36 replies to this topic

[Durango1]

Thanks, guys! I pulled the trigger on it. Still confused on the connections but will sort them once it arrives in a week.

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Renolgy has their solar equipment still on sale still I think.

I had an e-mail from them the other day stating they were having a sale.

I have purchased several solar items from them and been very happy with the products and service.

Frank

[craig333]

Pretty simple. Just make sure the positive side of the panel connects to the positive side of the battery, same with the negative. Fuse both sides to be extra safe. 

[rotti]

I actually have owned the exact setup you are looking at.

Me too.
Very happy with mine. The panel is fused and all I did was cut off the jumper style connectors and solder on the SAE fittings.

[craig333]

The one I bought came with three different style connectors, and a bag! The part I hate is the compulsion to keep moving it into the sun

[fireball]

I called Renogy and they told me that I will need to get the portable kit w/ controller even if I already have a controller and roof mounted panel.      The reason being is that the controller will only feed one panel, so the wiring for the portable would have to be connected inline through the roof mounted panel.

 

Can anyone shed some light on this?

 

Seems a bit redundant to have two controllers.   

[longhorn1]

Fireball. I have the factory installed 100W Zamp and Zamp controller on my 2014 Grandby and rear plug. I purchased a Zamp 80W portable and had discussion with both Zamp and FWC and they said not to get the controller on the portable since the wiring for both roof mounted and solar plug are wired to the controller. Jd


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[Occidental]

I have the suitcase and just bought a SAE to Anderson connection from Overland Solar...  http://overlandsolar...0-150-watt-kits

I use it more to charge the boat trolling motor, but any SAE connection works, it's a pretty slick connection.

[RC Pilot Jim]

Durango,

 

Refrigerator

 

I'm assuming you have the regular camper with Dometic compressor fridge.

 

Which fridge do you have? Compressor (2-way) or Absorption (3-way - uses propane not plugged into 110 volt)

 

If compressor, do you know how many amps you are drawing when parked?

 

Even if you are moving all the time, you still must sightsee, hike, etc. when traveling. Do you dry camp? or have hookups?

 

My 2 cents

WithOUT a roof-top solar panel, and you dry camp your batteries may not be full when you stop in the evening to camp. if you have a compressor fridge your probably drawing around 5 amps. If so you should have a 150 watt panel on the roof to run the fridge and charge the batteries when parked, engine off during the day. and a portable for shade camping like the Renogy.

 

If you have an absorption then the portable is fine as the alternator will keep the batteries charged during the day.

Edited by RC Pilot Jim, 27 June 2016 - 03:14 PM.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I called Renogy and they told me that I will need to get the portable kit w/ controller even if I already have a controller and roof mounted panel.      The reason being is that the controller will only feed one panel, so the wiring for the portable would have to be connected inline through the roof mounted panel.

 

Can anyone shed some light on this?

 

Seems a bit redundant to have two controllers.   

 

That is contrary to what FWC advices.   If you have roof mounted solar and a rear solar connector, the rear connector is typically wired to the onboard controller.   FWC recommends getting a portable without a controller (or bypassed controller) to connect in this fashion.   On my now sold Grandby, I had considered wiring the rear connector directly to the battery with fuses and a switch on the positive leg so that it was not hot all the time, then using my Zamp portable with controller in that manner.

 

On the other hand, a positive about having a portable with a controller is that you can use it to charge other batteries (trolling motor, truck. etc.) without having to have a solar 'system'.