Solar Panel System Installed on my 2024 Delta 262RB

[Jim Beletti]

My son and I just completed the installation of Solar Panels on my 2024 Delta 262RB:

Project
Add 6 200-Watt / 24-Volt Rich Solar Panels to the roof of the RV as part of a larger power system

Objective
Have the ability to recharge LiFeP04 batteries using solar energy

Products
Rich Solar MEGA 200 Watt / 24 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panels (6 ea) - link
Combiner Box (11.02" x 7.48") - link
4-Stud Bus Bars (2 ea) - link
Power Switch - link
Icotec Cable Entry System - link

Installation Process

• Relocated Winegard TV Antenna from the ODS of the roof, near the edge, to the center of the roof, between the 2 ACs.
• Determined ideal location for panels, leaving room to get onto the roof from the ladder, taking into consideration existing vents etc.
• Added aluminum Z-brackets to all panels.
• Measure and marked for panel locations on roof.
• Added butyl tape to bottom of brackets - only where screw holes were.
• Place panels in position, drilled pilot holes, secured with 1" SS lags and added Dicor Lap Sealant around brackets and on top of lug heads.
• Interconnected panels in series (per side).
• Ran panel string wires into combiner box through Icotech Cable Entry System, combined both strings in parallel inside combiner box to 4-position bus bar.
• Fished kitchen wall and ran 4 AWG welding cable from combiner box to underbelly area for eventual run to pass-through bay to MPPT.

Usage

• Solar Power is one of 4 methods of battery recharging, we have planned for the RV. Solar Charging is automatically managed by the Victron MPPT Solar Charge Controller. When there is sunlight, if a charge is needed, we will be producing power to charge our battery bank.

Maintenance
Occasional cleaning of the solar panels.

Experience / Review
As of 18-Feb-2024, only the panels and the wiring to the pass-through bay is complete. The batteries and MPPT will be installed soon. When we hit the road in April and use the system more fully, we'll circle back here and add more about our experience.

Pictures
Link to online gallery of all project pictures


Completed Project Video
Link to Video

 

[2 Allies]

Really nice job Jim! You'll be ready for some boondocking/off gridding. Great pictures and video. Like your work space/ garage too.
Enjoy,
Bruce

 

[Jim Beletti]

Really nice job Jim! You'll be ready for some boondocking/off gridding. Great pictures and video. Like your work space/ garage too.
Enjoy,
Bruce

Thank you Bruce. Sitting / kneeling on the roof for a few days was a drag but I do enjoy doing this sort of thing. When complete, our small trailer power system will be small but mighty

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Love those Rich Solar panels...have 10 on our 340RL 🌞🌞🌞

 

[RockDr896]

Both are very clean installs and look great. However, what is your plan for doing any slide work? can those panels be stepped on? Also being only 1 year into the RV life, can the slides be walked on? I have seen people pressure washing and walking on the slides, so I was wondering. What are the weight limits if you can walk on the slides?

 

[Jim Beletti]

@RockDr896 - Generally, slide roofs cannot be walked on. If a slide needs to be worked on, it can be done from the ends or the front in most cases. If the slide topper needs to be replaced, it can be done with the slide partially to fully in and done from ladders, not from the roof.

 

[RockDr896]

@RockDr896 - Generally, slide roofs cannot be walked on. If a slide needs to be worked on, it can be done from the ends or the front in most cases. If the slide topper needs to be replaced, it can be done with the slide partially to fully in and done from ladders, not from the roof.

I had a stick get into one of my larger slides and had to reinstall the top gasket and silicone the top of it. I could not have worked it from the sides in my opinion. Since I am not dry camping, I won't be installing the panel setups you guys have. Thanks for the answer concerning slides! Maybe slide covers are in my future.

 

[Hotrodjohn]

Love those Rich Solar panels...have 10 on our 340RL 🌞🌞🌞

View attachment 1765

Tell me more about your system. I want to add to mine on our 340. We have the one 390? 2-100 amp hours lithium batteries and also onboard Onan propane genny

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Tell me more about your system. I want to add to mine on our 340. We have the one 390? 2-100 amp hours lithium batteries and also onboard Onan propane genny

Well....I removed everything from the factory and started over. You can see I now have a 100% Victron system, with 3x270 Battle Born batteries and the 10x2000w solar on the roof. I have the Vicron Orion 50 amp DC-to-DC charger (just arrived 2 days ago) and I will be installing that hopefully before we leave for the Nation Rally at the end of May.
I also added 4 Ruuvi devices and installed "guimods" to my CerboGX, so I can quickly see the temps of my frig, inside, outside and battery compartment. Battery compartment also has a temp sensor that turns on a 12v fan in case it gets too hot in there.

 

[Jim Beletti]

Well....I removed everything from the factory and started over. You can see I now have a 100% Victron system, with 3x270 Battle Born batteries and the 10x2000w solar on the roof. I have the Vicron Orion 50 amp DC-to-DC charger (just arrived 2 days ago) and I will be installing that hopefully before we leave for the Nation Rally at the end of May.
I also added 4 Ruuvi devices and installed "guimods" to my CerboGX, so I can quickly see the temps of my frig, inside, outside and battery compartment. Battery compartment also has a temp sensor that turns on a 12v fan in case it gets too hot in there.

