Portable Solar - SAE or Powerpole

[Perry Butler]

We have had excellent luck with our 170 watt GoPower solar panel and controller. However, twice this trip our mounted solar panel was either facing the wrong way (we have a 5.0 with the panel at an angle and worthless in the winter if facing north) or we were in trees and needed a simple 100 watt panel to help us with power when it's 30 degrees at night and the camper uses 20-30 amps a day.

For 20 years I was a license/bonded low-voltage electrician in Minnesota. Unfortunately, I only worked with ethernet, video, and audio. The license allowed me to do all the low-voltage installations in our school. Never worked with solar, but have learned a boatload in the past two years.

Made the mistake of buying a Renogy 100 watt portable solar panel system. The only items I'm keeping is the solar panel and one extension cable. The controller, entrance port, and extra cables are being returned Friday. The intention was to have a controller in our 5.0 and plug in their MC4 connectors to the camper. What a joke they sent me. They couldn't even send me the correct cables; both extension cables are being sent back, along with the controller that can't handle 10 awg wire, and their joke of a port into the camper. That's all I'm going to say about Renogy.

I did finally get one 20' cable to work with their solar controller, and today in Gilbert Ray near Tucson I saw 5.8 amps going into the controller at 3:30 in the afternoon. At least Renogy's solar panel worked as they claimed. I've already ordered a Victron Smart 100/20 controller to replace our GoPower controller and the GoPower will be used with the Renogy 100 watt panel (last year I installed a Victron 712 battery monitor). However, for the time being, the Victron will control the Renogy 100 watt panel

I need to decide if I'm going to use Anderson Powerpoles/entrance port/cables or a Zamp entrance port and two, 10 awg, 15' cables with SAE connectors.

• What "real" advantage do the powerpoles have over the SAE connectors?
  
  
• I can't find an entrance port for the powerpoles, but Zamp makes a nice entrance port for SAE connectors. Does anyone know where I can purchase an entrance port for the powerpoles similar to the SAE port Zamp makes?

Thanks,

Perry

[Eggscape]

As an Amateur Radio Operator our nation wide standard power connector is the Anderson Power Pole. This way we can travel anywhere in North America and all of our emergency radio and power equipment is standard and interchangeable. It only makes sense for me to use Power Poles as everything 12 volts that I own uses them.

I make my own outside ports with a standard spring loaded 120v power hatch with available Power Pole panel mounts that just clip right in to the standard rectangle hole. You will have to blank out the remainder part of the hole that is available for other connections such as cable, etc.

You can see in the second picture I also clipped the Anderson panel mount into a standard Interior 120 v wall plate. One Power Pole is switched, while the other Power Pole has continuous power. The 3 coax cables go to my radios.

You can buy custom interior plates but I have never seen outside ones with a cover like this. I don’t think anybody has realized that the holder just clips into a standard plate...so you are the first to know.

[Hawkeye Ed]

Perry,

I love Anderson Powerpoles. Here's a link to a Panel Mount Housing for Two Powerpole Connectors with a Weather Resistant Cover.

<https://powerwerx.com/panelpole-panel-mount-powerpole-housing>

This may or may not be weather resistant enough for you.

The PowerWerx web site has lots of nice Powerpole-compatible gear so take a good look around.

Ed

[Effie]

I also use an external 100w panel (just happens to be a Renogy with a Victron Smart controller) as a supplement to my roof solar. I’m using the Zamp ASE connector, very easy to install at the driver’s side of my 19. The Anderson Powerpole connectors can handle a lot more current but are an overkill for 6 amps. The Zamp ASE is not the most robust, but it works.

[Doug2000]

I learned a lot from this webage

The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

I have a new E19 ready for pickup. We didn't get the solar package as we often camp in the trees next to a lake. In the past, we have taken my 3 portable 40 watt panels. I just hook them to the battery with the cheap controller and alligator clips. Simple, yet enough for our use.

As far as the hook up, I don't like drilling holes unless I really need to. I would just drill a hole in the floor and leave a wire connector accessible on the tongue somewhere.

In 2 years something new will come available, technology is changing quickly in this sector.

[Jim Bennett]

I have used Anderson Powerpole connectors in the past, a very good strong connector, but for my portable solar panel use I went with the Zamp connector for its simplicity and size. It works great. There are other brands of connectors for solar use that look quite nice too. I rarely use the portable, well not at all since it was stolen last year when my trailer was broken into, so not worried about something that gets used daily.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeEZ

Perry,

I love Anderson Powerpoles. Here's a link to a Panel Mount Housing for Two Powerpole Connectors with a Weather Resistant Cover.

<https://powerwerx.com/panelpole-panel-mount-powerpole-housing>

This may or may not be weather resistant enough for you.

The PowerWerx web site has lots of nice Powerpole-compatible gear so take a good look around.

Just making your embedded link active:
https://powerwerx.com/panelpole-pane...erpole-housing

[Eggscape]

Just a further note:
When attaching the outside wall plate with it’s provided foam seal between it and the trailer...you actually use the trailer wall as the mounting area. (red circle). So if you are just installing a round coax connector for tv or radio, you can install the plate first then drill the hole(s) for the connector(s). You can always drill more holes in the future as your needs change.

In my case I had to make a little square hole first for the Andersons then apply the plate. The black you see is just an optional piece of vinyl over the trailer wall.

[Perry Butler]

I chose SAE connectors. They will better meet my needs for the portable panel. I wanted three 15' cables for the portable, the SAE connectors are less susceptible to breakage from being stepped on, and are much smaller than either MC4's or Powerpoles. Everyone has their reasons.

Enjoy,

Perry

[thoer]

Perry - after looking at lots of possibilities I went with trolling motor type connectors. Receptacle and Plug I like the entrance port design and seems well made. I used SAE on our 17B and they worked fine for me too. (I've got an SAE fed out thru the battery gas vent on the 21 that hooks up to my battery charger when in storage.)

[steve dunham]

Anderson Powerpole