New TT...solar upgrade questions

Morning all. So we recently purchased a brand new 2025 TT and want to see what we need for upgrading/adding to the current solar setup that it has. It has a Rich Solar 100 watt panel and controller (RS-PWM30P). The battery is a lead acid deep cycle. I'll get the specs from it this afternoon. I want to add my Renogy panels that I removed from the old trailer. They are 200 watts each. My thinking is to install them at the front and run the cables to the rear. The MC4 connectors are right at the inlet box so plugging in the 3 panels with the Y adapters should be fairly easy. I emailed Forest River for the roof framing diagram and to ask what gauge wire was ran. It looks like 12 gauge. Its aluminum framing so it shouldn't be an issue securing the panels. I'm still learning the solar setup but I don't have any problem with upgrading to an MPPT controller if needed. I appreciate any help and links (controllers, lithium batteries, etc) that you can provide. I'm pretty sure that running 500 watts of solar with the current battery is not a good idea LOL.

My dumbed down version to sum it up:

Currently has a 100 watt panel and 30 Amp controller.
I believe its a 12 gauge wire setup currently.

Want to add additional 400 watts by adding 2 each Renogy 200 watt panels
Do I need a different controller?
Do I need a different battery? Do I need 2?

 

Watching as I am debating similar with mine. I know you will need more batteries if planning on any off grid activities. But I do not know much about the controllers, yet.

 

I am by no means a solar guru, (so confirm/double-check anything I say) but I did a fair bit of research on the subject before doing the system on my trailer.

Popular opinion is that panels should be as closely matched as possible (operating voltage) for best efficiency. You'd still get power with one 100W Rich and two 200W Renogy, but it's not optimum.

30A controller is probably not gonna' cut it. Likewise on 12 AWG wire.
If you use the panel configuration you mentioned, your only option is to wire them in Parallel, which combines Amperage.

Series wiring increases voltage, amperage remains the same.
Parallel wiring increases amperage, voltage remains the same.

I have three 200W Rich Solar panels wired in parallel (600W) feeding a Victron 50A MPPT controller. through 10AWG wire. Victron specs rate my 50A controller for 700W @ 12V

I'm nearing the limits of both wire and controller so I can't add another panel unless I went to two pairs in series/parallel.

Fortunately I don't need anymore, as the 65-ish Amp Hours we typically use (if running furnace) is almost always replaced by noon.

When we got the trailer I had two Grp 24 lead acid batteries, which often got drawn down WAY too far if running the furnace.

When I killed those I replaced them with two Grp 31 FLA's (Biggest I could fit in my battery compartment) This was better... sufficient but sometimes went below the 50% discharge threshold for LA battery longevity. Battery consumption/reserves was still always in the back of my mind.

I was glad when I killed those (I'm TERRIBLE about remembering to do battery checks/maintenance of FLA batteries) as this was a good excuse to go Lithium!

Got two 100Ah Weize LiFePo4 batteries and now I don't give a second thought to power reserves, consumption, conservation.

Occasionally I'll look at my Victron Connect app just to laugh like a power mad Bond villain. Muah Ha Haaa!!