNCA]

When he removed his systems he did not label anything, which was nice of him.

So I am starting with 6 175w panels on the roof. I found six leads going into the RV from the roof. He did mention he had them wired in three pairs on the roof. But I only found 4 leads in about where they would drop out from above.

I traced those and found one that appears to be a ground that goes into where he had the charge controller. The other three drop into where the inverter was and they all seem to test, when I did it to 75v each lead. I then found a lead that I traced from where the controller was back to the inverter was. I assume he joined the three leads to this one and ran it into the positive side of the controller?

I then figured out the leads from the charge controller to the inverter area. Here he ran the positive out side through a 100a circuit breaker.

I also found a red and black lead into the inverter area that read 12v charge when the trailer is plugged to shore power. Under the oven I found a Progressive Dynamics Inc Inteli-Power Converter Charger.

And I found only one additional wire about 6 gauge,, that he had capped off like it was hot, but it doesn't test as live. I have yet to figure out where it goes. I don't see it at the Converter/Charger or at the breaker/fuse panel.

So, where I am confused.

1. How did he get the AC out of the inverter into the RV's system?
2. Do I just run a line from the inverter over to the panel?
3. The Converter/Charger stays in the system for it's link to shore power?
4. With the Converter/Charger I only use the inverter to supply AC? IE, I don't hookup AC going into it from shore power?

Thanks
Bryan

 

[Soundsailor]

So there are three components that will probably be in your final system: the charger/converter (I think you PD9245C is one of those), the inverter (do you have one yet?), and the solar charge controller (Victrons are worth the investment). Could you please be a bit more specific about what you have and what you'd like to achieve? The panels are a great start.

 

[RustyNCA]

So there are three components that will probably be in your final system: the charger/converter (I think you PD9245C is one of those), the inverter (do you have one yet?), and the solar charge controller (Victrons are worth the investment). Could you please be a bit more specific about what you have and what you'd like to achieve? The panels are a great start.

Yes, I started putting it back together over the weekend. He had placed system under the dinette area, which seems to be fine.

I went with a 60a Charge Controller and 3000-watt inverter from AMPinvt and a 206ah SOK battery to start. I have the controller mounted where he had his. I added a disconnect between the panels and the controller that I don't think he had.

In the back box where he had the batteries and inverter, I added in the bus bars which I don't think he used. He had a fan and ventilation system setup in the bin where the inverter was.

Where I am stuck is what he did to get the inverter AC out connected to the RV. I see nothing going out to breakers in the RV panel. The only leads I see that seem to come from the system into the box are the two battery leads. Those leads are only 6g. Then there is the lone 6g lead he had capped off.

I hadn't thought about it till just now, I wonder if that lead could be a chassis ground? I didn't test it for that.

My question really is do I need to run two leads into the box for the inverter to then connect to the panel.

One, AC into the inverter from shore? It feels like I don't need that since there is the Converter/Charger there?
Two, AC out from the inverter into a breaker in the panel? Do I just run the AC out from inverter into the same circuit the current Converter/Charger is sending AC current into?

Once I understand that, I think I can finish it up.

Oh, I plan to redo the leads to the battery with larger guage.

 

[RustyNCA]

So, after searching the old interweb I finally found my answer regarding what to do with this trailer.

The inverter I purchased will just replace the converter/charger that is in the trailer. No idea still how the prior owner had it wired, but I plan to do it the correct way. So, I just need to run some wire from the inverter over to where the convert is wired in and move that circuit over to the new inverter.

Thanks for the help I appreciate getting me direction both where and how to solve my riddle.

Cheers
Bryan