Solar Questions - R-pod Owners Forum

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yakinator

Newbie

Joined: 15 Feb 2017
Location: Houston, TX.
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Posts: 6

Topic: Solar Questions
Posted: 21 May 2017 at 3:00pm

Add bbq sauce to chicken and grill to desire. Then it's a win win.

2017 RPOD 180 named VentuRpod

lostagain

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Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2595

Posted: 21 May 2017 at 8:46am

I put my controller for my solar panel in a little plastic tool box that can sit right on top of the battery boxes when in use. I've got short pigtails off the battery to connect to short pigtails off the controller with mc4 connectors. I put circuit breakers on the + from the panel to the controller and from the controller to the battery, per Windy Nation instructions. The last three things I need to do are to drill some vent holes in the box, adjust the controller, and sacrifice a chicken.

Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

StephenH

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posts: 6420

Posted: 20 May 2017 at 3:28pm

Mine came with the wiring, but the connections were lacking. There are two wires, positive and negative that connect to the Zamp connector, but were never connected to the battery terminals. They were just wrapped with electrical tape. As far as I know, there is no fuse inline. If they are connected, the panels would need to have a charge controller. Your plan to use a controller is sound.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

GlueGuy

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Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
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Posts: 2706

Posted: 20 May 2017 at 12:54pm

I'm very familiar with DC solar systems. I have been building my own for remote communications facilities for over a decade.

I presume the zamp connector on an R-pod is connected directly to the battery (or batteries) with probably a fuse in between? If that's the case, then any external solar controller would probably work fine.

I've got a few spare solar panels laying around, and they are all nominally 24V panels (they actually put out between 30 and 37 volts, depending on manufacturer and load, etc).

My intention is to use one of my 150 watt panels, and connect it through a small MPPT controller set for a 12V system.

bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

sailor323

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Joined: 11 Jun 2015
Location: S Central KY
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Posts: 281

Posted: 19 May 2017 at 8:54pm

The question is, 'Do you want "plug and play" or do you want something else?" I have installed 280 watts of solar power on our Pod for much less than the cost of Zamp. There are alternatives that fit everyone's needs

john in idaho View Drop Down

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Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Eagle Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 613

Posted: 19 May 2017 at 2:45pm

The Zamp came ready to go, and since i am not an electrical engineer, It works fine. Amazon had them on sale for 600.

mle

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Joined: 11 May 2017
Location: San Diego
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8

Posted: 19 May 2017 at 1:54pm

What solar controllers are you using? Did you get the recommended Zamp or are you running different brands? Any preferences on controller and/or panels?

Did you get an inverter too?

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yakinator Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 15 Feb 2017 Location: Houston, TX. Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Topic: Solar Questions Posted: 21 May 2017 at 3:00pm
	Add bbq sauce to chicken and grill to desire. Then it's a win win.
	2017 RPOD 180 named VentuRpod

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595	Posted: 21 May 2017 at 8:46am
	I put my controller for my solar panel in a little plastic tool box that can sit right on top of the battery boxes when in use. I've got short pigtails off the battery to connect to short pigtails off the controller with mc4 connectors. I put circuit breakers on the + from the panel to the controller and from the controller to the battery, per Windy Nation instructions. The last three things I need to do are to drill some vent holes in the box, adjust the controller, and sacrifice a chicken.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6420	Posted: 20 May 2017 at 3:28pm
	Mine came with the wiring, but the connections were lacking. There are two wires, positive and negative that connect to the Zamp connector, but were never connected to the battery terminals. They were just wrapped with electrical tape. As far as I know, there is no fuse inline. If they are connected, the panels would need to have a charge controller. Your plan to use a controller is sound.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2706	Posted: 20 May 2017 at 12:54pm
	I'm very familiar with DC solar systems. I have been building my own for remote communications facilities for over a decade. I presume the zamp connector on an R-pod is connected directly to the battery (or batteries) with probably a fuse in between? If that's the case, then any external solar controller would probably work fine. I've got a few spare solar panels laying around, and they are all nominally 24V panels (they actually put out between 30 and 37 volts, depending on manufacturer and load, etc). My intention is to use one of my 150 watt panels, and connect it through a small MPPT controller set for a 12V system.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

sailor323 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281	Posted: 19 May 2017 at 8:54pm
	The question is, 'Do you want "plug and play" or do you want something else?" I have installed 280 watts of solar power on our Pod for much less than the cost of Zamp. There are alternatives that fit everyone's needs

john in idaho Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Eagle Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 613	Posted: 19 May 2017 at 2:45pm
	The Zamp came ready to go, and since i am not an electrical engineer, It works fine. Amazon had them on sale for 600.

mle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 May 2017 Location: San Diego Online Status: Offline Posts: 8	Posted: 19 May 2017 at 1:54pm
	What solar controllers are you using? Did you get the recommended Zamp or are you running different brands? Any preferences on controller and/or panels? Did you get an inverter too?