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Old 08-04-2019, 03:55 PM   #21
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Rossue, 3-4 days would be great for us. The batteries are deep cycle, will they be harmed if taken down to 25%?
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Old 08-04-2019, 04:16 PM   #22
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Pat, I found the adapter on Amazon for $31.95 and the seller comments state it will only work with Go Power. I don't understand that, but I suspect my son could make it work or build a 7-pin adapter from scratch.

Food for thought.
Don’t understand the statement either . Maybe the connection to go to their folding panels ? The end to trailer cable is the same . I would think the wiring from adapter needs to match is all . Pat
Yes I bought mine from Amazon and here is a picture of the connection for the panel
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Old 08-04-2019, 04:47 PM   #23
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... I found the adapter on Amazon for $31.95 and the seller comments state it will only work with Go Power. I don't understand that...
My guess is that the connector and polarity specifically match other GoPower equipment, and they don't promise or take responsibility for compatibility with equipment from other companies. In particular, even with the same connector, polarity could easily be reversed.
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Old 08-04-2019, 04:48 PM   #24
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Maybe life isn't that simple, but it seems we could just get an extension with an MC4 on one end and 2 bare wires on the other end and connect those wires to a 7-pin female connector.

What might we break if we did that?
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Old 08-04-2019, 04:50 PM   #25
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Maybe life isn't that simple, but it seems we could just get an extension with an MC4 on one end and 2 bare wires on the other end and connect those wires to a 7-pin female connector.

What might we break if we did that?
Bill whatever you do just make sure the wiring matches and you will be fine . Pat
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Old 08-04-2019, 05:57 PM   #26
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I have rooftop solar on my trailer. I also have an external 12V power socket. If I buy a portable panel that has its own controller, can I just plug it in to the 12V external socket and bypass the trailer's solar controller? Or will trailer go boom?
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Old 08-04-2019, 06:08 PM   #27
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I have rooftop solar on my trailer. I also have an external 12V power socket. If I buy a portable panel that has its own controller, can I just plug it in to the 12V external socket and bypass the trailer's solar controller? Or will trailer go boom?
you won't get as much efficiency that way as you would running your external solar panels to the internal controller, IF both panels have the same PV voltage range. if the solar panel's PV voltages differ, then running separate controllers in parallel is the only way.
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Old 08-04-2019, 06:25 PM   #28
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In 2014 solar ready consisted of a set of wires coiled in the battery compartment and another coil of wires just above in the storage bin. This was the day when Escape put a hole in the roof to run to the panel. No MC4 connectors present. This would have been early 2014 on an Escape 21, it could have changed during the remainder of the year.
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Old 08-04-2019, 06:30 PM   #29
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Rossue, 3-4 days would be great for us. The batteries are deep cycle, will they be harmed if taken down to 25%?
No-, however draining below 50% 50 times I believe will.
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Old 08-04-2019, 07:04 PM   #30
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I have rooftop solar on my trailer. I also have an external 12V power socket. If I buy a portable panel that has its own controller, can I just plug it in to the 12V external socket and bypass the trailer's solar controller? Or will trailer go boom?
No boom, but the wiring is probably very light gauge so an excessive amount of power would be lost to resistance... and more importantly, common accessory sockets are terrible connectors.
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Old 08-04-2019, 08:03 PM   #31
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Guess I need to make sure my portable panel is compatible voltage-wise with the rooftop panels and wire it directly to the trailer's controller. That means drilling another hole in the trailer. Cringe.
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Old 08-04-2019, 08:21 PM   #32
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I didn't put in a hole for the seldom used portables, I have a cable to connect them to just inside the lower hatch. I leave it open enough for the cables when needed.
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Old 08-05-2019, 08:50 AM   #33
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7-pin connector

Looks like this works for us. Thanks Bob.

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpowe...%2C177&sr=8-12
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Old 08-05-2019, 09:11 AM   #34
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Solar Ready

Quote:
Originally Posted by fudge_brownie View Post
In 2014 solar ready consisted of a set of wires coiled in the battery compartment and another coil of wires just above in the storage bin. This was the day when Escape put a hole in the roof to run to the panel. No MC4 connectors present. This would have been early 2014 on an Escape 21, it could have changed during the remainder of the year.
Thank you, we found where the wires terminate - they go under the wooden frame for the dinette and can be moved into the battery box which would probably set off the propane alarm. The build date for the 2014 21 was July/August.

The wires look like 14 gauge max, probably 16 gauge. The wires from the Renogy/Viewstar panels/controller also look like 16 gauge, so long extensions seeking sunny spots are out.

I don't see how Dave could have gotten any test results with this setup. I'll hook up to a motorcycle battery when the sun appears for a day, and see what happens.
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Old 08-05-2019, 10:25 AM   #35
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Talking portable

We're having the ETI folks install zamp terminal on our new 21 we just ordered..we have the 120W zamp portable folding panels+ controller we bought to use w our Casita and they should work well. I plan to have the factory guys show me polatiry issues etc when we go in fpor pick up day. I used earlier portable solar panels on boats in the past and they seemed to work efficiently "way back when"
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Old 08-05-2019, 10:41 AM   #36
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We're having the ETI folks install zamp terminal on our new 21 we just ordered..we have the 120W zamp portable folding panels+ controller we bought to use w our Casita and they should work well. I plan to have the factory guys show me polatiry issues etc when we go in fpor pick up day. I used earlier portable solar panels on boats in the past and they seemed to work efficiently "way back when"
As long as you don't have rooftop panels and an Escape installed controller, the portable panel with controller should work.

Again, if there is already a controller installed by Escape, the ZAMP connection will be to the input of the on board controller & you will have to bypass the controller on the portable panel.
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Old 08-05-2019, 12:04 PM   #37
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I had Escape install the solar prep and the Zamp plug on my trailer. The solar prep includes MC4 plug on the roof and wiring to the area under the bench where the converter is located. They also installed short wiring to connect the user installed controller to the battery and a 30 amp fuse. Since there was no controller in the build, the Zamp wiring was also not connected inside the trailer. I’m using a Renogy 100 watt portable with its own charge controller and another one for the roof panels I installed, the settings on both controllers are identical.
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Old 08-05-2019, 06:16 PM   #38
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Looks like this works for us. Thanks Bob.

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpowe...%2C177&sr=8-12
this one looks like a better choice for a solar panel adapter... https://www.amazon.com/CURT-58150-Ve.../dp/B001EP0G72 because its more 'cable friendly'...
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Old 08-05-2019, 06:39 PM   #39
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Thanks, John, plus it's a whole bunch cheaper. I was initially attracted to the Reese because of the mounting hardware, but now don't see the need to mount it - just keep it with the solar suitcase.
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Old 08-05-2019, 09:53 PM   #40
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I run my portable panel through a Zamp connector ensuring the positive and negative are wired correct. I eliminate a solar controller on the portable panel and the feed goes directly into my solar controller with the roof mounted panels. I rarely need the portable except in rare adverse conditions, but boy can I charge the batteries fast if I want too. Lots and lots of various options here, but I can say without a doubt that mine works great for us.
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