337RLS solar wiring

[rkeesler]

For you 337RLS owners who have installed solar...how have you run the wires from the roof-top combiner box to the charge controller in the basement? What is the best route to take. Thank you!

[howson]

For you 337RLS owners who have installed solar...how have you run the wires from the roof-top combiner box to the charge controller in the basement? What is the best route to take. Thank you!

I don't have a 337 (obviously) but noted this was your first post so just wanted to say "Welcome"! I see you figured out the sig line so you've probably already read the New Members letter. Awesome!

I'm sure a fellow 337 owner will be along shortly with an input to your question.

FYI, my 315 is somewhat similar in floorplan. I came down through the closet wall. Wasn't easy but it was doable. The whole thread is long, but post 11 will show the closet wiring: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/solar/1...2272#post12272

Howard

[rkeesler]

I don't have a 337 (obviously) but noted this was your first post so just wanted to say "Welcome"! I see you figured out the sig line so you've probably already read the New Members letter. Awesome!

I'm sure a fellow 337 owner will along shortly with an input to your question.

FYI, my 315 is somewhat similar in floorplan. I came down through the closet wall. Wasn't easy but it was doable. The whole thread is long, but post 11 will show the closet wiring: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/solar/1...2272#post12272

Howard

Thanks for the reply Howard. I've actually read through your install posts several times....very nice set up! As for the install on a 337, I've seen post where the drop occurred in the wall behind the toilet. Another option was dropping the cable down in the linen closet in the bathroom as well. I'm looking for what people have found to be the best route and any problems they've encounter routing the wire down in the basement and of course, the more pictures the better.

Rick

[TucsonJim]

Hey Rick,

You're in luck. The 337 is designed perfectly for an pretty easy run on the solar wiring. The picture below is from a friend of mine who also owns a 337RLS. His name is Brian Rowley, and he removed the wall panels in the bathroom to run the wiring. Once the wires were in place, he stapled the panels back in place and you couldn't even see where they'd been removed.

[rkeesler]

Hey Rick,

You're in luck. The 337 is designed perfectly for an pretty easy run on the solar wiring. The picture below is from a friend of mine who also owns a 337RLS. His name is Brian Rowley, and he removed the wall panels in the bathroom to run the wiring. Once the wires were in place, he stapled the panels back in place and you couldn't even see where they'd been removed.

Thanks TucsonJim. Do you know if the trim around the edges of the panel is pin nailed or glued? I assume the trim around the exhaust fan was removed to allow access to the roof. Is Brian Rowley's contact information available...would like to contact him, if possible for any additional pointers Thanks.

Rick

[TucsonJim]

Rick - I sent Brian a request to see if he'd share his contact info. I'll let you know when I hear back. As far as the trim, all the trim I've ever encountered is installed with a nailer.

Jim

[TucsonJim]

rkeesler - Brian gave me the go ahead to to share his contact information. I sent it to you in a PM.

Jim

[rkeesler]

rkeesler - Brian gave me the go ahead to to share his contact information. I sent it to you in a PM.

Jim

Got it. Thanks Jim.

[WRingling]

I own a Grand Design 337RLS also except mine is a 2019 model. I was able to also remove the trim and paneling very carefully with a small pry bar. Hint: the bottom trim comes off real easy and then side trim comes off next). Once all the trim was removed then I started at the bottom right corner and slowly pulled out as the panel does not have very many staples holding it in place. Once I had it loose on all sides then I bowed it around right side of the toilet and then out of the bathroom. Below are the pictures before I started any mods.

I was looking to get three path ways to the roof from the basement. One for the wires for the network cables for roof mounted Wifi Ranger (or like device) and two for possible future solar wiring feed cables.
Two of the pathways were fairly easy. The third one was a real pain. I hit the side of the aluminum bracing for the floor. Pic below.


Continued in next post.

[WRingling]

After I went into the basement and cut out a small slot in the bracing for the plastic tubing I was able to have three pathways from the roof to the basement.



After feeding the tubes up through the top plate I had to squeeze my hand out through the ceiling and grab the tube with my finger and bend it down to come forward to the vent hole area.
.
I did find something that I thought was an issue that I wanted to solve before I put the panel back on. I found in this space with high voltage wires where they had screwed in from the kitchen side and missed the studs. These screws are sharp and the wires are just loose in there and could wear against the sharp screws I felt. So I took my dremel and cut them off and also did some wire tie work to hold things a bit better.


I will continue with pictures in the basement of how it all looks down there next.

[Jims94vmx]

Great pics. Getting ready for my install in a few weeks. Where did you get the blue tubing? Did you cut through the top plate then to the roof straight up?

Thanks for sharing.

[WRingling]

The blue tubing is 1in ID Carlon part # 12008-100 ( Blue PVC Ent - Flex Plus). That is a 100ft spool, I had upwards of 50ft left over from running some network cables in my house through the garage where I wanted to make sure the cables were protected. This stuff is really tough. I have not yet drilled through the roof as WifiRanger has not yet released there Everest model yet. My plan is to purchase the WifiRanger Everest for the roof top part and the Spruce router for inside (I plan to do a mod behind the breaker/fuse panel to hold the indoor router. I plan to install two Mikrotik Wifi ceiling mounted access points in the coach. One in the bedroom and one right above the hutch/entry way. I have already pushed wire pulling rods both ways from the bathroom vent area to the kitchen and bedroom ceiling to verify I can get wires to them. I expect to start a new post about my rv network install as I feel the info might be useful to other owners.

[fowlergk]

The blue tubing is 1in ID Carlon part # 12008-100 ( Blue PVC Ent - Flex Plus). That is a 100ft spool, I had upwards of 50ft left over from running some network cables in my house through the garage where I wanted to make sure the cables were protected. This stuff is really tough. I have not yet drilled through the roof as WifiRanger has not yet released there Everest model yet. My plan is to purchase the WifiRanger Everest for the roof top part and the Spruce router for inside (I plan to do a mod behind the breaker/fuse panel to hold the indoor router. I plan to install two Mikrotik Wifi ceiling mounted access points in the coach. One in the bedroom and one right above the hutch/entry way. I have already pushed wire pulling rods both ways from the bathroom vent area to the kitchen and bedroom ceiling to verify I can get wires to them. I expect to start a new post about my rv network install as I feel the info might be useful to other owners.

Enjoy your write up. I'm heading your way regarding networking the RV. Right now i am chasing a 3k Magnum inverter and four Battle Born batteries plus solar install this winter. Going to rest the wallet a little then onto the WIFI and Cellular boosters..

[WRingling]

Tonight I worked on the basement end and finished up securing the tube ends.




This pretty much sums up the pathways from the roof to the basement. Next I will be working on wiring for a switch in the convenience center to power the network gear. I will update this post with a link to the post where I document that part of the rv network install. I will put the wall panel and trim back on once I finish the wiring for the network equipment as it also needs to pass through this wall to get from the breaker/fuse panel up to the convenience center.

[mbergthold]

Does GD offer roof mounted solar as a factory option? If so, will the factory share info on where they run the lines? I’d want my solar controller near the command center, which unfort is at the rear of the 2500RL. Does no good to have it in the basement if you want to keep an eye on performance etc.