Disclaimer: In general, this forum is intended to be a place for Grand Design owners to gather and exchange ideas regarding their use of and experiences with Grand Design products. Any information contained in the forum should be independently verified by checking with Grand Design, one of its authorized dealers, or reviewing your owner’s manual.
If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You will need to to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Thanks for visiting and your interest in Grand Design!
Hello! We are proud owners of a 2019 Imagine 3170BHTS, we cannot wait to take our kids camping. Our trailer is solar ready and this may sound like a stupid question but do we just go out and purchase the panels? Is it set up with the converter, batteries,etc?
I'll wait for TucsonJim to chime in (he's got a PDF document called "Solar 101"), but no - you don't just add panels. A complete installation will require a battery monitor, charge controller, and enough batteries to suit your needs - in addition to the solar panels, cables, etc. You will need to add an inverter (different from a converter/charger) if you want to run AC from your battery bank and not just use the solar for charging the batteries. It's all in Jim's document.
Rob
Rob & Laura
U.S. Army Retired (Rob)
2012 F350 DRW CC Lariat PS 6.7, PullRite OE 18K
2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS and disc brakes, solar, BB LiFePO4, DP windows
(Previously in a 2016 Reflection 337RLS)
Full time since 08/2015
Jim's "Solar 101" presentation pdf is in this thread below from Jim, post #1. As Rob shared, I am sure Jim will chime in at some point as well. I think the mods. are in IN training this week and thus not as readily jumping in on the forum.
The "Solar Prep" is only connections on the roof and wiring dropped down a channel to the front pass thru storage area.
A "Solar Package" can be ordered with panels and an inverter. Grand Design will not be supplying batteries as there are many options and needs by the end user.
Jim will be along at some time as today was "travel back home day".
Brian
Brian & Michelle
2018 Reflection 29RS
2022 Chevy 3500HD
The "Solar Prep" is only connections on the roof and wiring dropped down a channel to the front pass thru storage area.
A "Solar Package" can be ordered with panels and an inverter. Grand Design will not be supplying batteries as there are many options and needs by the end user.
Jim will be along at some time as today was "travel back home day".
Brian
I could be wrong but I think the solar prep on the Imagine is the connection on the front of the trailer for the suitcase panel with the built in controller, or did they start wiring the roofs in the Imagines too?
Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.
Neil Citro
2018 Reflection 28BH Pepwave
2019 F350 6.7L Long Bed Crew Cab
I could be wrong but I think the solar prep on the Imagine is the connection on the front of the trailer for the suitcase panel with the built in controller, or did they start wiring the roofs in the Imagines too?
They are starting to provide the connections on the roof on some models. I am not sure which exact models and when or if all models will be included. I believe they are headed to include all models.
Brian
Brian & Michelle
2018 Reflection 29RS
2022 Chevy 3500HD
I'm home now. As mentioned, the new Solar Prep for all products (with the exception of Transcend) will include a channel from the roof to the basement storage with 10AWG wires already installed. The wires will be terminated with MC4 connectors for easy "plug and play" with most solar panels.
GDRV is working with a company called Jaboni which will install solar charging systems and inverters as an option. They were just starting to install these packages on a couple of Momentums while I was visiting. I'm not sure when they will roll it out to other product lines.
As a note, the small plugs that are wired from the side of the coach to the batteries will be eliminated in future builds.
Jim
Jim and Ginnie
2024 Solitude 310GK - 2020 F350 Dually
GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
GDRV Rally Support Coordinator
They are starting to provide the connections on the roof on some models. I am not sure which exact models and when or if all models will be included. I believe they are headed to include all models.
Brian
Wow thats great I did not realize they were rolling it out to all the lines. Excellent news!
Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.
Neil Citro
2018 Reflection 28BH Pepwave
2019 F350 6.7L Long Bed Crew Cab
Hello! We are proud owners of a 2019 Imagine 3170BHTS, we cannot wait to take our kids camping. Our trailer is solar ready and this may sound like a stupid question but do we just go out and purchase the panels? Is it set up with the converter, batteries,etc?
Comment