Jim - I'm jealous the you got your Victron XS DC-DC already. My dealer hasn't gotten me one yet. Hope to get it before Goshen.

Say - when we're in Goshen, would you mind installing GUI mods on my Cerbo?

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Jim - I'm jealous the you got your Victron XS DC-DC already. My dealer hasn't gotten me one yet. Hope to get it before Goshen.

Say - when we're in Goshen, would you mind installing GUI mods on my Cerbo?

It isn't hard Jim. I watched this video and was successful on my first attempt. I think I had one additional reboot of the Cerbo then what he says, but all in all, a 20 to 30 min project. Happy to help at the Pre Rally or National Rally if you haven't done it by then...but knowing you, you'll have this done within 24 hrs of reading this.

 

[CornCrib]

Well....I removed everything from the factory and started over. You can see I now have a 100% Victron system, with 3x270 Battle Born batteries and the 10x2000w solar on the roof. I have the Vicron Orion 50 amp DC-to-DC charger (just arrived 2 days ago) and I will be installing that hopefully before we leave for the Nation Rally at the end of May.
I also added 4 Ruuvi devices and installed "guimods" to my CerboGX, so I can quickly see the temps of my frig, inside, outside and battery compartment. Battery compartment also has a temp sensor that turns on a 12v fan in case it gets too hot in there.

Jim: We'll be at the pre rally on the 18th. Would love a walkthru on your temp sensor and fan set up .. and your Orion, if it's in. If you didn't get the Orion in by then, I'd be glad to be an extra set of hands to help you install in Indiana.

Question on the GuiMods: Does it get blown away after updates, requiring a reinstall?

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Jim: We'll be at the pre rally on the 18th. Would love a walkthru on your temp sensor and fan set up .. and your Orion, if it's in. If you didn't get the Orion in by then, I'd be glad to be an extra set of hands to help you install in Indiana.

Question on the GuiMods: Does it get blown away after updates, requiring a reinstall?

Yes....if you update the Cerbo firmware, you will most likely have to reinstall the guimods. Unless there is a MAJOR update to the Cerbo, I don't plan on updating its firmware again. But, now that I have done the guimod update to the Cerbo...it isn't that hard to do again.

happy to walk you through the setup. The fan uses the battery exhaust port, as I am no longer using that with Lithium batteries. I am thinking of adding more fans to help push more hot air out.

 

[billymac]

@Jim Beletti very nice. This upgrade is up next on my list. May I ask some basic questions, please?

1. Did your 262RB come with a single 200W panel from the factory? Asking because I seem to recall reading you removed one, but not sure if that was this trailer or not. I have a single 200W panel that came stock. I am not sure yet, which make/model it is, but will look next time I'm out. I'm hopeful that it can be used as part of my upgrade.

2. This is considered a 3S2P configuration, correct? Can you please give your reasoning for selecting this configuration (versus full serial, etc.)?

3. I replaced the stock Rich 40A MPPT with a Victron 100/30 during my inverter install and know I will need to upgrade, but that's fine because my plan is to use the 100/30 as a second controller for deployable(s).

4. What is the best sealant to use on the roof for screw holes and brackets?

5. I've got 6AWG fine strand running from my Victron 100/30 MPPT in the passthrough to the Lynx with a 60A Mega fuse. If I copy your install, can I get away with using the existing stock wire installed at the factory that comes from the roof into the passthrough? I believe it's 10AWG? This would be a huge timesaver.

6. How's the real-world performance been this summer? Has the 1200W in solar been keeping up fairly well? Rough and tumble, what do you find you're harvesting on cloudy/sunny days?

7. Can I use a simple pair of bus bars to combine the output of what will eventually be (2) MPPT's into a single pos/neg back to the Lynx? My thinking is when I eventually get a smaller deployable, I can deploy that and get a small bump with concurrent charging.

Thanks and please let me know!!!!

 

[Jim Beletti]

@billymac - see replies online below.

@Jim Beletti very nice. This upgrade is up next on my list. May I ask some basic questions, please?

1. Did your 262RB come with a single 200W panel from the factory?

JB: Yes it did. I removed it and gave it to another Delta owner recently.

Asking because I seem to recall reading you removed one, but not sure if that was this trailer or not. I have a single 200W panel that came stock. I am not sure yet, which make/model it is, but will look next time I'm out. I'm hopeful that it can be used as part of my upgrade.

JB: if it’s like mine, it’s likely Rich Solar - 12v

2. This is considered a 3S2P configuration, correct? Can you please give your reasoning for selecting this configuration (versus full serial, etc.)?

JB: I did 2 strings of 3 panels each and wired each string in series and then parallel wired the 2 strings together. Yes, this is 3S2P.

