How to cover solar wires on a campervan roof?
By
Elaine Knight
In this blog post, we will answer the question: “How to cover solar wires on a campervan roof?” We will discuss steps and options to consider to cover solar wires on a campervan roof. We will also discuss a few tips to choose campervan solar wires. At the end of this post, you will get to know all about solar wires for campervan roofs.
How to cover solar wires on a campervan roof?
To cover solar wires on a campervan roof you will need to
- Seal the wires through the van roof
- Use a wire protector
- Use plastic cord cover or ducts
- Run the wire at the edges
Seal the wires through the van roof
- The easiest way to cover solar wires on a campervan roof is to simply seal the wires through the van roof. Trying to cover solar wires on a van roof can be a tedious task if you are unsure what needs to be done.
- Having exposed wires on a campervan roof is not a good idea and it is bound to develop issues in the long run. Hence, it is always good to get those wires covered and keep them protected from harsh climatic conditions.
- One of the easiest ways is to seal the wires through the campervan roof. By this method, the wires are not going to be exposed outside. It is always good to have the wires passing through the roof.
- To seal the wires through the van roof, you will be required to have a gain box that is weatherproof along with a water-tight connector for the cable.
- You will be required to install the gain box on the roof and pass the wires that are on top through this box. Note that some parts of the wires will still be exposed on the roof with this process.
Use a wire protector
- Most people use a wire protector to cover their solar wires on a campervan roof. Be sure to get a waterproof wire protector and run the cable through them. A wire protector will also help you to keep your wires safe during rain and sun.
- There are also plastic wire protectors that are round in shape. You can also run these protectors on the roof and cover the wires. These are flexible and easy to use and they can be fixed in no time.
- Note that you will be required to fix the wire protectors before connecting the wires to the panel and bringing them down to the inverter.
- These are easy to install and they can be done on your own. The only issue with round wire protectors is that you might need to find a way to secure them on the roof. You might be required to use some zip ties along the roof to keep it secure.
Use plastic cord covers or ducts
- Using plastic chord covers or ducts is probably one of the best options to cover solar wires. Plastic cord wires are compatible and it is easy to run them along your campervan.
- These cord wires arrive at a reasonable price and they are also stable and much better options. Be sure to get the right size based on your solar panel wires.
- Multiple sizes are available and you can easily push three wires inside one chord cover. These are built out of hard and flat plastic and it is also designed to keep rain from entering.
- The only issue with these solar wires is the installation process. Solar chord covers are hard plastic and you will be required to cut them accordingly. Another disadvantage is that you cannot use these on round surfaces. However, the benefits are more and it is one of the best recommendations.
- You will need to cut the plastic accordingly and place the also purchase a couple of joints to connect them at curves.
- The good thing about the plastic cord covers is that they provide good protection and they are sleek. These covers can blend to the surface with ease.
- You might need to use some glue to stick the cover on the roof. These are also perfect to be used inside the caravan if you want to hide the solar wires.
Run the wire at the edges
- This is pretty common, especially if you want to cover the solar wires on the inside. It is good to run the wires on the edges of the campervan roof and use some tape to cover them.
- Be sure to use tape that matches the campervan roof. This will need to be done neatly and with patience. Be wires will need to be secured to the edges properly for them to look neat.
Those were a few easy tips to cover solar wires on a campervan roof. These are DIY tips that can be done on your own and there is no need to get help from others. Be sure to wear safety equipment like gloves while cutting the wires. You can also get in touch with an expert to cover the solar wires on your roof to save you more time.
Tips to choose campervan solar wires
It is important to consider the wires and their sizes when you plan on installing solar planes. This plays a crucial role since some campervans might not be able to accommodate extremely thick wires and you might be required to drill holes. Here are a few tips to choose the right campervan solar wires.
- Solar panels usually arrive with the wires that need to be connected to the inverter. Yet, in some situations, you will be required to make a few changes. This depends on the campervan and the type of solar panel that you use.
- Note that the series and parallel will determine the size of the wire that you need for your campervan solar system.
- Choosing extremely small wires will be easy to cover or hide, but they can be an issue since they are prone to overheating. This can be dangerous and it can also become a fire hazard.
- The solar system for a campervan has two wiring sections and these sections must be sized independently.
- The first section is the solar panels to the solar charge controller.
- The second section is the solar charge controller for the batteries.
- You can also look up the wire sizing chart for the series connections and the wire sizing chart for parallel connections. Note that there will be a difference between these two types of wires.
- The series connections will require 10 AWG wires from the panels to the charge controller. Whereas the parallel connections will require 8 AWG. The most common wire size for solar connections is 10 AWG wires.
- You will also need to check the standardized wire connectors for MC4 solar systems. Be sure to get a rubber grommet along to protect the solar wires from sharp edges. This is essential since solar wires pass through the metal roof.
- A circuit breaker is also essential to protect the wire and downstream electronics from unexpected electric surges. You will also require M6 ring connectors to get the positive solar wires to the circuit breaker.
- When purchasing solar wires, be sure to get the right ones and ensure that they are a recognized brand with top-quality wires.
When it comes to the charge controller to battery connections, both will require 8 AWG. This is subject to change according to the solar panel and the types of wires that are used. Be sure to seek help from an expert to get this sorted out. You can also use the wires that come along with the solar panels if necessary.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have answered the question: “How to cover solar wires on a campervan roof?” We have discussed the steps and options to consider covering solar wires on a campervan roof. We have also discussed a few tips to choose campervan solar wires. Have a new method of covering solar wires on a campervan roof? Leave us a comment below.
Citations
http://www.akggroupindia.com/pvc-wiring-duct
