Silly solar Questions

Yeah, had my own made a few years ago from the local solar company here in town. They just started making them and since I bought panels from them, they offered me one of the first of these at a decent price. The controller is on the back side of the panels and should be out of the rain.

I will have the panels less than two feet from the batteries. They will sit right in front of the tongue so that should be close enough. Will get direct sun there.

I realize now that this is not my solution to charging my trailer batteries but it could supplement when I am not able to use electricity or generator during the black out times. I can then go in and look on tv to see what is happening and when it may be back on. Just got a UPS for my router and computer as well. I tried to plug those into a little power source but the electronics are pickier these days! This should keep me in the loop.

Thanks to you I now feel a bit more secure with this. There is enough to contend with in the house (no water.. on well pump) with gardens, chickens, sheep, etc. to water and feed). Now, I can relax a bit and am ready for the winter round of things. Seems like it is going out more than it used to.

Once again, I can come to this forum and get intelligent as well as kind and patient answers. I thank you all.

Ellie

I use the Eco-worthy 20a MPPT controller and am very happy with it. That said I can't recommend it for use with multiple panels due to the limited Voc of 42v. It works well with the larger 200w+ sized panels but they can be a hassle to deal with as a portable. At that size I wouldn't run it through the 7 pin.

So my recommendation would be to not spend the money on the more expensive controller, instead get a recommended 30a PWM controller and more panel.

RJsfishin wrote:
That's why I said everything about a store bought portable it wrong, including the price.
If you go portable fine, but build your own. Put the controller where it is suppose to be, and use the correct size wire to match the distances involved.

I kept holding off on buying GoPower because of price. The Renogy is far more reasonable and comes with a nice protective case that home made wouldn't have. The only thing I would do different would be getting the suitcase without the controller and getting their 20a controller or Eco-worthy MPPT 20a for longer cables/multiple panels.

That's why I said everything about a store bought portable it wrong, including the price.
If you go portable fine, but build your own. Put the controller where it is suppose to be, and use the correct size wire to match the distances involved.

EllieThomas wrote:
How many watts solar should I get to use with the 7 pin adapter should I go that route? You've said that larger won't work well, so what is a good amount to use with through that cord?

The 7-pin cord #4 pin charging wire is maybe #10 or less? Anyway it is long and thin. Means low amps. That is why your truck doesn't get much done charging via 7-pin (but also that is because the truck wiring is also long and thin)

So the ideal is to have the solar controller close to the batts on fat enough wire and the longer run from controller to array (panel) can stand more voltage drop along its length and you still get your amps to the battery.

So if using the 7-pin cord on the trailer, you are already placing the controller out past that, farther away on whatever fatness wiring that may be. You are losing amps right there, but it is an easy connection point. then you po from controller to panel with whatever that loses. You must keep the controller out of the rain, so have it under cover however you place it out from the trailer's 7-pin cord.

I will take a total WAG and say you could run a 100w panel from the 7-pin connection where the controller is past the trailer's 7-pin cord somewhere. That is because a 100w panel can do about 6.3 amps at best, and that is what my 7-pin can get to the batteries from the truck's alternator through that long thin wire (but that includes the truck' part of that wiring)

So--if you really want the most form any size panel, put the controller close to the batteries (remove it from the panel kit if that is where it is up by the panels) keep it from the rain, and then run longer wire to where the panels are so they are in the sun.

Ellie, here are a couple of links you might find helpful. In the first picture, the yellow connector is an Anderson connector.
http://community.fmca.com/blog/805/entry-1586-diy-rv-solar-install/

Here is the cable/connector I used to connect portable to battery:
http://community.fmca.com/blog/805/entry-1586-diy-rv-solar-install/

In spite of the nay sayers, portable looks like a solution for you. I just got started with portable because I wanted to learn before doing anything permanent and most of my campsites have been in the shade. I have the Renogy 100W suitcase portable and the alligator clip cable at the end of it already had Anderson connectors, but using them was a hassle so I switched to the cables above for a hassle-free quick connect. Ideally, the controller (mounted on the back of the panel) should be close to the battery bank connected with a heavier cable to minimize loss. I plan to remove my controller from the panel and mount it near the batteries instead, then get longer cables from the panel to the controller also using the Anderson connector so I can get my panel(s) out to the sun.
Do you have the GoPower portable? That 7-pin adapter is something I looked at but realize my trailer has batteries at the front and converter charger in the rear and that would be a really long run, so I went with something to get my solar right to the batteries. The 7-pin adapter from my research comes with an Anderson connector so you will need one on the end of the cable coming from your solar. But the connector cable I used should be more effective, and given your situation of not needing longer cables, should be all you need to do for ease of connection.
The 2 wire adapter someone posted is a type of connector that works well also.

Agreed. its the short term camping where the hassle of a portable doesn't cut it.
For doing 3 months in Quartzsite, the portable worked great.

smkettner wrote:
Portable might be the best option in your situation.
While on the road portable would get to be one more chore at setup/pack-up so if moving often.... no thanks.

Thanks. The folding two panels have a controller built in so guess we are good to go. I just have to think of it as a supplemental helper. :)

Sure do thank you for the help in this.

Ellie

Depends on the wire size. Go Power suggests 120w and smaller so I would call it good for your two panels. Still need a controller. If you put 500w through the thing it will probably melt and your controller will be too far from the battery to be effective.

How many watts solar should I get to use with the 7 pin adapter should I go that route? You've said that larger won't work well, so what is a good amount to use with through that cord?