General Boards > Technical Support
Solar Charge Controller Location
Chuck Hurd:
2000 patriot concord33 anyone got a clue where the
Solar Charge Controller is located?
David T. Richelderfer:
In our coach, the Heliotrope is located inside the curbside basement compartment just ahead of the duel axle. The snaps that hold that compartment door closed are located under the outside of the door.
Carl Boger:
Chuck,
On my Patriot Savannah it is under the bed inside the engine compartment. Open the bed and it will likely be just behind the enclosed storage area on the engine side of the wall. There is a single red light on mine that that light up when the sun is shining. Hopefully I will be replacing all the old solar soon.
Chuck Hurd:
We got the same coach pretty much. What you planning to do on the solar
Carl Boger:
Well since you ask,
I have already installed a 460 AH Vatrer lithium battery since it was on sale and my old led acid batteries were 5 years old. The battery was $1100 and 4 agm batteries were going to be close to that.
I also plan to install 600 watts of solar, 6-100 watt eco-worthy 12 v panels that were also on sale, I don't remember the exact price, but just under $300.00. Of course then I needed mounting brackets so just over $300.00.
The two wires from Beaver are heavy enough to use,10ga, to hook up to a charge controller. I bought a Victron MPPT 100/50 charge controller, also on sale, for about $125.00. I also have some wiring combiners left over for a different project. I will need a few other pieces, but less than $100.00.
I plan to clean, seal, and then re-coat my roof before the install, so at least spring if not summer.
With the above set-up I believe I will be able to run my 12 volt refrigerator pretty much indefinitely unless the panels are covered with snow. This should also keep all the batteries charged.
This is still a plan in progress. I did install a BIM to protect the alternator, and currently use a trickle charger to keep the chassis batteries charged while the original freedom 15 inverter charges the house battery just fine. I did have to reconfigure the dip switches, but with the batteries BMS it will charge up to 100% when it decides it is time to charge the battery.
I am far form an expert so just take this as what I am doing. There are others here that are much more informed than me so ask questions before you plan yours. I pieced together the on sale version.
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