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Old 11-27-2014, 09:03 AM   #1
billhansen19304
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Solar Prep on 2015's

Hi. Ordered at 2015 3711FL recently and doing a bit more research in advance. One item that caught my eye was the solar prep panel. Anyone have any more detail?
 
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Old 11-27-2014, 05:35 PM   #2
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Investigate fully. I wouldn't want my solar equipment to have come from the low bidder.
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Old 11-28-2014, 01:02 AM   #3
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Here is what I was able to find, it was on another brand, it seems all trailer makers could be doing the prep work. I would think they would just install conduit in place and not wires, as they don't know what a person may be installing.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/solar-prep-195275.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...pkg-54354.html

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Old 11-28-2014, 03:26 AM   #4
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I think most of the prep they do would be a waste of time and money... You might have different ideas on the installation for your needs and wants.. Once you figure what you want to install is should be somewhat easy to route your wiring and locate panels and controls.
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Old 11-28-2014, 08:41 AM   #5
Ozz
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I am also wondering if the 'Prep' is merely a roof port with a flex conduit to the garage area somewhere. No wires. ??
That's the way I would plan the Prep option, just make it easier to pull whatever wires you would select from roof down to a work staging area.
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Old 11-28-2014, 10:31 AM   #6
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Have to agree that making it convenient to pull wires would be the only thing that would make sense and maybe putting location markings on the roof for the rafter locations would help if you are mounting them up there.

I would also agree that to trust a less than experienced in solar RV company with designing a full system would be a big mistake.
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Old 11-29-2014, 12:19 AM   #7
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Guaranteed they won't be putting in the gauge wire you really need to have for solar, but the good part is there will be at least a pathway and something to pull heavier gauge in with. Doubt they will install any conduit inside the walls though.

Also, be careful and very picky if you're going to use a contractor/installer. A lot of them really don't understand what they're doing.
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Old 11-29-2014, 12:54 AM   #8
DonandBonnie
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At the Fall Rally, Keystone mentioned that all new Montana's would be built with solar prep. They did not discuss any of the technical details.
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Old 11-29-2014, 03:42 AM   #9
7.3Ford
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Hi Folks,

I have a 3611RL on order, I talked to the Montana Rep about the Solar prep, it is a marketing gimmick. The wire goes to the Convenience Center, and is for hooking up portable panels, in the 100-300 Watt range.

It is the black plug at the top of the Convenience Center in the picture below (looks like 12 or 14 gauage from the picture).

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Old 11-29-2014, 05:28 AM   #10
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Marketing? Go figure.... like Walt said, do a lot of research and vett every contractor thoroughly....there are a lot of "guys" jumping on the solar bandwagon and will not give you the system you pay for....

AM Solar has a great reputation and several MOCer's have used them with success.

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