Solar Pannel on Roof

[Eamonn McG]

Hey guys I'm new to this site. I just boughgt a 1992 B190 and I'm totally in love with it. I've spent the past few days sleeping in it in my driveway, (my neighbors think im crazy) anyway I noticed theres a solar panel mounted on top of the air conditioner on the roof. I was told by the previous owner that it charged the coach battery but he was unsure if it still worked. Is there any way that I would be able to check if this works? I have a voltage reader that might work. I just dont want to bring it to an rv specialist and pay for something I can do myself. Also, my airconditioner for the cabin does not work. Does anyone know anywhere I could get a new or used one in good condition? Thanks for your help.

[skater]

The most sure way to test it would be to unplug the van, shut off the engine if it's running, and disconnect the coach battery, then measure the voltage - if you have power, it's coming from somewhere, i.e., the solar panel. More scientifically, try to find the wire in the fuse panel that's feeding power from the solar panel (this would be good to do while everything else is disconnected already). In my '91 there was a red wire that wasn't connected to anything that I always suspected was the prewiring for a solar panel, but since I didn't have one I didn't investigate.

I think they don't usually "break" in the sense of just failing (aside from actually being physically broken, of course), but over time they do lose some ability to produce power. Our trailer has three panels on the roof that were 70-75 watt models when new, but since they're at least 10 years old now, I'm thinking they probably only produce 60-65 watts.

As for the rooftop AC I'm assuming you checked the breaker and have the switch for it in the proper position (those were frequently wired to run either the microwave OR the AC, but not both simultaneously). I don't know of a good market for a used one other than a camper that was wrecked; the ACs usually last quite some time. Any RV dealer will happily sell you a new one I'm sure, and I personally would pay to have it installed, because I'd be afraid of having a leak.

[Eamonn McG]

Thanks for the advice i'll try that. The a.c. switch is in the correct position and the seller did bring it to an RV dealer to have the problem checkeed out. He said the unit was recieving power so theres nothing wrong with the wiring/fuses but the unit would not turn on. I guess its the actual ac unit itself...I'll try to look around and see what I can find.

[LeoRussell]

Hey guys I'm new to this site. I just boughgt a 1992 B190 and I'm totally in love with it. I've spent the past few days sleeping in it in my driveway, (my neighbors think im crazy) anyway I noticed theres solar panels mounted on top of the air conditioner on the roof. I was told by the previous owner that it charged the coach battery but he was unsure if it still worked. Is there any way that I would be able to check if this works? I have a voltage reader that might work. I just dont want to bring it to an rv specialist and pay for something I can do myself. Also, my airconditioner for the cabin does not work. Does anyone know anywhere I could get a new or used one in good condition? Thanks for your help.

It is worth system to generate small power.. I have got new panel system and my home electricity needs are perfectly fulfilled..