Introduce Yourself: Solar connection question

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Solar connection question

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Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15327
Printed Date: 11 Jun 2025 at 10:12pm
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Topic: Solar connection question

Posted By: Blujbro
Subject: Solar connection question
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2022 at 7:41am

Hi, I am new to r-podding and solar and know very little about batteries. I just purchased a 2020 R-pod 171. I am preparing for a cross-country trip July 9. I bought a Renogy 100W solar kit that has been suggested on the forums. I feel pretty comfortable to connect it to my flooded 12V battery, but I am a little worried about if I should disconnect the wires that are screwed to the battery with nuts. There are 2 wires going to the positive screw and 2 wires going to the negative screw. I will place the Renogy battery clips on the + and - posts that have nothing on them. I am not sure if I should remove the wires while charging each time. I watched about 4 videos yesterday and never saw a setup like mine to answer my question. Thanks very much for any help.

Replies:

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2022 at 9:14am

Either set of battery posts are fine, they are connected.

You can disconnect the solar charger when you need to.

I would shut off the on board converter and any 12V loads before disconnecting if you use those posts, so that there is no current flowing in the wires your working on other than what's coming from the solar charger.

The converter can be shut off using it's circuit breaker. If you forget it's not really a big deal, you'll just get a spark which won't hurt you, more annoying than anything else.

If you use the bolted terminals just be careful never to short the battery + terminal to either the - terminal or to the trailer frame, that will short out the battery. The typical way that might happen is through the wrench when you turn it. That's why it's better to disconnect the negative first when working on a battery. When you disconnect the negative you are isolating the battery from the frame, but you still need to be sure your wrench doesn't directly short between the battery posts. I tape up the wrench I use on battery terminals so it won't accidentally short.

Do make sure you have a fuse on the battery positive for your solar connection. Not sure if your kit comes with one or not. If not then add one. A 15 amp inline fuse will work.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: Blujbro
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2022 at 1:55pm

Thanks very much for your info. I did get it set up without any problems using the posts.

Now, I am timid about disconnecting it. Unfortunately, the manual does not explain how to disconnect. Everything I read online says to disconnect in reverse. I was going to do that, but the connectors say in tiny writing to never disconnect when the panel is under a load. So, I plan on waiting until the charge controller says 0 before trying to disconnect it? Does anyone have suggestions? I don't have a battery disconnect but will turn off all of the breakers when I disconnect, too? Thanks!

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2022 at 2:39pm

The solar module doesn't care if you disconnect it or not. The charge controller shouldnt be damaged by that either so theyre probably are just saying that so you don't draw a spark when you disconnect. If you're really worried about it just turn the solar module so there's no sun on it and then disconnect. No sun no current will be flowing in that line.

My breaker recommendation was only if you were disconnecting the bolted wire(s) going to the converter and you were charging from 120Vac at the same time. If not then you don't need to turn off the converter or any other breakers.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: Blujbro
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2022 at 3:56pm

Great! Tried it and everything worked out. Thanks very much for all your advice.