Moving the Solar Panel all the Way to the Port Side

[berger]

I have a 2019 Ranger 27 OB and would like to shift the solar panel all the way to port on its support rails. I want the panel all the way to port side of the roof so I can put my inflatable dinghy on the roof rails without the dinghy touching the sharp corners of the solar panel metal frame.
My question concerns the solar panel connecting wires, currently the wire harness coming out of the roof of the cabin and attached to the panel is too short in length to shift the panel all the way to port. What needs to be done with the wires to get a longer length of connecting wires? Is there excess wires in the ceiling of the cabin? Is there a type of extension wiring set that can be obtained? Other solutions?

 

[Kim and Ed]

The setup looks exactly the same as my 2016 R27 Classic. I moved the panel to starboard with plenty of cable length. The cable connects to the panel on the port side. Is it important that the dinghy is mounted on the port side? Here’s a couple of pic’s showing my installation.
Ed/
gallery2.php?g2_itemId=68230

 

[Red Raven]

Could you just add some kayak cradles to the roof rack to raise the dinghy higher so it doesn’t hit the sharp corners of the solar panel? That is what I did for our inflatable kayak. See example cradles below.

https://www.rei.com/product/117528/...MIydvFgoCx5AIVw8DACh3sRAevEAQYAiABEgJ9vfD_BwE

Curt

 

[SgtAlf]

I moved mine to the port side. All I did was loosen the thru deck fitting and pulled extra cable out. There was enough to make the move with ease.

 

[knotflying]

Worse case scenario, add wire with shrink type butt connectors. As an added corrosion precaution I add a very thin coat of no-ox ID on the wire, insert, crimp and then heat.

 

[baz]

I placed my Sea Eagle 385 FastTrack inflatable kayak on top of my previous R27/OB's cabin roof just like Red Raven did, using cradles. I did move the solar panel over to port as far as the wiring would allow to provide clearance and safety for avoiding any chance of there being contact between the kayak and the solar panel corners. My kayak laid down flat and upside down and had a max beam of around 36" when fully inflated.

If I were to do this again, I would purchase cradles that used non-metal attachments to the cabin's rails because the metal ones I used rusted badly within a few weeks, and were very difficult to remove and/or move/adjust their positions.

 

[Maggie Anne]

To protect our inflatable dinghy on the top of our R27 OB I super-glued corner protectors (available at Home Depot or Amazon) onto the corners of the solar panel.

I didn't use these exact same ones but this shows the idea.
https://www.amazon.com/slp/corner-guard/p28qnfhgy4ds849

 

[berger]

The setup looks exactly the same as my 2016 R27 Classic. I moved the panel to starboard with plenty of cable length. The cable connects to the panel on the port side. Is it important that the dinghy is mounted on the port side? Here’s a couple of pic’s showing my installation.
Ed/
gallery2.php?g2_itemId=68230

Thank you for the information....I just check the wire harness location at the panel on my R27 OB and the connector location is in the middle of the panel. I was able to loosen the CableClam and pulled some additional wire from below and them moved the panel - but will need to splice wire in the lines so I can move it fully to Port....

 

[berger]

I moved mine to the port side. All I did was loosen the thru deck fitting and pulled extra cable out. There was enough to make the move with ease.

Thanks for the suggestion...I was able to loosen the roof top CableClam and pulled some additional wire from below and then moved the solar panel to part, but only was able to draw our about 10 inches of additional wire - I will need to splice wire in the lines so I can move it fully to Port....
Also concerned that with two wires going thru the Blue Sea CableClam not sure if the rubber clam will supply enough compression and seal so water does not enter the roof of the cabin, now that the CableClam is not covered by the solar panel. Looking at videos by the Blue Sea company they only show one wire going through the CalbeClam not two as we have from the solar panel.

 

[berger]

Worse case scenario, add wire with shrink type butt connectors. As an added corrosion precaution I add a very thin coat of no-ox ID on the wire, insert, crimp and then heat.

Will do if needed, going to the Roche Harbor rendezvous at the end of the week and will be asking the service guys how much extra wire is present below the rooftop CableClam....if not sufficient I will take your advice and do the splicing so I can move the panel fully to port.

 

[berger]

To protect our inflatable dinghy on the top of our R27 OB I super-glued corner protectors (available at Home Depot or Amazon) onto the corners of the solar panel.

I didn't use these exact same ones but this shows the idea.
https://www.amazon.com/slp/corner-guard/p28qnfhgy4ds849

Great Idea just ordered some from AMZ. Thank you