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Portable Solar Panel Addition

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#11 Vic Harder

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Posted 22 August 2018 - 09:58 PM

I'm in the market for a foldable portable 100-watt (or so) solar array that I can plug into the back of my FWC (Zamp 160W on the roof, 30A controller, 2x AGM batts). I've narrowed it down to these two, in order of my preference:

 

1.  https://www.amazon.c...r/dp/B01M8LCDN2

 

 

2.  https://www.amazon.c...n 100w foldable

 

Both will plug into the Zamp rear outlet (I'll have to get or make the reverse-polarity adapter) and will be used W/O their included charge controllers, allowing the Zamp 30A to handle the battery charging. The controller would obviously be needed for other charging applications outside the FWC. 

 

Can anyone advise me on their opinions of this plan, or; comment on the above listed selections?

 

I've chosen the 'foldable' type array over a 'flexible panel' (which would be substantially less expensive) for the storage consideration, pretty important in a FWC.  :D

I like the 160W option on the lensun brand.


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#12 Happyjax

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Posted 27 August 2018 - 12:23 AM

I'm in the market for a foldable portable 100-watt (or so) solar array that I can plug into the back of my FWC (Zamp 160W on the roof, 30A controller, 2x AGM batts). I've narrowed it down to these two, in order of my preference:

 

1.  https://www.amazon.c...r/dp/B01M8LCDN2

 

 

2.  https://www.amazon.c...n 100w foldable

 

Both will plug into the FWC Zamp rear SAE plug (I'll have to get or make the reverse-polarity adapter) and will be used W/O their included charge controllers, allowing the Zamp 30A to handle the battery charging. The controller would obviously be needed for other charging applications outside the FWC. 

 

Can anyone advise me on their opinions of this plan, or; comment on the above listed selections?

 

I've chosen the 'foldable' type array over a 'flexible panel' (which would be substantially less expensive) for the storage consideration, pretty important in a FWC.  :D

 

I will be interested in your choice. I bought a 100watt lightweight foldable and it was disappointing. Could barely get 4 amps when I should have been able to get well over 5. Compared it to my homemade 100 watt and it was an amp lower or more on output. Sending it back.....

 

https://www.amazon.c...1?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 


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#13 rubberlegs

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Posted 04 January 2019 - 03:31 AM

I have a Zamp portable panel with a controller, and a 2018 Fleet. Going to hook it up but after reading numerous posts on this site I'm a bit confused. The panel came with no instructions (well, it shows how to connect with alligator clips directly to the battery). So here's the wires I've found in the camper that I think are related:

  1. SAE plug on the back, and another on the top. Will check to make sure they have the same polarity, after reading many posts here.
  2. Coiled wires under the sink. It's hard to see -- are the wires continuous to the next item (3.)?
  3. Coiled wires near the battery. Also hard to get to until I remove the battery, but I'm pretty sure it says "solar battery".

Questions:

  • Are the item (2.) coiled wires under the sink continuous? So if I added a controller under the sink, I assume you snip the wires, then connect so power goes through the controller. But I don't have that. So I assume I don't have to do anything with these wires.
  • Should I connect the item (3.) wires using some sort of washer-shaped connector to the battery?

Thanks for your sage advice.


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Tacoma/Fleet 2018.


#14 rubberlegs

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Posted 04 January 2019 - 09:32 PM

After much checking, I think I've answered my own questions. The coiled wires appear to be continuous, at least from the rear SAE plug. And yes on the connector.


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#15 Karlton

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Posted 05 January 2019 - 07:27 PM

Check out post #13 in the thread below for a wiring diagram.  Note that the wires from the battery box did terminate under the sink as shown in post #1, but as I wanted to install my controller in the battery box I did not need wires running from the battery box to the area under the sink.

 

http://www.wanderthe...wk/#entry192902


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#16 EM4

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Posted 19 January 2019 - 07:23 PM

https://www.renogy.c...e-solar-rv-kit/

 

 

Thinking of installing this on my Camper roof guys. Any opinions please.

 

Thanks 

 

Michael


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#17 Wandering Sagebrush

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Posted 19 January 2019 - 07:45 PM

Michael, Looks like a good kit.   If you use a lot of power and have the room, I would go with a bigger panel, Maybe 150-165 watt.  

 

Renogy has a good rep for standing by their products.


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#18 longhorn1

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Posted 19 January 2019 - 09:12 PM

I am looking to purchase a 120 watt portable solar panel for use with my 2017 Fleet. I want to buy a solar panel without a controller, but with a cable to attach to the factory installed plug on the rear of the camper.

It would be simplest to get one from Zamp, but they have to be custom made to not include a controller. Plus, I would like to get something a bit less expensive since I will be using it only on those times I cant get good un exposure on my rooftop panel.

Do you guys have any recommendations on brands to look at?

Thanks

Mike

I didn't have any problems getting an 80W Zamp panel directly from Zamp. My 2014 came new with 100W on the roof. I called Zamp and FWC and the rear plug was wired directly to the solar charger. jd
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#19 EM4

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Posted 20 January 2019 - 12:20 AM

Michael, Looks like a good kit.   If you use a lot of power and have the room, I would go with a bigger panel, Maybe 150-165 watt.  

 

Renogy has a good rep for standing by their products.

Thanks Sagebrush.....for now all it is really used for is the cooling fan for the 3 way fridge along with a 12 volt 4 year old FLA deep cycle. I am still thinking of going 160 Watts but can't find one from Renogy as a kit yet. Will keep looking.


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#20 rubberlegs

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Posted 20 January 2019 - 01:58 AM

My guess is 100W is enough for those loads. But I wonder about the flexible panels. Do you lay them on the ground? If you drape them over a chair, for example, will the panel bend over the chair, thus not all the cells will be at the same angle? I think that will affect the power output quite a bit. I like the light weight though.


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