Solar panel wiring routing

[LBeckons]

Hey Y'all been lurking on here for a few weeks. I'm in the process of transferring all my goodies off my 2nd gen 4runner to the 100. The previous owner did an awesome job not cutting into things and I'd like to keep that up if possible.

Anyone done any crafty routing of solar panel wires? I'll drill a hole if I have to..

Cheers

 

[LBeckons]

 

[007]

I have done some hobby work incorporating panels into roof racks in the past and first would recommend that you ditch the hard glass panel for a flex panel if you plan on adding more panels in the near future as I did.

 

[LBeckons]

Not really what I asked though is it? I don’t want flexible panels for a variety of reasons. The post was about how to route the wiring into the cabin. I drilled the holes because no one here had any input.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

I recommend running the wiring down the windshield channel and under the hood. Then through the firewall grommet if you need to get the wires into the cabin. Many folks, myself included, have used this approach for roof rack lighting.

 

[007]

Second thing is No need to run solar cable into cab...

 

[savirc]

I'm about to embark on this venture, will be posting on my thread.

 

[SoCal_80]

Not a fan of permanently mounting a panel to the roof....It doesn’t allow you to move the panels effectively to follow the sun.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Not a fan of permanently mounting a panel to the roof....It doesn’t allow you to move the panels effectively to follow the sun.

I've got panels fix mounted on my rv and they're great but when i do a set up on the 100 it will be a non fixed mounted deal.

 

[savirc]

Just my two cents... my only previous experience I have with solar is with a solar RV with fixed panels. If the panel is big enough, fixed will do for single even dual battery setup.

I'm using one maybe two he.he.he 100-Watt Polycrystalline Solar Panels & controller feeding to auxiliary battery. I feel like if I even get 1 hour of direct light it will be enough to top off battery which is what I'm looking for. Permanent fridge setup.

 

[Ramathorn15]

I've had mine on for about 4 months now. I love it as it keeps my single battery from draining with the fridge running over a few days.

I ran the wiring down the driver windshield then through a boot in the firewall. I then ran it to the front of my drawers where I mounted the controller. The wiring from the controller then taps into the battery circuit at my blue sea fuse box in my drawer.

 

[007]

That Looks Nice....now all you are missing is running amber lights on the wind spoiler

 

[brizzle]

I've had mine on for about 4 months now. I love it as it keeps my single battery from draining with the fridge running over a few days.

I ran the wiring down the driver windshield then through a boot in the firewall. I then ran it to the front of my drawers where I mounted the controller. The wiring from the controller then taps into the battery circuit at my blue sea fuse box in my drawer.

View attachment 1813983 View attachment 1813984 View attachment 1813985

Hey man I love the solar setup, exactly like what I am envisioning for my rig! Do you have another thread with details or can you pass on the gear you chose and how you have it wired into your aux setup?

Thanks

 

[rolo68]

I have done some hobby work incorporating panels into roof racks in the past and first would recommend that you ditch the hard glass panel for a flex panel if you plan on adding more panels in the near future as I did.View attachment 1796999

I love the flexible solar panel setup. Do you mind sharing how you mounted to your roof rack and how it retracts and pulls out?

 

[Exiled]

Also, for those of you that have cables running down the windshield channel into the engine bay, can you share a closeup of how you went through the plastic panel that surrounds the wipers? I don't know what the proper term for that is, but I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out a clean way to punch through it to run my wires up to the roof. Thanks in advance!

 

[RMTWELL]

Great questions! I'd love to see the details of how you constrained the cable down the windshield, and exactly how the cable passes through into the cab and/or into the engine bay.
I've done this once with a perfectly functional solution, and I've got to do it again. I'd love to see work anyone is especially proud of!