Solar
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Miscellaneous / Off-topic
Forum Discription: Pull a chair up to the campfire and chat. No religious, political or weapons talk, please.
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10599
Printed Date: 20 May 2025 at 2:03pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Solar
Posted By: Tumble Weed
Subject: Solar
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2017 at 1:47pm
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2017 179 solar What is required to out the R-Pod for solar operation. ------------- 179 Honda Ridgeline ! Black Lab |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2017 at 1:58pm
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You have two choices I guess. Most go with a portable suitcase type arrangement, they are plug and play, having the charge controller, panels, and stand, all in one easy to move and carry package. Main advantage is you can place them in the sun, regardless of Pod alignment etc. (within reason of course, they have a cord) and it's generally "plug and play". downside is the panels are not secured. You can also go with a hard wired solution, mounting panels on the roof, (the rear door models are pretty much the better platform for this, as they have more flat roof) a controller inside where convenient, then that wired to the battery(ies). Downside is, you can't align or point the panels at the sun, or track it, without moving the whole pod, and you have to drill some holes in your pod roof, and sides or floor. Upsides include Security, and the ability to choose components yourself if you want. Please note, solar ONLY charges the battery. That keeps your 12v systems up and running. Without spending a LOT of money, you can't build a system that can run the 120v side of things safely. ------------- |
Posted By: Tumble Weed
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2017 at 9:13am
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Thanks. I'm a doer. My main interest was is there a controller on board to regulate the charge. Forest River built a mystery TT you have to figure it out on your own. Or the help of this blog. ------------- 179 Honda Ridgeline ! Black Lab |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2017 at 9:44am
What we've discovered is that the "zamp connector" just goes straight to the batteries, and that any solar solution should include the panels plus the controller. My inclination is to install a wide-range MPPT controller between the batteries and the zamp connector. Then you can hook up a wide range of panels to power things up. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2017 at 9:28pm
What would solve allot of these wiring issues as to whether or not you have a built in charge control (which from what has been said here we do not) is that Forest River would give you a wiring schematic to your Pod. I've asked them received zilch back from FR which makes me think what the h*ll is it some state secret?  ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |