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tony rpod 180 
Groupie 
Joined: 18 Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas Online Status: Offline Posts: 75 |
 Topic: New to SolarPosted: 30 Jun 2019 at 2:49pm |
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Hi all, next year we plan to do some dry camping near the California Redwoods. My question is about installing solar power. We have a 2018 R Pod 180 that is prewired for solar. Do i need a controller? if so where and how is a good place to mount it? Do the panels come with a controller/instructions? or do you purchase separately?
Thanks in advance for any help.
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GMC Canyon/RPoder
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offgrid
Senior Member 
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 30 Jun 2019 at 3:42pm |
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First, if you camp in the redwoods themselves you will be lots of shade so if you want to go several days on solar then try to find a sunny campsite,
Yes, you will need a charge controller. Are you are planning a portable solar system or a roof mount? If you have the Gopower prewired system which I think is what FR put on the 2018's its a roof mount system and they provide a spot for the controller inside one of the cabinets. You can get a kit with a controller and a solar module, or buy them separately. You can but you don't need to buy the Gopower kit. If you want to have a portable system you can connect the controller directly to the battery (via a fuse for safety). You can mount the controller on the solar module, in a storage space, or anywhere else that is convenient for you.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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tony rpod 180
Groupie
Joined: 18 Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas Online Status: Offline Posts: 75 |
Posted: 30 Jun 2019 at 4:15pm |
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Our plan is to buy a portable solar screen, I have never seen a place in a cabinet for a controller mount(is it marked as such?)
Thank you much for the info |
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GMC Canyon/RPoder
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teampitt
Newbie 
Joined: 09 Oct 2018 Location: Virginia Online Status: Offline Posts: 15 |
Posted: 30 Jun 2019 at 4:33pm |
On the 2019.5 and 2020 models, the location appears to be marked. But on yours, I would look behind the panel above the radio (or below depending where yours is mounted)
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 30 Jun 2019 at 5:11pm |
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If you're getting a portable kit and have the gopower roof mount prewired I wouln't bother to try to use it. You can just mount the controller to the solar module or in a storage area and connect to the battery from there.
Do install a fuse on the battery positive pole for safety.The fuse size will depend on how big your solar module is but for a typical 100 watt module I'd use a 15A fuse. You can extend the cable length so you have a better shot at getting the solar module into a sunny spot. The longer you go the bigger wire you need to use to keep the voltage drop down to something reasonable, If you go 50 feet you should use 10 gauge cable 25 feet you can use 12 gauge.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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tony rpod 180
Groupie
Joined: 18 Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas Online Status: Offline Posts: 75 |
Posted: 30 Jun 2019 at 7:01pm |
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Very helpful information, thank you
One more question, you said depending on what size panel I use. The port on the side wall says 20 watt, can I go bigger? |
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GMC Canyon/RPoder
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Pod People
Senior Member
Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067 |
Posted: 30 Jun 2019 at 8:15pm |
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We use a Renogy 100watt suitcase system. We have used it for 3 years and it keeps our batteries charged. Simple to use and cost effective, i would recommend that type of ssytem.
We have a 25’ cord to connect the panels to the controller inside the pod-controller is not waterproof. We can park in the shade and adjust the panel when we are in camp . Vann
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Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 
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podwerkz
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966 |
Posted: 30 Jun 2019 at 9:42pm |
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If you only need solar occasionally, and only need to keep the battery topped up during light-duty use, look into a 100 watt portable solar kit with an included solar controller, and it will connect with battery clamps.
Expect to pay around $150 for a cheap HF system up to around $300-$500 for a good quality system made by the reputable companies. The recent tariffs have made a lot of this stuff more expensive in the last few months. |
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r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 01 Jul 2019 at 6:47am |
20 watts won’t be enough to be noticeable, that’s more of a trickle charge level. I would go with around 100-120 watts to start with and see how that does for you. I’m surprised there is a 20 watt limit on the port, are you sure that’s not 20 amps? |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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tony rpod 180
Groupie
Joined: 18 Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas Online Status: Offline Posts: 75 |
Posted: 01 Jul 2019 at 8:36am |
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My bad! It does say 20AMPS, not 20watts, I will learn to read one day. 🤓
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GMC Canyon/RPoder
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New to Solar