Solar - Portable Suitcase
I recently bought a Forest River - Rockwood 8299BS 5th Wheel. It came prewired to use a ZAMP portable solar system. The ZAMP compatible connector in the front of the camper is a 2-pole receptacle that...
Forum Discussion
The one thing that you will want to check and verify is if the "pre-wire" ZAMP deal has a solar controller already built into it or if it uses the solar controller most commonly found mounted on the back of the portable solar panels.
If by being "ZAMP portable solar ready" includes a solar controller mounted somewhere in the coach then you will need to make sure that your Renogy panels operate within the specs of that controller. Probably nothing to worry about here since you have a 100w panel but I would make sure the operating voltage and amp ratings are good.
If there is no controller in the coach then the ZAMP port on the side of your trailer leads directly to the batteries. In that case I guess you would try to find the male or female end of the connector that they are using and you can replace the connector that came with your Renogy kit.
If your trailer already has a controller and your Renogy portable panels also have a controller and you plug the panels into the ZAMP port then I am not sure what the consequences of that would be. It probably would just not work.
Anyways once you figure out your controller setup you can then make the choice to plug into the port on the trailer or just wire a lead from the battery to a anderson type plug connector and then the same on the renogy panel to make it easy. Or just use alligator clips direct to the batteries.
If by being "ZAMP portable solar ready" includes a solar controller mounted somewhere in the coach then you will need to make sure that your Renogy panels operate within the specs of that controller. Probably nothing to worry about here since you have a 100w panel but I would make sure the operating voltage and amp ratings are good.
If there is no controller in the coach then the ZAMP port on the side of your trailer leads directly to the batteries. In that case I guess you would try to find the male or female end of the connector that they are using and you can replace the connector that came with your Renogy kit.
If your trailer already has a controller and your Renogy portable panels also have a controller and you plug the panels into the ZAMP port then I am not sure what the consequences of that would be. It probably would just not work.
Anyways once you figure out your controller setup you can then make the choice to plug into the port on the trailer or just wire a lead from the battery to a anderson type plug connector and then the same on the renogy panel to make it easy. Or just use alligator clips direct to the batteries.
