Solar port
Son in law has a Jayco that was wondering if you can use the solar plug on the side of a TT to plug a battery maintainer in? They have the same type plug.
Forum Discussion
SoundGuy wrote:SoundGuy wrote:
Coachmen is now installing a Furrion Solar Charging Port on many of their product lines which is wired directly to the battery. It's intended to be used with a small portable solar panel with a charge controller mounted directly to the panel. Rating is limited to ~ 10 amps.Ralph Cramden wrote:
A gimmick, and a decal that looks good on the lot and can be highlighted in the sales brochure.
A typically negative view RC :R - but for those interested in running a simple 100 watt portable panel with an on board charge controller this sidewall mounted connector makes it just that much easier. :) There's nothing "gimmicky" about it, as long as use is restricted to no more than a 10 amp charge then it works fine. Solar aficionados will of course scoff but the reality is many campers don't have much interest in investing a lot in solar but are intrigued by the ability to stuff a bit of power back into their trailer battery on days when the sun is flourishing so for them these on board solar connectors make it easy. :B
A typically wrong statement SG.
Thr RV manufacturers typically install one of 3 different solar ports, in an attempt to get you to just run out and buy the supposed proprietary portable solar system, that they have arranged some type of agreement with the solar distributor / manufacturer. In every case the solar equipment is priced way out of line. You can buy panels and controllers that are every bit as good, if not better, at a much lower cost.
Furrion / Lippert - 95watt Portable Solar Charger - $499.00 MSRP / $438.00 @ Walmart.com
$4.60 per watt.
Zamp - 120watt Portable Solar kit - $775.00 @ Zamp, $599.00 @ Dyers RV, $655.00 @ Bestconverter.
$4.90 per watt.
Gopower - 120watt portable kit, $564.00 @ Amazon, $650.00 @ RVUGS.
$4.70 cents per watt.
You can just look at the decal placed by the RV manufacturer or read their info and buy into their PT Barnum marketing if you want, or you can not be a sucker and buy something of better value which will probably require altering or changing the connector.
Renogy - 100watt portable solar kit, $299.00 @ Renogy, $249.00 @ Amazon.
$2.50 per watt.
And thats just one, plenty of other proven options out there. Call it being negative as much as you want, but I will not be a sucker for the RV manufacturers, you can if you wish.
