Solar Ready?
I'm thinking I am missing something. I have a solar ready unit (Dutchmen) and then find that the connection is anything but standard. I thought I would just buy a solar panel and plug it in, "plug and...
Forum Discussion
Kavoom wrote:
Is this everyone's experience?
Most people experience is that they installed panels and routed the cables on trailers that were not "solar ready". This is actually good because manufacturers almost never do the "solar ready" job right.
Most panels come with MC4 type connectors.
Some come without any connectors and few come with odd types.
RV manufacturers usually equip "solar ready trailer" with a cheesy 2-pin connector on the roof, - not MC4. And thin wire that won't let you have too much wattage.
You will also need to buy solar controller - I doubt they put any in there, and if they did, it's probably a low-end model.
Solar planning should begin with estimating how much energy you want/need to harvest. If the existing wire isn't adequate for required power, you can use it to fish the proper wire into the trailer, or abandon it altogether.
Edit-PS:
If your connector is low on the side wall, not on the roof - most of this post won't apply to you. That connector would be for portable panels. It won't give you much, and you will still have to replace the plug on the panel wire.
