Solar connection on 179 not working
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11514
Printed Date: 07 Jun 2025 at 2:28pm
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Topic: Solar connection on 179 not working
Posted By: Ben Herman
Subject: Solar connection on 179 not working
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 10:06am
| Hi all - out on first trip with 179 and having an issue with solar connection. When I hook my Renogy panel to the mini pin connector near the door it is not connecting into the trailers 12v system. I know the panel and control panel are good because it works if I touch the bare leads directly to the battery. Is there anything I need to do to activate the “solar on the side” connection? |
Replies:
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 10:10am
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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.
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 10:25am
| Thx out camping and realized I don’t have a meter with me so it’ll have to wait until we get home tomorrow. Should have tested it! |
Posted By: Richand Cindy
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 11:20am
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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.
------------- OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 11:21am
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Are you using the same connector? ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 11:21am
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zamp connector? ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 11:23am
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If so a video I saw a while back said you need a reverse polarity plug for it. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 12:14pm
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Are you SURE the leads at the battery end are connected? Most dealer do not connect them, to avoid owners confusion as to why there are 4 wires at the battery..
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Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 2:04pm
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. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 2:07pm
I certainly hope that is not true.. There's supposed to be a charge controller involved.. Am I mis-understanding what you're saying? "Read my next post before responding" Hopefully I catch you in time..
------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 2:42pm
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. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 2:58pm
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There is no controller installed. The system was designed for portable panels that have a built in controller, suitcase style.
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Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 3:34pm
So I 'now' see. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 3:37pm
I just pulled one of my smaller panels and checked polarity. Reversed. So happy I saw this post! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 4:32pm
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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. |
Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 4:42pm
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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 |
Posted By: Wood River Pod
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 9:47pm
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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 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9134&PN=1&title=wood-river-179-mods - Wood River Mods |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 9:10am
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 11:10am
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+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,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Wood River Pod
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 1:39pm
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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 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9134&PN=1&title=wood-river-179-mods - Wood River Mods |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 3:38pm
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IMHO - I would not modify the trailer to accept an add on. I would check polarity when install begins and adapt accordingly. To my knowledge the Zamp connections from battery to rear of trailer are not fused. Moving connections around on battery is a bad idea. Easy to check polarity and easy to adjust without modifying trailer wiring. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 5:01pm
Well, I'd already cut and spliced since the suitcase system had alligator clips rather than the mini-plug. I'll probably avoid reversing the wires at the battery - too many things could go wrong with that approach (imo) since I don't know if there is anything else tapped into that line.
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 5:26pm
There isn't anything tapped into it. It's a straight shot. Reversing the wires, and adding a wrap of colored electrical tape on the end, is a thing done normally in the electrical world. ------------- |
Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 5:29pm
OK thx - appreciate the info. Since I have to re-splice the connection, I'll just go ahead and reverse it that way, but will do as you suggest and mark it accordingly.
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 6:41pm
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 6:43pm
Yes.. I do that regularly also.. ------------- |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 8:36am
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I think there are two different responses to the questions posed in several posts above-- 1)not all solar suitcase systems are reverse polarity wired. Renogy does not use reverse polarity wiring and 2) sometimes in the 12 volt DC world black and white are both used to denote neutral wires. Red is always noted as positive at least, that is my experience Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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