Solar Panel Replacement February 05, 2026, 06:12:00 pm I have a 2006 Lazy Daze mid bath that I would like to take off the two existing solar panels and put two new ones on in their place. The existing ones are 21“ x 57“.I’ve done searching on this site to see if this has been done which I’m sure it has, but I have not found anything that tells me exactly what brand or what they used.Does anyone know of a brand, model, size, type that I could simply take the old ones off and bolt the new ones in their place Also, are there things that need to be considered? I have a blue sky controller and a lithium compatible power converter connected to a couple of lithium batteries. Is there a simple plug-in play solution or do I need to dig deep to come up with a creative solution?
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #1 – February 05, 2026, 06:30:56 pm I should also mention that my desire is to go from the current 100 W panels to 200 W panels which will give me a resulting 400 Watts total.
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #2 – February 05, 2026, 07:38:07 pm It may pay to replace those panels if they show signs of reduced output, but in any event, four 100W panels are an advantage over a pair of 200W panels. Almost any panel will be a different form factor from what you have and will require a complete remounting anyway. If your current panels are good, then only mounting two new ones will be less work.Why are four better than two? Shading is a significant issue with roof-mounted panels due to your environment or other roof-mounted equipment. Even partial shading of a panel can drop most or all of its output.Steve 2 Likes
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #3 – February 05, 2026, 08:09:39 pm I appreciate the thought, but I’m only gonna have a maximum of two and I want to use the existing brackets that I already have.I found these panels called “Zohisin 250W monocrystalline solar panels” that look like they will fit. I can get from Amazon and they’re awfully cheap. I’m wondering if I can connect them in parallel and hope they don’t somehow damage my blue sky 3000i charge control control?
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #4 – February 05, 2026, 09:21:19 pm Looks like they install with suction cups!! They give no specs or performance data and only supply a 10A controller with each panel. Note 10A @ 12V is 120W. Nothing adds up with these and they certainly wont fit the existing hardware. They also use split cells, so they might put out a much higher voltage.Steve
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #5 – February 05, 2026, 09:48:25 pm I had two of these 200-watt panels installed about a year ago, adding them to the factory 100-watt panel. The existing panel was moved to allow for a more efficient install (space wise). Here is the spec sheet:https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/catsy.549/SPEC_GP-PV-200M.pdf
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #6 – February 06, 2026, 12:02:25 am I have had good luck with Renory panels and the price is right.Amazon.com : Renogy Solar Panels 200 Watt N-Type 16BB, 2PCS 100 Watt Solar...Our Blue Sky 3000i controller has been use with 560-watts of solar panels for years without issues. Excess energy is dumped and not used. I rarely see the maximum 0f 30 amps input, only in mid-day in mid-summer.Larry As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #7 – February 06, 2026, 12:26:06 am Just another idea. My charging system charges 600AH of batteries at rate exceeding 140amps. Compared to the power a day of solar will add to the system it isn’t worth messing with. Just run the generator another 10 minutes.
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #8 – February 06, 2026, 08:45:47 am Quote from: Larry W - February 06, 2026, 12:02:25 amI have had good luck with Renory panels and the price is right.Amazon.com : Renogy Solar Panels 200 Watt N-Type 16BB, 2PCS 100 Watt Solar...Our Blue sky 3000i controller has been use with 560-watts of solar panels for years without issues. Excess energy is dumped and not used. I rarely see the maximum 0f 30 amps input, only in mid-day in mid-summer.LarryI refuse to drill any more holes in my roof and these panels look about as close as I can get but are still a quality brand. I am assuming that the plugs will mate with my existing ones so all I have to do is figure out some kind of adapter to mount these panels on the original factory installed brackets. I think this is going to be the solution. As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #9 – February 06, 2026, 08:48:53 am Quote from: hbn7hj - February 06, 2026, 12:26:06 amJust another idea. My charging system charges 600AH of batteries at rate exceeding 140amps. Compared to the power a day of solar will add to the system it isn’t worth messing with. Just run the generator another 10 minutes.Most converters will charge at a max of 40-50 amps. 10 minutes would only add 6 to 8 Ahr. A small solar array charging at 10 amps for 5 hrs would add 50 Ahr. Silently, and whether or not you are on site...Steve
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #10 – February 06, 2026, 08:52:35 am Quote from: Jackhiett - February 06, 2026, 08:45:47 amI refuse to drill any more holes in my roof and these panels look about as close as I can get but are still a quality brand. I am assuming that the plugs will mate with my existing ones so all I have to do is figure out some kind of adapter to mount these panels on the original factory installed brackets. I think this is going to be the solution.You do realize these are two 100W panels - what you already have...Steve 1 Likes
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #11 – February 06, 2026, 09:27:47 am Quote from: Steve - February 06, 2026, 08:52:35 amYou do realize these are two 100W panels - what you already have...SteveOf course I did not realize it. Ha.Thank you for catching it for me. They offer the 200 W panels at a price is very acceptable so this is probably what I will get. However, making an adaptive bracket to connect them is going to be a little trickier. I’ve got to put some thought into this.
