R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Solar connection on 179 not working
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedSolar connection on 179 not working
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123>
Author
Message
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Solar connection on 179 not working
    Posted: 04 May 2018 at 2:42pm
Originally posted by Olddawgsrule

Originally posted by GlueGuy

There is nothing but wire between the solar connector and battery. You should be able to verify it with a DVM (Digital Volt Meter). You should have 12V at the solar connector. If there is no 12V, then there is a wire or connector issue.

I certainly hope that is not true.. 

There's supposed to be a charge controller involved.. Am I mis-understanding what you're saying?


Well, that made me run out to Lily and throw the DVM on and check. OMG.. It is direct wired!
Maybe I'm more happy about th OP's question than he is at this this point.
Also very happy he asked! I was going to test the solar tomorrow..

Looks like my controller is getting installed (somewhere)...Our buying a new one that is waterproof.
Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2018 at 2:58pm
There is no controller installed. The system was designed for portable panels that have a built in controller, suitcase style. 
Back to Top
Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2018 at 3:34pm
Originally posted by furpod

There is no controller installed. The system was designed for portable panels that have a built in controller, suitcase style. 

So I 'now' see.
Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
Back to Top
Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2018 at 3:37pm
Originally posted by Olddawgsrule

Originally posted by Richand Cindy

If you have the Go Power solar on the side plug, the polarity is reversed from all other solar panel companies, even though the plugs are the same and the Renogy will fit.  You need to either cut the cables and reverse them or (recommended) buy a converter cable which reverses the polarity for you. Search this forum as it has been mentioned in the past.

Really! I have not gone to that point yet to test my panel. This is good info! Thank you. I will now test my leads from the panel and the connector.



I just pulled one of my smaller panels and checked polarity. Reversed.

So happy I saw this post!
Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
Back to Top
Ben Herman View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 26 Apr 2018
Location: Gr Junction, CO
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 355 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2018 at 4:32pm
Thanks
All, just got back to camp. I’d already cut the wires to splice in the mini plug
I’ll reverse the wires and see if it works. And yes it’s a suitcase type panel with controller built in.
Back to Top
Ben Herman View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 26 Apr 2018
Location: Gr Junction, CO
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 355 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2018 at 4:42pm
Well that did it polarity reversed and all’s good. Never would have guessed that one. Of course no tape in my tool kit from last year so using strips of plastic bag as insulators!

Thx all
Back to Top
Wood River Pod View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 30 Sep 2016
Location: Wood River, ID
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 153 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2018 at 9:47pm
Please excuse my possible ignorance.  Rather than cut and slice, couldn't you just swap the wires on the battery terminals.  Seems like the more simple fix.  Right?   Then if you ever needed to reverse, just swap them back.
Thanks
Smith's in Hailey
Early 2017 179 HRE

Wood River Mods
Back to Top
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2631 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2018 at 9:10am
Originally posted by Wood River Pod

Please excuse my possible ignorance.  Rather than cut and slice, couldn't you just swap the wires on the battery terminals.  Seems like the more simple fix.  Right?   Then if you ever needed to reverse, just swap them back.
Thanks
That's probably what I'd do with the caveat that the color of the wires at the battery would come into question. I would probably wrap the wires with the appropriate red/black tape to avoid future confusion.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
Back to Top
StephenH View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6293 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2018 at 11:10am
+1 to the suggestion to use the appropriate color tape to mark the wires if you do this to avoid backward wiring in the future. However, if you were to eventually sell it, I would remove the tape and leave the two wires disconnected. That way, a future owner could then connect them as wired or everse the polarity if that is needed.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
Back to Top
Wood River Pod View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 30 Sep 2016
Location: Wood River, ID
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 153 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2018 at 1:39pm
Is it just Zamp that runs reverse polarity?  I didn't know my Go Power also ran reverse.  Is that a thing with the "suit case" setup/controllers?  Or is it just tied to those two brands?  While we are on the topic, are Zamp and Go Power connected somehow?  Seem to be different brands with the exact same hardware.  Curious...
Thanks 
Smith's in Hailey
Early 2017 179 HRE

Wood River Mods
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz