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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posts: 5290
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Topic: Connecting a 100 watt solar panel to Zamp port Posted: 01 Jun 2019 at 11:14am |
Did you get a charge controller as well as a solar module? If you you should, so you don't overcharge your battery. If you want you can connect your solar system directly to the battery terminals.
If you want to use the zamp connector you can get a mating SAE connector, wire it to your charger controller and connect that to the zamp port. That way you don't have to change any wiring on the trailer. Use a voltmeter to be sure you have your polarity right.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Dowdpod
Newbie
Joined: 13 May 2016
Location: North west mich
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Posts: 4
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Posted: 01 Jun 2019 at 11:02am |
We just purchased Thunder bolt 100 watt spark panels , but it does not fit the Port into the RPod?what do I need to do?
I’ve heard that we need to change the polarity for the SAE plug?
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WillThrill
Senior Member
Joined: 04 Jul 2014
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Posts: 298
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Posted: 22 Sep 2018 at 9:34pm |
Originally posted by FrayAdjacent
I really loathe SAE connectors... Ugh. On one end, the exposed pin is positive, on the other, it's negative! Makes it a pain in the a** to make up your own connectors.
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I just plugged the SAE connector from my charge controller into the Zamp port (which is really just a female SAE port) before plugging in the solar panel. Then there's never an exposed positive pin.
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"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien
2014 Hood River 177
2005 GMC Envoy XL
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JoeBUtah
Newbie
Joined: 22 Aug 2017
Location: SLC UT
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Posts: 6
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Posted: 13 Jun 2018 at 9:12pm |
FrayAdjacent- I mounted a 10 watt panel on the roof with gnarly industrial grade two sided tape. Ran wires in a loom down the back of the roof anchored with a couple loom clamps screwed into the top skin and siliconed. I soldered on an sae connector and plug it right into the zamp plug that was already installed.
I installed a voltage contoller in the front storage compartment, as it's close to the batteries. The 10 watt panel keeps the battey topped off when I'm not using the trailer; all winter it stays charged. For camping, I have a 100 watt GoalZero set of panels; I unplug the 10 watt and plug in the 100 watt and I'm good to go. Easy breezy. SAE connecotrs work well. You just need to keep them straight as you wire things up. I have a volt meter so it's easy to check positive or negative voltage.
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FrayAdjacent
Newbie
Joined: 10 Jun 2018
Location: TX
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Posts: 31
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Posted: 13 Jun 2018 at 2:28am |
I really loathe SAE connectors... Ugh. On one end, the exposed pin is positive, on the other, it's negative! Makes it a pain in the a** to make up your own connectors. For my own stuff, I switched to using Anderson PowerPole connectors. You use the same connectors on either end and just rotate 180 degrees to mate with another cable. They're color coded, too. Super easy.
On my old camper (at the moment, I still have it, picking up the R-Pod 176 this Friday), I removed the ring connectors to the battery and replaced with an Anderson connector. Then I built a couple ring connector pig tails to leave connected to the battery, so I can connect it to the camper, and have one to connect to solar. I have a flexible 100W panel and a cheaper PWM charge controller, that conveniently fits under the battery box cover when in use. I only set it up when at a campsite.
On the R-POD, I may opt for a permanent solar install on the roof, and figure I'll drop the cable down into the cabin, I'm thinking through the antenna hole (will need to research the best point of ingress...) and mount a nicer MPPT charge controller somewhere along the panel with the other electronic bits. Then I can run cable down to the converter below it. That way the solar can be permanently hooked up. I may also wire in a cutoff switch.
Long term, I'd like to mount a couple larger batteries (more capacity) below the rear dinette in the storage area. Maybe 4kWh or more of lithium based batteries (when prices come down), then wire in an inverter and charger. I think it will be awesome when we can get several kWh worth of lithium based batteries for reasonable prices... it will change boondocking quite a bit!
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posted: 06 Jun 2018 at 6:56am |
Yes but you will also need a reverse polarity pigtail if you are connecting a renogy system to the Rpod zamp system.
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Datsmar
Newbie
Joined: 29 Jun 2017
Location: MS
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Posts: 5
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Posted: 05 Jun 2018 at 9:24pm |
I realize this post has been going on for a few years with a lot of info on solar hookup. I have looked and can't find a wiring diagram of a R-180.
As far as I can deduct, the Zamp is connected directly to the battery with #10 wire. To install a 100 watt solar panel I need to feed the output of the solar panel to a controller and then to the Zamp connector.
I plan to add a 12 volt socket to monitor the voltage and charge phones by the radio.
Does this sound like a plan?
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4508
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Posted: 13 Nov 2017 at 6:43pm |
Great info!!
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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TEDDY
Groupie
Joined: 22 Oct 2017
Location: Arkansas
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Posts: 94
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Posted: 13 Nov 2017 at 6:25pm |
Tks ... I ordered 10 gauge.
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Teddy
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WillThrill
Senior Member
Joined: 04 Jul 2014
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Posts: 298
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Posted: 13 Nov 2017 at 5:22pm |
Originally posted by TEDDY
WillThrill - I've got the folding 100 Watt Renogy - it came with the controller and with clamps to affix directly to the battery. |
Remember that if you also have clamps attached to your controller, you could simply clamp on to the battery. But if you want to mount the controller inside the Pod, which I really like, you do need the connector to attach to the Zamp port.
Originally posted by Hayduke
What you're looking for is generally called SAE 2-pin. Here's an example: https://www.amazon.com/Wadoy-Disconnect-Harness-Connector-Capacity/dp/B06ZXX1BKS |
It's also called a universal two pin connector.
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"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien
2014 Hood River 177
2005 GMC Envoy XL
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