Wire Harness
This is one place where you definitely do not want to cut corners! The vast majority of all system failures are traced back to failures in the wire harness. It could simply be a poorly made wire connection or it could be an ill-conceived wire harness designed by someone who doesn't have a clue as to what is truly needed for the application. When comparing the cost of systems, it would be wise to pay very close attention to what is included in the wire harness.

We only use high purity copper cable with a high strand count for the best efficiency. Our roof cable is round so that it will fit tightly into our Weather-Tight, Strain-Reliefs. Others use low strand count "Tray" cable which is flat like lamp cords and doesn't provide a good seal against the weather.

Our System cable has a jacket that is rated for 105 degrees C and has high abrasion resistance. The "Tray" cable that others use is only rated for 75 degrees C. The temperature rating of the jacket is important if you get near anything hot like gas refrigerator chimneys or vehicle exhaust pipes. The abrasion resistance is important because RVs bump,sway and bounce along and the cable rubs against wall and frame members.

Also, when installing the system yourself, consider the value of having a complete, carefully thought out wire harness in front of you. How much does it cost you to drive back and forth from the nearest hardware store to get items that are needed but weren't included in the system wire harness? You may also find that the local hardware store doesn't carry things like UV resistant shipboard cable, weather-tight strain-reliefs, stranded 8 or 6 gauge duplex wire, or glue-filled butt connectors and ring terminals.

Here's what you get in our
SunRunner Systems 100-22B Wire Harness:

  • 15' - UV and Weather Resistant Shipboard 10/2 Solar Output Cable
    (to be used from solar panel to combiner box)
  • Weather-Tight, Strain-Relief
    (to be used at combiner box)
  • 40' - Stranded 8 ga./2 conductor System Cable
    (from combiner box to controller and from controller to batteries)
  • 1 - Kit of various Wire Ties and Screws
    (to secure system cable running on the roof, through the walls and bays)
  • 1 - 30 Amp System In-Line Fuse Kit w/spare fuse
    (includes fuse holder and cap plus glue-filled, shrink-tube butt connector and ring terminal)
  • 1 - 22B Ring Terminal Kit
    (heavy duty copper lugs with glue-filled, heat-shrink tubing)
  • 1 - Package of Wire Labels
    (to mark wires for future reference)

Option 1 - For Rubber Roofs
3 - Screw eye Wire Ties, 3 - #10 x 3/4" Screws

Option 2 - For Smooth Fiberglass or Aluminum Roofs
3 - Wire Ties, 3 - Wire Tie Pads with 3M VHB double-sided tape


Item
MSRP
Web Price
SunRunner Systems 100-22B Wire Harness
(choose Option 1 or Option 2 when ordering)
Everything needed to wire together a system utilizing a single
RV100 solar panel and an HPV-22B Charge Controller
$175.00
$115.00
Upgrade 8 gauge 100-22B System Wire to 6 gauge
Recommended for use with greater than 300 watt systems
Increases system efficiency and controller accuracy
Includes upgrade from In-Line Fuse to 30 Amp Circuit Breaker

add - $120.00

SunRunner Systems 100-TS45 Wire Harness
(choose Option 1 or Option 2 when ordering)
Gives you everything included in the SunRunner 100-22B Harness above ~PLUS~
Adds wire, fuse & fuse holder, butt connector & ring terminals
for the TriStar Controller's "External Voltage Sense" circuit.

Also Upgrades the House Battery In-Line Fuse Kit
to 60 Amp Blue Seas Circuit Breaker Kit
$395.00
$250.00

Upgrade 8 gauge 100-TS45 System Wire to 6 gauge
Recommended for use with greater than 300 watt systems
Increases system efficiency and minimizes voltage drop

add - $65.00
SunRunner Systems 'Add-On' Wire Harness
For adding an RV100 solar panel to System wire harness
15' - UV Resistant Shipboard 10/2 Roof Cable plus accessories.
$55.00
$40.00
$55.00
$40.00
$65.00
$50.00


Things to Consider about Installation

If you are installing the system yourself, it is very comforting to know that you are only a phone call away from technical assistance that is being given by someone who has actually performed many installations and has been involved in troubleshooting many problem systems. This is a service that is not always calculated into the purchase price of a system but has a very high intrinsic value.

If you are having a system installed by someone other than yourself, it's important that you understand the true value of paying the installer by the hour to do it right the first time. If an installer isn't feeling rushed, they will take the time to make and test connections and to hang wire and tie it off properly so that it can survive the vibration and temperature swings encountered in RV use and travel.

Whenever you are paying a flat rate for installation, you are basically inviting the installer to do only the bare minimum, be lax on quality and cut corners because the quicker they can do it, the more money they will make for the time invested.

On the surface, it may appear to cost less money to pay a flat rate. However, what is the true cost of having poor or erratic system performance or outright failure? How much down time will you incur? How far out of your way will you have to travel to get it fixed? What will it cost to have the improperly installed wire harness stripped out and replaced with a properly installed wire harness?

If you ask anyone who has ever had to deal with an improperly installed system, they will all tell you that it is always less expensive to do it right the first time !

Remember ... The "R" in RV stands for RECREATION. So, start out with a well engineered wire harness, get it installed right and go out and enjoy the many benefits of a Solar Powered RV.


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