Solar hookup

[James Gang]

I am considering a portable solar panel. Is it possible to hook up the solar panel's alligator clips to the battery cables that are run to the drivers side of the trailer even though the battery is on the passenger side (21)? I have an access door on the drivers side. I called Renogy and they said no, that the solar cables must be hooked directly to the battery.

[Jim Bennett]

Not certain what you mean by the battery cables you are looking to hook to. While connection to the battery is preferable, if you connect to the 12V trailer system anywhere you are effectively providing charging power to the battery.

Some folks (and myself in the past) have connected solar to the trailer via the 7-pin pigtail on the trailer. This makes for a longer cable run to the battery, with the potential for more loss, but still is fairly effective.

Why not do a solar port right outside where the battery is housed, and connect directly to it with appropriately sized wire?

[James Gang]

Renogy said "to the battery posts". The other day I went to where I store the trailer (20 miles away) and looked at the Battery. The battery cables leave the battery and go over to the left hand side. Could I not connect the + solar alligator clip to the 12V cutoff switch? I am looking at the easiest, least time consuming way and without cutting any holes in the trailer.

[fudge_brownie]

I would echo what Jim says, install it close to the battery. Are you also aware that you need a solar controller between the panel and the battery? The recommended installation of that solar controller is within three feet of the battery. I use 10 gauge wire from the panel to the outside port next to the battery. Then 8 gauge to the controller and again 8 gauge on that all important run from the controller to the battery. I would use larger wire but the controller will only accept 8 gauge.

I had an older model of the portable set up and ran it through the Bargman connector to the vehicle. On the 21 you have an really long run of wire, but Escape is using a heavy gauge wire now, not sure of the gauge. You still have to deal with getting that controller close to the battery. See a description of this early installation in the files section above.

[Jake930]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Some folks (and myself in the past) have connected solar to the trailer via the 7-pin pigtail on the trailer. This makes for a longer cable run to the battery, with the potential for more loss, but still is fairly effective ?

So Jim, how effective is effective? I was thinking of connecting a panel through the 7 pin to help the roof top one out during longer boondocks. Could you expand on your experience with this please. Thanks.
I do not want to high jack this thread, so if anyone feels this question does not belong here I’ll delete it it.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by James Gang

Renogy said "to the battery posts". The other day I went to where I store the trailer (20 miles away) and looked at the Battery. The battery cables leave the battery and go over to the left hand side. Could I not connect the + solar alligator clip to the 12V cutoff switch? I am looking at the easiest, least time consuming way and without cutting any holes in the trailer.

Especially if you are just using it to keep the batteries topped during storage, this will work fine. Just make sure you are on the right side of the switch if it is turned off.

Originally Posted by Jake930

So Jim, how effective is effective? I was thinking of connecting a panel through the 7 pin to help the roof top one out during longer boondocks. Could you expand on your experience with this please. Thanks.
I do not want to high jack this thread, so if anyone feels this question does not belong here I’ll delete it it.

The answer to that is pretty subjective. It depends on lots of things, like wire size and length of run. You will get benefit from it.

For me, it seemed to work with my 40W Coleman portable quite well. My daughter is using this setup with her wee Trillium 1300. It charged things up and kept them charged well when the trailer was not in use, and did top things up a bit, but could not keep up with needs all the time.

[davedru]

Jim- One more question... Can you post a link to an adapter that you would need to hook a portable panel to the 7 pin?

Thanks-

[Jake930]

Originally Posted by davedru

Jim- One more question... Can you post a link to an adapter that you would need to hook a portable panel to the 7 pin?

Thanks-

https://www.amazon.com/Go-Power-Trai...+solar+adapter

[Moaboy]

Go power makes an adapter that connect the plug from ur panel and into your 7 pin plug on the trailer. I have one I use with my go power 120 watt panel and it works very well. Doing so utilizes the heavier gauge wire found in the 7 pin harness vs a separate solar port.
I got mine from Tweety's.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Moaboy

Go power makes an adapter that connect the plug from ur panel and into your 7 pin plug on the trailer. I have one I use with my go power 120 watt panel and it works very well. Doing so utilizes the heavier gauge wire found in the 7 pin harness vs a separate solar port.
I got mine from Tweety's.

We have one too. Yes it does work very well with our 80 watt folding go power panels . Pat

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by davedru

Jim- One more question... Can you post a link to an adapter that you would need to hook a portable panel to the 7 pin?

Thanks-

I used one like Jake posted. You just use the positive and negative terminals and plug it in. Easy peasy.

[davedru]

Awesome- thanks guys!

[James Gang]

Ordered a GP120. It has the Anderson style wiring with ring connectors that I can slide through the battery vent. Later this year my 2 DS, the oldest one's SO and I will be in Big Bend for a few days. Reserved an open site that should give me a good angle on the sun from the drivers side rear corner of my 21.

[Devil Dog]

I use a 7 pin hook up works fine .

[HappyCampers]

How does the charge controller on the solar panel work with the controller already inside the trailer? I thought I read in other posts that an auxiliary solar panel controllers dueled with the on board controller and it did not work out. Or, is the charge coming thru the 7 pin connector not go through the on board controller? Thx

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by HappyCampers

Or, is the charge coming thru the 7 pin connector not go through the on board controller?

The battery charge wire of the 7-pin connection is connected to the battery without any kind of controller in the circuit. It does not go through the trailer's solar charge controller, or the shore power converter (which has its own voltage control).

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Devil Dog

I use a 7 pin hook up works fine .

Me too! Pat

[AKCamper]

Originally Posted by Devil Dog

I use a 7 pin hook up works fine .

I think the issue is weather you want your solar to work fine or great. Controller as close to the batteries as possible with the biggest wire you can hook to the controller and wire from controller to panel sized for minimum voltage drop. I use 6 gauge wire for both and have a 40 foot extension to my panel. Can put our portable panel in the sun while we’re in the shade.