Solar Install Thoughts

I am new to the forum (been lurking for over a year).  Great friendly forum with lots of information. Wife and I (plus kids who have now moved out) have been rv'ing for 20+ years and we have been looking for the right rig for post-retirement (hopefully soon).  After lots of looking and research, looks like the 2552 is a good match for our rv'ing style.  Some mods, including solar, are high on our llst.

I am thinking ~400 Amp lithium, ~800 watt solar and 3000 watt hybrid inverter/converter.  Since lithium should ideally be in temp controlled environment (read: inside the rig), the entire power plant will likely go under the passenger side bed.  I am comfortable with DIY install but will talk with the factory if they can (during build) run some wires (e.g., 4 AWG from roof to solar controller location, control wires from inverter to display location, and install the breaker box and distribution panels in locations which would make the overall installation easier.   Also, would have to work with factory to make maximize roof real estate and minimize shading (e.g, no fan/vent/skylight over bed area, move antenna back, no roof racks). Since we are planning on compressor fridge, it helps with solar panel layout.

I was wondering if anyone has done a complex solar install on a Phoenix Cruiser (or similar) and have any thoughts/ideas/gotchas to look out for.  Would love to hear and exchange ideas.

Reggie Nath (located in SE Michigan area)

On our 2552 we ordered and had delivered to PC two 160 watt panels and sufficient 4 gauge cable to run from the panels to the area underneath the kitchen.  After I reviewed panel placement at the factory they mounted the 2 panels behind the single AC.  We discussed and Phoenix reinforced the area ahead of the AC should we decide in the future to add 2 more 160 watt panels.


We elected not to install the rear roof railing.  We also had 3 MaxxFan low profile vent fans installed instead of the PC standard.  The lower profile reduces the potential for shading.  We also had PC install a King Jack antennae and center mount it as far forward as possible.


Once I took delivery of the PC I connected the panels and installed a Morningstar solar controller and a Victron power monitoring panel.  Both I had used in a previous travel trailer.


I also had PC install a Progressive Dynamics converter and a 2000 watt Samlex pure sine wave inverter in lieu of their standard components.


We have been very satisfied with the performance. To date we have not seen the need to add the other 2 panels.  Battery state of charge is typically above 90% and has never dropped below 80%.    We are using the standard Absorption refrigerator and most of our off grid camping has been during the warmer months with little need to run the furnace.  Should this change we may consider the extra panels.  Probably need to increase battery capacity which may lead to the Lithium option.


Things may have changed now but at the time we placed our order PC had not had a lot of experience with Solar charging systems.  This is the reason I selected the components and actually did most of the install.  I felt they were better equipped to mount the panels and run the 4 gauge cable during the coach build.

Thanks for the info.  I am glad to hear PC will work on roof equipment placement and more importantly run 4 gauge wire.  Most rv manufacturers refuse anything bigger than 6 gauge.  One of the reasons for our choice of PC is their willingness to do customization (based on what we have seen in this forum).  We will go with the low profile fan/vent covers also and with a Novacool compressor fridge

I am thinking of all-Victron components as I like the way they integrate the system.  Still working out the numbers, but the hybrid inverter might allow me to delete the onboard generator.  We will have enough battery capacity to run microwave and AC off lithium for rest area lunch stops, etc.  I will have a portable Honda 2kw generator for hybrid inverter power assisted AC.  We are not big hot weather RV people.

One reason for deleting the onboard generator is because I want to discuss with PC about installing a secondary grey water storage tank in that area.  I have some ideas that I have to check with PC.  In the past 20+ years of RV'ing, I can count on one hand the number of nights where we had water/sewer at our RV site.  Hence, bigger grey water tank capacity would be nice.  If the generator area will not work, I have another idea for a secondary tank.   Once I discuss with PC, I will post it here so others can benefit.

Some months after we picked up our PC I was told by a customer the previous company owner (Kermit) stopped partial/custom solar installations.  I am not sure of the current owner. 


If that is the case now I would either do the complete install myself or find a reputable solar installer with experience in RV installations.  Your proposed system is larger and significantly more complex than ours so this might be the time to consider a true professional installation.


Good luck and please keep us posted as your project proceeds.

I think Fandj is spot on. PC would not run wires a few years ago, or really get involved much in anything but their own option list. This might have changed though. Ask.

We knew we were going to do solar so they did accomodate a few of our requests;
No skylight over the shower.
No roof rack. Which also meant no ladder.
No back window, it dosen't open anyway.
No external anntenas.

So basically keep an open slate on the roof, and back of the rig.

If I were custom building a lithium system myself, I would consider building automatic and manual safeguards to insure it would NEVER start charging, from any source, unless the conditions for the batteries was ideal.

Doug