Newbie solar panel question

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Newbie solar panel question

Postby Monti » Sat Feb 26, 2022 3:09 pm

Hi everyone, I am brand new here and just got into the tiny trailer world. I got myself a solar panel for my bluetti generator thinking I can use it on my trailer only to realize later I need a Zamp connector.

I did some digging and figure I need MC4 to SAE adaptor to connect to a battery charge controller , then connect that to a SAE wire with a reverse polarity adaptor to connect that to the Zamp. When I look at parts , I realize the charge controller has ground positive and ground negative. I couldn't figure out which one I should get or how I can determine which one I should get.

Can anyone help? Or would anyone suggest another way to connect one of these none Zamp solar panel to the Zamp connector?

The solar panel I got is this one.

https://www.rockpals.com/products/rockp ... nel#Review

The trailer I got is the Helio HE3.

Thank you guys !
Monti
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Re: Newbie solar panel question

Postby mtbikernate » Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:22 pm

what bluetti do you have? some of these generators have solar charge controllers built in. the poorly translated website for the panel doesn't make it clear to me if the panel has a charge controller built into it. you only want one controller. you don't want to plug one controller into another.

"zamp" connectors are just SAE connectors. if yours is wired in reverse polarity, then you just need a little adapter. no biggie.

From what I can tell, your panel doesn't use MC4 connectors, so I dunno where that came from.

frankly, I'd be looking at a better quality solar panel. I don't have confidence in anything from rockpals.
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Re: Newbie solar panel question

Postby Monti » Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:30 pm

Thanks. I have the bluetti AC50S.
The solar panel doesn't have a controller so it would have to connect one in order to connect to my trailer.
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Re: Newbie solar panel question

Postby TimC » Sat Feb 26, 2022 5:10 pm

Your Bluetti AC50S has a built in MPPT solar charge controller. So don't hook another one up between your panel and the battery bank.

The adapter you need is not real clear. I'd like to ask a couple questions... With your panel did you receive a charge cable with Anderson Powerpole on one end and four optional adapters on the other end (one being an Anderson Powerpole?

Anderson Powerpole
Image

If so it will be "easy" to adapt your battery to the panel with a wire with Anderson Powerpole on one end and the DC7909 on the other. Sourcing the DC7909 that the Rockpals requires might require some research. I don't knw what that is. If it is the same as a regular 2.1mm x 5.5mm plug then it should be easy.
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Re: Newbie solar panel question

Postby Monti » Sat Feb 26, 2022 6:37 pm

It does come with a Anderson connector.
With so much thing I have to worry about, I am not sure it worth all the trouble for it. The micro trailer only use some power for the maxx fan and may be a small 12v TV.
I wonder if I should just forget about connect the solar panel directly to the trailer. I am thinking may be I can just use the panel with my AC50S and plug the trailer to the AC50S. I know this might not be as efficient but save a lot of complications. Think this might work?
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Re: Newbie solar panel question

Postby mtbikernate » Sat Feb 26, 2022 6:50 pm

Monti wrote:It does come with a Anderson connector.
With so much thing I have to worry about, I am not sure it worth all the trouble for it. The micro trailer only use some power for the maxx fan and may be a small 12v TV.
I wonder if I should just forget about connect the solar panel directly to the trailer. I am thinking may be I can just use the panel with my AC50S and plug the trailer to the AC50S. I know this might not be as efficient but save a lot of complications. Think this might work?


I thought that all you wanted to do was plug the panel into the battery? That's by far the easiest option. Might require moving the battery outside during the day or leaving a door open for the solar panel wires.

If you want to plug the panel into the trailer and have the battery inside powering everything else, you're probably better off with a component system and hardwiring everything in. That's how my trailer is set up.

You could still install a pass-through of sorts onto your trailer so you plug the panel into one side, and the other side plugs into the battery. But given the nonstandard connectors on your panel now, that would probably mean making some custom wires from the panel to the port on the trailer (maybe SAE, maybe something else) and then from the battery to the other side of that port. And it doesn't sound like you're necessarily prepared to do that.
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Re: Newbie solar panel question

Postby TimC » Sat Feb 26, 2022 7:20 pm

Sounds good. I guess I didn't understand what you were trying to do. Good luck with the project.
Tim
Niagara, WI
My First Benroy Teardrop Build Thread - A 5x8 Woodie - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63575
My Second Teardrop (partial) Build Thread - Started August '16 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=66939
#3 My son's Benroy Foamie team build - Started July '20 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=72877

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