routing wires for solar panel

[Westy End]

so - I have planned my panel for the rear of my westy pop top roof. It connects to a controller just in front of the wardrobe which in turn needs to connect to both the leisure battery (I have routed a wire behind cabinets, fridge etc) and starter battery (which for my diesel is in the engine compartment).

My question is - how best to get a wire from the wardrobe to the engine bay? I have two grommets under the bench seat but they are for the hot water pipes to the rear passenger heater - I dont fancy routing electrical wire next two water pipes which get hot..... Other than those two grommets I cant see any opening from the main compartment of the van into the engine bay - any suggestions?

thanks

[Timwhy]

Does your Westy have AC? If so you could run wires down the rear hose grommet to the AC. You could always drill from the engine compartment up under the rear most part of the closet and use small grommets?

[ghost123uk]

Do you have a split charge relay inside the van ?
If so it will already have a wire going to both batteries.

I have two grommets under the bench seat but they are for the hot water pipes to the rear passenger heater - I dont fancy routing electrical wire next two water pipes which get hot.....

If you do need to tuck a wire into those grommets, I would not worry about the heat, any wire you are likely to find will not be upset by the temperature found there.

You just need to consider what current it needs to pass. If just "solar panel" current, thin wire will be fine as you are only dealing with 5 amps or less. If the wire has to carry the split charge current, ~60 amp (with a 40 amp fuse at each end) would be my recommendation.

[Westy End]

thanks for the suggestions - I took the plunge and drilled a hole myself - up in the top of the air intake vent void - hopefully will minimise any water getting in. See my post for the progress of my installation if interested.

[Timwhy]

thanks for the suggestions - I took the plunge and drilled a hole myself - up in the top of the air intake vent void - hopefully will minimise any water getting in. See my post for the progress of my installation if interested.

If you mean this area, just loop your wires so they hang down below the hole. This way any water collected on them will run down the loop and not to the hole. I used black rtv around my wires that ran through the grommets for added protection against leaks.