Getting ready to start the install on a solar system on top of my hard top RTT.

[HYRYSC]

Been planning and piecing together the stuff needed for a solar system install and now comes the fun part of finally getting to put it all together.

A bit about my rig. I have a home made (friend built) camper/RTT with a Decked drawer system. I currently have a Genesys dual battery system running AGMs but since I like to run my fridge 24/7, I noticed that during some of the hot days my aux battery would struggle to keep up, hence the solar array.

I have used the flat, flexible solar panels on previous rigs but noticed a decent drop off in performance when it gets hot and that is when I need my power to be as high as possible, so I am going with 2, 100 watt Renogy hard panels. This will allow some space underneath to help with cooling a bit. I will be using a Renogy controller as well.

Plan is to run the panel cabling down into the camper bed, connect to the controller and then connect the output to remote power distribution block that I already have installed in the bed connected to the Genesys system via 4 gauge wire. Will be connecting my diesel heater, tent lights, fridge and air compressor to the distribution block to power everything.

Hopefully will be able to start on it this weekend barring any "honey-do's".

Pics below to show my current set up. Camping pic is before I installed the decked drawers.

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[HooliganActual]

I have been really happy with my Renogy set up. Make sure you find a way to mount the hard panels to actually leave that space for cooling. As you've called out, the heat diminishes the efficiency of the panel. It can be done with the flexible panels too, but the "implication" of the flexible solar panels is that you can just glue them down to any surface...and that's where they get ya.

 

[nanook12]

How much weight on the RTT?

 

[SargeDiesel]

Been planning and piecing together the stuff needed for a solar system install and now comes the fun part of finally getting to put it all together.

A bit about my rig. I have a home made (friend built) camper/RTT with a Decked drawer system. I currently have a Genesys dual battery system running AGMs but since I like to run my fridge 24/7, I noticed that during some of the hot days my aux battery would struggle to keep up, hence the solar array.

I have used the flat, flexible solar panels on previous rigs but noticed a decent drop off in performance when it gets hot and that is when I need my power to be as high as possible, so I am going with 2, 100 watt Renogy hard panels. This will allow some space underneath to help with cooling a bit. I will be using a Renogy controller as well.

Plan is to run the panel cabling down into the camper bed, connect to the controller and then connect the output to remote power distribution block that I already have installed in the bed connected to the Genesys system via 4 gauge wire. Will be connecting my diesel heater, tent lights, fridge and air compressor to the distribution block to power everything.

Hopefully will be able to start on it this weekend barring any "honey-do's".

Pics below to show my current set up. Camping pic is before I installed the decked drawers.

I have a 100w Renogy setup. I just purchased the BT-1 Bluetooth module to remotely view the battery details through the app and I added a NOCO Genius 5 for keeping the battery charged/healthy when needed.

 

[HYRYSC]

Nice setup! Looks awesome! How has the solar worked for you?

 

[HYRYSC]

How much weight on the RTT?

Good question. The panels weigh 14 pounds so together it would be about 28 pounds total. Going to be mounting them from the side railing to keep the bulk of the weight off of the actual roof itself.

 

[HooliganActual]

Good question. The panels weigh 14 pounds so together it would be about 28 pounds total. Going to be mounting them from the side railing to keep the bulk of the weight off of the actual roof itself.

Have you consider just using a roof rack? I didn't want the weight on my RTT making it heavier to manipulate and making the overall height taller.

Since you aren't talking about a lot of weight, it would be safe to just use a rain gutter mounted roof rack.

I started with that but ultimately went to a RhinoRack BackBone when I installed my CoverKing Topliner.

 

[HYRYSC]

Have you consider just using a roof rack? I didn't want the weight on my RTT making it heavier to manipulate and making the overall height taller.

Since you aren't talking about a lot of weight, it would be safe to just use a rain gutter mounted roof rack.

I started with that but ultimately went to a RhinoRack BackBone when I installed my CoverKing Topliner.

No, my RTT covers the entire area up to the freedom panels. I have heavy duty struts available for the tent if needed, but since the panels will be near the front where it hinges up, doubt they will be needed.

 

[HYRYSC]

Solar panels installed, went back and forth over a few different configurations but decided to run them both on the passenger side to make running the wires a bit easier. Output is strong and pretty much keeps my alternator from having to do much work at all.

Am still doing some wiring for my diesel heater and water pump system so haven't put the fridge back in but I anticipate they should help extend my off-grid stays by quite a bit.

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