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #12 – February 06, 2026, 10:10:10 am Well, darn it, these panels are too wide, and I don’t think I’ll be able to adapt them to fit in my space where the previous panels exist. Back to the drawing board man there’s a lot of choices.
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #13 – February 06, 2026, 10:59:17 am With your MB you should have no problem finding enough real estate for a couple more 100W panels. Mounting them by drilling and sealing brackets to the roof is not difficult, and snap-together y-cables will even simplify the electrical. Ideally the entire electrical run should be upgraded if you are doubling the power, but you will still get a big improvement without.I suggest you do deep research on this site as to what others have done - much more info than on this thread.Steve
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #14 – February 06, 2026, 11:30:20 am Quote from: Jackhiett - February 06, 2026, 08:45:47 amI refuse to drill any more holes in my roof and these panels look about as close as I can get but are still a quality brand. What's the problem with drilling a few new holes as long as they are correctly sealed"? Do you realize how many holes the roof came with when new? Properly bedded soar panel feet do not leak if the installer knows what they are doing. AM Solar used to glue panels down with double-sided tape and not use any screws, they did change their practices after a few years and went back to adding screwsLarry 1 Likes
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #15 – February 06, 2026, 11:37:47 am Quote from: hbn7hj - February 06, 2026, 12:26:06 amJust another idea. My charging system charges 600AH of batteries at rate exceeding 140amps. Compared to the power a day of solar will add to the system it isn’t worth messing with. Just run the generator another 10 minutes.What are you using to charge at 140-amps? I have not seen a 120-volt converter that puts out more than half that amount.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #16 – February 06, 2026, 12:38:35 pm Quote from: Larry W - February 06, 2026, 11:37:47 amWhat are you using to charge at 140-amps? I have not seen a 120-volt converter that puts out more than half that amount.Larry4kw generator driving two 60 amp and one 80 amp lithium chargers in parallel. It charged at 100 amps or so till I replaced the generator with the Onan 4k inverter generator. Dunno why but now it charges at 140 amp plus. I’m OK with that.
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #17 – February 06, 2026, 01:20:20 pm I agree with the advice already offered here. Forget about finding panels that will match your existing mounting hardware. Either remove those brackets and plan a new layout with a blank slate (so to speak), or find room to add panels in addition to the ones you have.Steve's comments in reply #2 are on target: multiple smaller panels connected in series-parallel pairs will minimize shading problems; and smaller panels give you more flexibility in where you put them. I had six 100 W panels on my 2003 midbath's roof (although I removed TV antennas to make room), and I have four 100 W panels on my current 19' (!) Airstream. Unless you have a huge roof area, smaller panels are the way to go.
Re: Solar Panel Replacement Reply #18 – February 06, 2026, 08:06:05 pm Quote from: Larry W - February 06, 2026, 11:37:47 amWhat are you using to charge at 140-amps? I have not seen a 120-volt converter that puts out more than half that amount.LarryThe Xantrex FREEDOM XC PRO 3000 inverter/charger puts out a maximum of 150A when charging. I have the Freedom XC 2000, which puts out 100A when charging, though I normally use only 70-80A.
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