Stranded Posted August 30, 2021 Share Posted August 30, 2021 Curious question, I know. I recently got some newer Zamp panels for my trailer, which will take them from 200 watts to 230 watts. On my 2017 trailer, the two older style Zamp Legacy style solar panels were attached with aluminum angle bars on the sides and they were screwed together where they butted up to each other. On the newer Zamp panels, they have have special mounting bolts that go into a recessed area around the perimeter of the panels. For the portion of the panels that butt next to each other, I'm wondering how the factory joins them together: do they simply drill longer holes through the recessed valley on both panels and then through bolt? or do they use a piece of flat aluminum and still utilize the Zamp special mounting hardware by having them both mount to an aluminum bar? If someone with a newer trailer could send me a picture of the underside of the solar panels, I'd sure appreciate it. Specifically where the two panels butt up next to each other. I'm just curious to see how the factory mechanically connects them before I start drilling holes in my panels. Thanks! 2017 Elite 1 Hull 220 1997 Dodge 2500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCeagle Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 Hi @Stranded, here are some pictures of how the 2020 panels are connected. First, there is a solid 90 degree angle bar on both the front and back of the panels connecting them together: Second, there are 4 bolts that go through the sides of the panel where they are butted up together (4 bolts total). I've included two pictures that show both sides. You can also see the underside of the angle bar in one of the pictures: All in all, pretty much bolted such that they are a single unit - which makes sense given that they are mounted as if they were a single panel. Hope this helps... I can take more pictures or measurements if you need. Best, John 1 2 2020 Elite II, Hull 688 --- 2021 Silverado 2500HD, 6.6L Duramax Diesel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators SeaDawg Posted August 31, 2021 Moderators Share Posted August 31, 2021 @NCeagle, is that a Zamp Obsidian panel that you've added, with the thin black frame? 2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4 2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12 Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes.... 400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries . Life is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stranded Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 Thank you much for the pictures! I kept getting thrown off by the new rails on the Zamp solar panels. See below: 2017 Elite 1 Hull 220 1997 Dodge 2500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stranded Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 Those rails require special nuts with springs attached to them to use those rails: 2017 Elite 1 Hull 220 1997 Dodge 2500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stranded Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 If I’m seeing the pictures correctly, it looks like Oliver is ignoring the use of the Zamp rails and just through-bolting the panels like they did on the older Legacy panels. 2017 Elite 1 Hull 220 1997 Dodge 2500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCeagle Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 Hi @SeaDawg, yes it's a 100 Watt Obsidian Zamp panel that I added to the pair of 170 Watt ones that came with the trailer. That's all I could add for now without any upgrades to the Zamp controller (30 Amp). It fit great. 🙂 Here's a few more pictures of the panel fit and install: Prior to bolting and taping the panel on, I made sure it fit well: Then I bolted the trailing edge to the existing solar panel mounts and used VHB 3M tape on 4 additional mounts on the front edge. Probably overkill on the front - it hasn't budged over several thousand miles. 3 2020 Elite II, Hull 688 --- 2021 Silverado 2500HD, 6.6L Duramax Diesel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators topgun2 Posted August 31, 2021 Moderators Share Posted August 31, 2021 Nice job but I want to know (not meet) the gorilla that uses that 50 pound weight.😁 1 2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist" Near Asheville, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators SeaDawg Posted September 1, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 1, 2021 I think the highly efficient obsidian panels are beautiful, and light, and just a great piece of equipment, hugging the top of the trailer so closely with the rail attachments. I wish Zamp made higher wattage obsidian panels. Don't know if the innovations will continue, as Dometic recently acquired Zamp. 2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4 2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12 Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes.... 400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries . Life is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator+ ScubaRx Posted September 1, 2021 Moderator+ Share Posted September 1, 2021 Make sure when parking the trailer that it is 90 degrees to the sun. Otherwise, the original panels, being mounted higher, will cast a shadow on the new panel. As you probably already know, if you cover any part of a solar panel from the sun, it will cut the output by half. 1 Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Lucy, Maggie and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge) 2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators mossemi Posted September 1, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 1, 2021 8 hours ago, Stranded said: If I’m seeing the pictures correctly, it looks like Oliver is ignoring the use of the Zamp rails and just through-bolting the panels like they did on the older Legacy panels. My 2017 has 2-160 watt panels that are original equipment. The panels are attached to the AM Solar mounting feet with the same spring nuts as shown in your pictures. If the frames are the same on the old and new panels, which I can’t tell with you pictures, I believe the difference may be the mounting feet. Oliver used AM Solar mounting equipment on NCeagle's original panels and he used different mounts for the new Obsidian panel. It’s hard to see in NCeagle's picture, but it looks like the 1/4” bolt is visible going up through the clamp and into the spring nut which is in the t-slot in the bottom of the rail. Mossey Mike and Krunch Lutz, FL 2017 LEII #193 “the dog house” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivernerd Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 12:39 PM, NCeagle said: NCEagle: What is the black dome on the front of the trailer pictured below? Hull #1291 Central Idaho 2022 Elite II Tow Vehicle: 2019 Tundra Double Cab 4x4, 5.7L with tow package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators topgun2 Posted November 16, 2021 Moderators Share Posted November 16, 2021 Its the bathroom exhaust fan. Bill 1 2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist" Near Asheville, NC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivernerd Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 Thanks for the education. I had only seen it in white until now. Hull #1291 Central Idaho 2022 Elite II Tow Vehicle: 2019 Tundra Double Cab 4x4, 5.7L with tow package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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