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Andy View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Feb 2018
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Posts: 65 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Zamp Port Wiring
    Posted: 29 Nov 2019 at 10:28pm
The plastic cover for the Zamp connector finally got eaten up by the Southwest sun and broke off.  Anyone replaced theirs?

Thanks
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Posts: 87 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Nov 2019 at 12:52pm
Mine too.
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Colt View Drop Down
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Posts: 383 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 4:17pm
Originally posted by Jeepinator

........................

There is no controller built into the Zamp connection on the RPod that I am aware of.  I have a portable panel with controller and polarity reverse adapter and it works perfectly.


That is the answer I was looking for.  I checked polarity and made harnesses accordingly.  I think the 25 watt panel I used could not generate enough current to overcome the radio draw during my initial tests, making me think it wasn't working.  Hooked directly to the battery, my handmade panel and controller is keeping the battery well charged, with no loads. 

Thanks!!
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2019 at 7:06am
Use a voltmeter to determine polarity before you connect anything. There is really no "normal" dc wiring convention. Vehicles typically follow the back negative red positive convention, but RV house wiring generally follows the national electric code requirements, white neutral (negative) and black hot (positive). There have also been cases where things are miswired.  So confirm before connecting.

The Zamp port adds to the confusion by reversing the connector from its "normal" configuration. There is no need to use it at all if you don't want to, you can connect your solar charge controller to the battery any way you want. 

Do add a fuse or circuit breaker as close to the battery positive terminal as reasonably possible. That applies to the Zamp circuit too, the Zamp circuit doesn't appear to have a fuse but should.  You can use a 30 amp fuse or cb for 10 gauge wire, if you go with 12 gauge wire then use a 20 amp fuse. i wouldn't use a wire size any smaller than that, too much voltage drop. 
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2019 at 11:16am
I didn't get a very good look at what was there, just that it appeared to be connected to some sort of junction block.  I have a 30 amp breaker in the box that I set up to hold the controller.  It's a little more convenient, so if there is one underneath getting full of water and crud, I'll probably bypass it.
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Posts: 1014 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2019 at 11:00am
Originally posted by lostagain

Our new trailer comes with one of those Zamp Port connectors attached to the front of the trailer at the bottom.  I peeked underneath and it looks like it is just hooked to terminal block that has a couple of stouter cables coming off it to be connected to the battery.  Am I hallucinating once again?


You probably found the 30a auto-breaker! 

My solar in the side plug runs through this before it reaches the battery. 
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2019 at 10:59am
Thanks for the info.  

On the Sonoma, there is a terminal block where the Zamp connector, with maybe #14 wire, connects to a block that has +/- #12 wire for leads to the battery.  Inasmuch as my current solar system is all #10 wire in and out of the controller and to the 100W panel, it seems the Zamp wires are a little skimpy.  I was going to connect heavier wire to make up a plug system to make it easy to connect the controller, using MC4 connectors.
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Fred & Maria Kearney
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Posts: 72 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2019 at 10:07am
To reverse the polarity you just need a simple adapter similar to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K7DFMDW/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_nKv2Db0E0F2NE


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Posts: 2702 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2019 at 9:36am
Originally posted by lostagain

Our new trailer comes with one of those Zamp Port connectors attached to the front of the trailer at the bottom.  I peeked underneath and it looks like it is just hooked to terminal block that has a couple of stouter cables coming off it to be connected to the battery.  Am I hallucinating once again?

I was thinking I'd just disconnect the Zamp plug and make a new connection from the terminal block to leads that would go to my controller that I've been using on our old Pod very successfully.  Jeepinator mentioned that polarity on the Zamp plug is backwards.  I assume that they do follow normal DC wiring conventions, or do they do that backwards too? 
The Zamp thing is just connected directly to the battery(ies). There might be a terminal block, but it's pretty much straight through. No solar controller or anything. And yes, there was a period when the Zamp connectors were being built with reverse polarity.
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2019 at 8:08am
Our new trailer comes with one of those Zamp Port connectors attached to the front of the trailer at the bottom.  I peeked underneath and it looks like it is just hooked to terminal block that has a couple of stouter cables coming off it to be connected to the battery.  Am I hallucinating once again?

I was thinking I'd just disconnect the Zamp plug and make a new connection from the terminal block to leads that would go to my controller that I've been using on our old Pod very successfully.  Jeepinator mentioned that polarity on the Zamp plug is backwards.  I assume that they do follow normal DC wiring conventions, or do they do that backwards too?  
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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