2021 Imagine XLS 23BHE Solar Prep Installation

[315RLTSinPA]

Get yourself some circuit breakers at least for the convenience of shutting the system down. As you probably know from Renogy's instructions, you must have battery power to the controller before power from the panels. With circuit breakers if you must disconnect the batteries for any reason, you can just turn off the breaker from the panels then turn off the breaker from the batteries. Always remember, battery power on first then panel power on. Panel power off first then battery power off.

[dwelcel]

Get yourself some circuit breakers at least for the convenience of shutting the system down. As you probably know from Renogy's instructions, you must have battery power to the controller before power from the panels. With circuit breakers if you must disconnect the batteries for any reason, you can just turn off the breaker from the panels then turn off the breaker from the batteries. Always remember, battery power on first then panel power on. Panel power off first then battery power off.

That's a good point. Do you recommend a specific type of circuit breaker?

[315RLTSinPA]

I used this type of circuit breaker in the appropriate sizes

[howson]

I used this type of circuit breaker in the appropriate sizes

I like that! It appears the wires/connections are protected from accidental shorting by the clear covers. Am I seeing it correctly? If so, that's better than the ones I have on my setup.

[315RLTSinPA]

You are seeing that correctly.

[RKlass]

Just got our 2021 Solitude home last week and installed 2 310W panels on the roof. Was pleased to see the same MC4 box on the roof which made the install super easy. Found the wires in the front storage compartment. The red one had a fuse on the end of it so I hooked it up to the breaker for the controller and hooked up the other one to the "-" terminal.

I remember reading this thread a couple of weeks ago and thought I should check the polarity as mentioned on here before I closed the breaker. My multimeter read -37 Volts. I had to switch the wiring around. So if you're installing panels make sure to check double check the wiring before hooking everything up.

[mccar106]

Hey everyone,

We just purchased a 2021 Imagine XLS 23BHE and we're excited to get started. Saw this post and thought I'd check in Jim, to see if there have been any updates from Grand Design since your meeting with them? We are very interested in getting solar wired up but the wire that's just thrown in the storage area has no information on how to use it or how it's wired anywhere. Thoughts? Updates?

Thanks!
Elizabeth

[TucsonJim]

Hey everyone,

We just purchased a 2021 Imagine XLS 23BHE and we're excited to get started. Saw this post and thought I'd check in Jim, to see if there have been any updates from Grand Design since your meeting with them? We are very interested in getting solar wired up but the wire that's just thrown in the storage area has no information on how to use it or how it's wired anywhere. Thoughts? Updates?

Thanks!
Elizabeth

That wire is key to a successful solar install. I saves you from having to drill through the roof and fishing wires up there. The other end of the wire should be underneath the small plate on the roof. All your panels will connect with this wire via a solar combiner or solar gland. Then, all the components in the basement can be added and connected to the wire on that side. As a minimum, there should be a fuse and solar controller added to that wire. Then a new wire run from the controller to the batteries and include a fuse there too.

Jim

[mccar106]

That's really helpful, Jim. Thanks for getting us pointed in the right direction!
Elizabeth

[Country Campers]

Hey everyone,

We just purchased a 2021 Imagine XLS 23BHE and we're excited to get started. Saw this post and thought I'd check in Jim, to see if there have been any updates from Grand Design since your meeting with them? We are very interested in getting solar wired up but the wire that's just thrown in the storage area has no information on how to use it or how it's wired anywhere. Thoughts? Updates?

Thanks!
Elizabeth

If your unit has Solar Prep you will have two wires from the roof to the pass thru , one positive one negative. If your unit does not have Solar Prep you will only have a single wire or string coming down a channel from the roof to the pass thru. If you just have this single wire it is used to pull a suitable wire for your configuration , this wire is NOT to be used for Solar connection as it is a light gauge wire.

Also if you have the 2 wires make sure they are of suitable size for your system.

Brian

[TomL]

Just got our 2021 Solitude home last week and installed 2 310W panels on the roof. Was pleased to see the same MC4 box on the roof which made the install super easy. Found the wires in the front storage compartment. The red one had a fuse on the end of it so I hooked it up to the breaker for the controller and hooked up the other one to the "-" terminal.

I remember reading this thread a couple of weeks ago and thought I should check the polarity as mentioned on here before I closed the breaker. My multimeter read -37 Volts. I had to switch the wiring around. So if you're installing panels make sure to check double check the wiring before hooking everything up.

What make and model # of the solar panels did you get ? Did you get any specific solar controller and did you upgrade your power converter?

[TomL]

I used this type of circuit breaker in the appropriate sizes

Can you share the make of the fues you used?

[Lblanke]

Can anyone comment on how you sealed up the jaboni port in the roof after connecting the wires? I don't see any gland like cover to protect from water. Do you just leave the cover off and the mc4 connectors exposed?

[bridgway]

Those solar ports are waterproof and the box is sealed. Once you take off the access door, you just plug in and you're good to go!

[Jhills104]

If your unit has Solar Prep you will have two wires from the roof to the pass thru , one positive one negative. If your unit does not have Solar Prep you will only have a single wire or string coming down a channel from the roof to the pass thru. If you just have this single wire it is used to pull a suitable wire for your configuration , this wire is NOT to be used for Solar connection as it is a light gauge wire.

Also if you have the 2 wires make sure they are of suitable size for your system.

Brian

I have a 2021 2400. Do you know if they run it down the bedroom wall or through the front cap? If the wires run through the bedroom divider wall, I’d like to put the controller there where it’s easy to see.