3. I replaced the stock Rich 40A MPPT with a Victron 100/30 during my inverter install and know I will need to upgrade, but that's fine because my plan is to use the 100/30 as a second controller for deployable(s).

4. What is the best sealant to use on the roof for screw holes and brackets?

JB: I use Dicor Self-Leveling Lap Sealant.

5. I've got 6AWG fine strand running from my Victron 100/30 MPPT in the passthrough to the Lynx with a 60A Mega fuse. If I copy your install, can I get away with using the existing stock wire installed at the factory that comes from the roof into the passthrough? I believe it's 10AWG? This would be a huge timesaver.

JB: If you do 3S2P, I feel you could use the 10 AWG prewire as your voltage will be high and current will be low. Personally, I always run my own. I think I used 4 AWG. But that just me

6. How's the real-world performance been this summer? Has the 1200W in solar been keeping up fairly well? Rough and tumble, what do you find you're harvesting on cloudy/sunny days?

JB: Max I saw i July was high 900s on my 1200 watt system.

7. Can I use a simple pair of bus bars to combine the output of what will eventually be (2) MPPT's into a single pos/neg back to the Lynx? My thinking is when I eventually get a smaller deployable, I can deploy that and get a small bump with concurrent charging.

JB: Yes you can. Just make sure the current rating of the bus bars well exceed the max combined current output of your MPPTs. If you have space for it, alternatively, you could connect both MPPTs to the Lynx Distributor and fuse each within the Lynx.

Thanks and please let me know!!!!

JB: Happy to give you my thoughts.

 

[billymac]

@billymac - see replies online below.


JB: Yes it did. I removed it and gave it to another Delta owner recently.


JB: if it’s like mine, it’s likely Rich Solar - 12v


JB: I did 2 strings of 3 panels each and wired each string in series and then parallel wired the 2 strings together. Yes, this is 3S2P.


JB: I use Dicor Self-Leveling Lap Sealant.


JB: If you do 3S2P, I feel you could use the 10 AWG prewire as your voltage will be high and current will be low. Personally, I always run my own. I think I used 4 AWG. But that just me


JB: Max I saw i July was high 900s on my 1200 watt system.


JB: Yes you can. Just make sure the current rating of the bus bars well exceed the max combined current output of your MPPTs. If you have space for it, alternatively, you could connect both MPPTs to the Lynx Distributor and fuse each within the Lynx.

JB: Happy to give you my thoughts.

Thank you!!!

Couple more questions if you don't mind:

1. With the 3S2P configuration, I've got to combine them up on the roof, right? No way around that?

2. Why not 6S for maximum voltage and easier wiring? Not challenging your install or decision at all, simply struggling to find the benefit to the 3S2P configuration. Was it based on the ratings of your existing MPPT possibly?

3. I guess that begs the question, would you have done anything differently?

 

[billymac]

@Jim Beletti Can I ask how you ended up with a Victron 150/70 MPPT? I'm getting higher capacity model suggestions through most of the online calculator tools and sizing guides even with a 12V 6S1P config. 24V 6S2P is telling me I need a model or two up for example. Just looking for some guidance or more importantly confidence so that I pick the correct one without oversizing and wasting money.

 

[Jim Beletti]

Thank you!!!

Couple more questions if you don't mind:

1. With the 3S2P configuration, I've got to combine them up on the roof, right? No way around that?

JB: Yes, combine on the roof. I plugged the panels into each other (pos to neg) on each side, then ran the combined strings into a roof-mounted box and combined them in the box. Pics: https://beletti.smugmug.com/RV/Alliance-RV/2024-Alliance-Delta-262RB/Power-System/Solar-Panels

2. Why not 6S for maximum voltage and easier wiring? Not challenging your install or decision at all, simply struggling to find the benefit to the 3S2P configuration. Was it based on the ratings of your existing MPPT possibly?

JB: Voltage added when wired in series (pos to neg). I used Victron's MPPT calculator to determine my 150/70 MPPT choice.

3. I guess that begs the question, would you have done anything differently?

JB: Sort of wish I would have added some circuit protection (breaker) on the roof vs just a switch.

Hi @billymac - see replies inline above.

 

[Jim Beletti]

@Jim Beletti Can I ask how you ended up with a Victron 150/70 MPPT? I'm getting higher capacity model suggestions through most of the online calculator tools and sizing guides even with a 12V 6S1P config. 24V 6S2P is telling me I need a model or two up for example. Just looking for some guidance or more importantly confidence so that I pick the correct one without oversizing and wasting money.

MPPTs are expensive and right-sizing helps with cost. I used Victron's online MPPT calculator to come up with the 150/70 choice and then bounced that off a couple of pals.

 

[billymac]

MPPTs are expensive and right-sizing helps with cost. I used Victron's online MPPT calculator to come up with the 150/70 choice and then bounced that off a couple of pals.

@Jim Beletti Were these your panels? (see attached)
Your solar panel link in the first post just takes me to the main Rich page--not a specific model.
I just want to make sure I'm using the correct numbers as compared to your install.