Solar - Portable Suitcase

I bought a GoPower 120w portable unit 2 years ago and wish I didn't, the quality is good but not superior if at all to what Renogy has. The connector is made by Anderson

IAMICHABOD:

Do you also have a Renogy portable suitcase? My cable is about 10' long and has MC4 connectors about 2' from the pigtail that's connects to the controller. The other end has alligator clamps. Since my batteries are covered and vented in the front compartment of my 5th wheel, it's inconvenient to connect the alligator clamps directly to the battery. I would like to build a new 20' cable that will plug into the existing MC4 connectors and then connect the other end into the receptacle on my trailer. I have a photo of my connector but can't seem to upload it to the post. The connector is a 2-pole receptacle that would take something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Motor-Products-POLE-CONNECTOR/dp/B002OPHRXW/ref=sr_1_4?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1467816103&sr=1-4&keywords=2-pole+flat+trailer+connector

Are the cables you reference very flexible? The connector on my camper doesn't seem very stout. I wonder if I should have a smaller gauge transition to the 2-pole connector so I'm not applying any torque or force on the connector with the weight and stiffness of the cable pulling down on the connector.

It sounds like I can buy the MC4 connector tool and install MC4 connectors on one end to mate with my existing cable and then install a 2-pole connector on the other end to mate with my camper, or buy the cable you referenced and attach the 2-pole connector on the pigtail end.

Thanks for the link to the MC4 cables and assembly tool!

mrkoje wrote:
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.

Good questions! The ZAMP connector seems like a generic connector that will accept this type of cable connector:

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Motor-Products-POLE-CONNECTOR/dp/B002OPHRXW/ref=sr_1_4?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1467816103&sr=1-4&keywords=2-pole+flat+trailer+connector

The wires from the connector look like they go directly to the battery or battery terminal. No controller seems to be mounted anywhere in the camper. A little dishonest saying it's wired for a ZAMP solar system. It's a generic connector that goes directly to the battery. I was disappointed when I saw the price of the system compared to the Renogy.

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.

The cables were to short for me so I replaced them with These it runs just fine.

I also hard wired one end to the battery then made a connection using MC 4connectors that way I can put the unit where I want it and then connect the pig tail that is mounted under the edge on the RV.

BTW that little Assembly Tool makes things much easier.