R-pod Owners Forum : battery cables https://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : I need HELP!!! : battery cables Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 21 May 2026 13:02:20 +0000 Thu, 29 Jul 2021 20:50:08 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 https://www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=14835 R-pod Owners Forum https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.rpod-owners.com/ battery cables : You don't need to buy a brand... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144421#144421 Author: offgrid
Subject: 14835
Posted: 29 Jul 2021 at 8:50pm

You don't need to buy a brand name solar kit at all. Any nominal 12V solar module will work for you if you want to add solar charging. Get a glass/aluminum frame module if you want it to last. The so-called flexible modules aren't, the solar cells are brittle crystalline silicon and will eventually break.

You will also need a charge controller, a simple pulse width modulated (PWM) type is fine. Those are electronic devices so it's good to get something of decent quality. I personally like Morningstar controllers but you could also look at the reviews on Amazon and pick one with good ratings.

You need to get one that has a current rating in amps higher than the full sun current rating of the solar module you are buying.

You dont need to use the Zamp wires to connect it, in fact it's really better if you don't, you can just connect directly at the battery terminals which will reduce wiring losses. Either way, do add a fuse at the battery + terminal to protect the wiring in case you get a short. Use a fuse sized at least 1.6x higher than the solar module current rating and use wire sized appropriately (20A max for 12 gauge, 30 for 10 gauge, 40 for 8 gauge).

]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2021 20:50:08 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144421#144421 battery cables : Zamp is the brand of the solar... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144419#144419 Author: StephenH
Subject: 14835
Posted: 29 Jul 2021 at 6:37pm

Zamp is the brand of the solar system that RPods used to use. The connector on back for solar had a label with that name. The red wire has the same brand name. I think a different brand is now being used. Zamp is likely good, but very expensive. I have a Renogy folding suitcase 100W solar system. That was expensive enough.]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2021 18:37:28 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144419#144419 battery cables : .......Zamp ..... Is that what... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144418#144418 Author: Colt
Subject: 14835
Posted: 29 Jul 2021 at 6:00pm

.......Zamp .....

Is that what that is? 
]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2021 18:00:20 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144418#144418 battery cables : White is the grounded neutral... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144414#144414 Author: offgrid
Subject: 14835
Posted: 29 Jul 2021 at 5:17am

White is the grounded neutral as it is in your household wiring. So in this case it's the -12v connection. RV wiring typically follows the electric Code (white neutral, colored wires hot) not the automotive convention (black negative, red positive). Your trailer is a moving house after all, not a car.

Can be confusing for sure, and if you're not the original owner who knows what a previous owner might have miswired. So if youre uncertain and don't have one, get a multimeter and confirm what you have before connecting. Keep it in your on the road toolbox, it won't be the only time you'll use it.

In this case there are lots of clues all pointing the same direction so you can be pretty sure those two smaller gauge wires go to the Zamp connector on the rear side of the trailer. If you're not using that then you can also just leave those two wires disconnected if you want.
]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2021 05:17:48 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144414#144414 battery cables : that's what i thought the... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144413#144413 Author: guy52
Subject: 14835
Posted: 28 Jul 2021 at 11:58pm

that's what i thought the place that sells rpod here in town didnt know for sure thank you]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2021 23:58:13 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144413#144413 battery cables : i don't have a power tonged... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144412#144412 Author: guy52
Subject: 14835
Posted: 28 Jul 2021 at 11:57pm

i don't have a power tonged jack]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2021 23:57:01 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144412#144412 battery cables : Since the red has the Zamp logo... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144411#144411 Author: StephenH
Subject: 14835
Posted: 28 Jul 2021 at 9:10pm

Since the red has the Zamp logo on the label, it is pretty evident that the white is the negative connection for the solar connector.]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2021 21:10:16 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144411#144411 battery cables : Since it is taped to the black/battery... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144408#144408 Author: Colt
Subject: 14835
Posted: 28 Jul 2021 at 2:51pm

Since it is taped to the black/battery ground, that would be a good guess. Can you trace it? Does it go to the power tongue jack?]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2021 14:51:58 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144408#144408 battery cables : Thank you https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144402#144402 Author: guy52
Subject: 14835
Posted: 27 Jul 2021 at 9:06pm

Thank you]]> Tue, 27 Jul 2021 21:06:08 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144402#144402 battery cables : Both reds on the + (Positive)... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144383#144383 Author: jato
Subject: 14835
Posted: 27 Jul 2021 at 1:11pm

Both reds on the + (Positive) post.  The black and white (taped together) go to - (Ground).
]]> Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:11:46 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144383#144383 battery cables : Does anyone have the same setup... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144379#144379 Author: guy52
Subject: 14835
Posted: 27 Jul 2021 at 11:04am

Does anyone have the same setup rpod 179 dual batteries trying to figure out where the white wire goes ,it does have a solar outlet the trailer service had no idea and how would you wire the reds and the black negative wire?

Thank you
]]> Tue, 27 Jul 2021 11:04:15 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14835&PID=144379#144379