solar panel
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Reviews and General Information
Forum Discription: Find r-pod reviews and new product announcements here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9593
Printed Date: 17 Jun 2025 at 10:55pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: solar panel
Posted By: bikeella
Subject: solar panel
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2017 at 5:50pm
|
I want to get a solar panel to use with my 2017 r-pod 178.. Do I only need the solar panel since it is solar ready? Does it plug into the solar ready connection? If I buy a cheaper model other than Zamp, can I buy an adapter to plug in? I think I will need a 100 watt. Thanks
|
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2017 at 9:16am
|
You need a panel, a controller, and a matching connection. The connection is called "SAE". Any brand of panel and controller will work fine. Up to you what brand you trust, and/or want to pay for. Renogy kits from Amazon are popular.
------------- |
Posted By: bikeella
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2017 at 9:57am
|
thanks furpod... is this what i need? https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-Volts-Monocrystalline-Bundle/dp/B01MZ5G6ZT/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1491058196&sr=8-5&keywords=renogy%2B100%2Bwatt%2Bsolar%2Bpanel&th=1 is 100 watt okay for the 12 volt battery? any advantage to getting more watts?
|
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2017 at 10:08am
|
So, anyone, what is needed other than this kit on Amazon? It comes with a controller. I have no connector on my old pod. Can this just be alligator-clipped to the battery? (I'd probably wire a connector to the battery and run it out of the battery case for ease of use.) Is that all there is too it? Is this thing tough enough to be used by itself, or does it need to be mounted on a piece of plywood or something or can I just lean it up against a south facing tire? How far from the battery can you get without compromising the power to the battery too much? Any other considerations? Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Bundle Kit https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-Volts-Monocrystalline-Bundle/dp/B00B8L6EFA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1491058206&sr=8-4&keywords=renogy%2Bcontroller&th=1 - https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-Volts-Monocrystalline-Bundle/dp/B00B8L6EFA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1491058206&sr=8-4&keywords=renogy%2Bcontroller&th=1Thanks, TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: bikeella
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2017 at 1:22pm
|
been looking more into this on renogy website and amazon. On the Renogy website the kit contains: This solar kit comes with the tools necessary for a new system: one Renogy 100W 12V Poly/ Mono Solar Panel, one 30A PWM Wanderer Charge Controller, one 20ft 10AWG MC4 Adaptor Kit, one 8ft 10AWG Tray Cable, and one set of Z-brackets. Start your solar adventure with a Renogy Starter Kit. So, with the z brackets I could attach the controller to the panel. connect the two with the 20 ft 10 awg (which wouldn't have to be that long) The tray cables attach to battery, but since I have the zamp port, what would I use to connect the controller to the zamp port?? Also amazon has a choice of two PWM controllers, one is LCD and is cheaper. Why would that be, would LCD be better?
|
Posted By: bikeella
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2017 at 2:31pm
|
Okay, think I'm getting this. I talked to Renogy tech support. They said don't recommend attaching the controller to the panel and put inside RV. Guess I only need the MC4 cable to plug into the Zamp port and then into the controller. If I understand this correctly, the wire from the controller to the zamp port should be short as possible? Does there need to be a fuse in this cable or is it already built into the zamp port connection to the battery? |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2017 at 2:33pm
|
We used the Renogy 100 watt suitcase system. It worked great for keeping our 2 6volt golf cart batteries fully charged with about 4-5 hours of sun. Here is the write up of our installation http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8194&title=installing-a-renogy-100-watt-suitcase-solar-panel solar power is very useful when boon docking Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
|
Posted By: bikeella
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2017 at 7:43pm
|
Thanks Vann... thats a lot of good information. I was thinking as well that the port is quite distance from the battery, but I want to make this as simple as possible so don't think I will be making any modifications. The more I read , the more I understand about the whole process. So hopefully I can make it work. I was going to buy the kit from amazon, but i wonder if i should buy the panel and then buy the controller with the LCD from Renogy. If I buy individual parts from Renogy, it's more expensive. They have the Wanderer controller for 49.00 and the Adventure controller from 89.00 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 7:12am
You can add a solar port (SAE), or Anderson Power Coupler, or whatever. I added SAE because I had a couple.. The "kit" you show/link is for a hard mounted kit. These don't usually work well for a pod, since they don't have a lot of flat roof space. Most use something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Eclipse-Monocrystalline-Suitcase-Controller/dp/B01NADR1CI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491135096&sr=8-1&keywords=renogy+portable+solar+panel - portable panel ------------- |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 10:55am
That makes sense, but it's a lot more expensive than the one I picked. Seems like a lot for foldability and some legs. Anyway.... where do people mount the controller? It seems it really needs to be inside the pod, not just protected from the rain. They want it in a temperature controlled space. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 2:53pm
|
We also have the 100w Renogy portable solar panels with controller on it and that's worked out well. We changed the plug to an Anderson plug to match the outlet on the trailer. All has worked great! ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |