Solar on the Hurricane, Part One

This is part one of the Solar Install on my 2009 Four Winds Hurricane 34B

Purchased the Renogy 200W "Premium" kit.  

This kit comes with monocrystal panels and an MPPT controller.

renogy-200-watt-12-volt-solar-premium-kit/

The inverter is still an option.  We did find a couple issues right off the bat:

• 20 feet of cable isn't enough for this motorhome layout.  Ordered extension cables
• The remote only has 6 feet of cable.  I couldn't move the controller inside.  
• Renogy ships the z-brackets with self-tapping screws, then says not to use them on RV roofs.  Now waiting on another order of fasteners.

Started by mounting the controller unit.  Renogy recommends vertical mounting, but there wasn't quite enough room.  It's as high and protected as possible.  Nice 20-amp fuse as part of the kit.  

It's pretty important to hook up the controller to the batteries before the panels, so I just started at this end and worked backwards. 

Next is the remote head-unit.  It uses RS485 connectors, not RJ45 (ethernet).  With only a 6 foot cable, I couldn't go far.  Put the unit in the pass-through storage ahead of the batteries.  It has an aluminum brace behind it in case stuff slides around.  

This is not my final solution, I want the head unit inside. 

Now it's time to start routing the PV wires.  Cable clamps just behind the charge controller to start things off.  Hooked everything up to one panel first just to make sure it works.

Routed the cables across the underside, above the frame rails.  Followed other wiring looms as much as possible.  Battery box is on the driver side of the vehicle, under a large slideout.  Best roof access is further aft on the passenger side, using the fridge stack vent.  So wires went across the undercarriage.  Underneath the fridge is the propane tank, and a storage compartment just in front.  I followed the propane lines.

Here are the propane lines coming in to the storage compartment, then exiting the top into the body of the coach.  I added a new hole for the wires.  Still to do:  rubber grommet and new foam insulation. 

The wires entering the coach.  This will be a good place to add the extension cable.  

From here, the cable will continue:

Up into the fridge area, then on up the stack to the roof.

But all that is waiting for Part II, the Need for More Parts...

Edit:
The sequel is here:  Solar part 2

storage space for sewer hose

Good spot?