200w 2417 Rear Shell Install

[jswinner]

BRADS7535 install, list and pics inspired me to install 200 watts on the rear shell of my 2417.

Parts List modified from BRADS7535:

2x Renogy 100w Eclipse Monocrystaline Panel The price fluctuates a bit on Amazon, and you can try name your price at the Ebay Renogy store to pay less
1x Renogy Rover 20 amp MPPT Controller Temp Sensor included
12 RV Solar Store STICKY FEET RV SOLAR PANEL MOUNTS
1x 30’ pair Renogy 10AWG MC4 Solar Cable This item is 2 cables, each 30’
1x 30A Weatherproof Circuit Breaker
1x Renogy 8ft 10AWG Battery Tray Cables
1x VHB Tape
1x Cordmate II Kit
1x Loctite Marine Adhesive Sealant

The Eclipse panels are a bit more efficient than the “standard” mono and are smaller and lighter. Two of them will fit on the rear shell of the 2417. But because the shell is warping in like 4 dimensions (yes, a bunch of my time was taken up), the standard Renogy Z-Brackets would not rest on the shell. Also once stuck the the roof, it would have been difficult to remove the panels with limited clearance between the roof and the bottom of the panel. Fiddled around trying to come up with clever ways to mount the panels, but I eventually discovered the “Sticky Feet” listed above. A bit pricey but they work great.

The Renogy Rover seems ok charging, but I do not recommend it. First, even though the specs list the terminal blocks as rated for 10 AWG, they are too small. There are complaints about busting the TBs too. I used ferrules (the #10 would not fit) so I ended up wiring some #12 gauge pigtails to the the unit. Finally, the mounting flanges do not extend beyond the side of the case, so I used flat aluminum stock and screws stuck to the front shell to mount the unit.

[BradS7535]

Glad my install helped you with yours! You are correct that the rear shell curves in like 4 dimensions! I used the Renogy Z brackets but spent some time bending the bottom of each bracket to fit the curvature of the shell.

Hope the system works out for you!

[klpauba]

Nice looking panels and great install.

[rickst29]

Renogy also sells the one I like (a newer model from the same OEM), with their own label on it. (That's the "Commander", built from an EP-Solar Tracer 2215BN). But they've brain-damaged their version of the 2215BN, to work ONLY with their own similarly brain-damaged MT-50. So the needed combination (Controller, Temp-Sensor, and MT-50 with cable) ends up costing more than the purchase of EP Solar originals off of EBay.

This device, compatible with the older MT-5 control-display unit, might be based on an older and less capable EP-Solar device (the 2215RN). In raw capability, the Maxmim-PV-Disconnect Voltage (only 100V) implies some significantly weaker components (inductors and capacitors). I read a few claims of incorrect Voltage Monitor readouts (with unwanted "shutdown" events, and other voltage related "charging mode" errors) - but yours might work OK for you. Most Amazon buyers have been happy with it.

[jswinner]

BradsS7535: I probably could have straddled one panel over the center to make it work. But I could not find a larger panel narrow enough to fit on that narrow 2417 shell. There was like 1/2 - 3/4 gap between the Renogy feet and the shell, too much to bend!. If I had to do it over again, I would probably select flex panels, they are the same dimensions.

rickits29: Yes, the function seems ok for now in the driveway and it seems to be a decent build, but I did not open it up to look inside. First test in the wild will be this week.

[Padgett]

While I agree an MPPT controller is more efficient, in a solar-rich environment I went with a 30A PWM that had some interesting features like a programmable output for night lighting. Seems to work well with my two 100W panels.

If thinking about serious boondocking, a better unit would be good but for 4-5 day outings with a generator for the AC, this is fine.