Black Friday Solar Panel Deal

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Tonia

I haven't figured out how best to pick a charge controller. I don't want to overspend nor do I want to be limited. So I left that for later. ....after a little more education.

I struggled with this and ended up buying a Morningstar PWM type, as they have a long record of quality. The other option is a less expensive Chinese model such as the one Kevin linked on Amazon, or one from eBay for even less. I can't see justifying the current cost difference for a MPPT type for RV use.

Recent history tells us that electronic devices only get better and cheaper, so I wouldn't over think it. They are easy to replace if they fail.

[Tonia]

Thanks Tom.

[Mike Magee]

I debated, then decided to wait till spring. I won't be ready to install till then, and by that time maybe prices will drop even more... I can hope, anyway.

[Tonia]

At quick glance, the panels still look to be on sale

[Wander Weekes]

I picked up a 100 watt. Thanks for the tip; it frees up some cash for the battery and wiring upgrades...

[multi-task]

Originally Posted by theresa p

this sounds like a great deal....but despite all of the reading i have done, i am not any clearer on what size panel i should get to run our fridge...we use barely any other power---if we are plugged in, sure, we'll plug in the kettle and watch a movie or show on the laptop. our lights are mostly LEDs but it's our fridge that is our main problem..it is not a propane model so we, at present, can only boondock for 2 days max.
can someone please guide me on what would be the best size solar panel to look to get....considering it's mainly to run the fridge.
thanks everyone!

If your trailer has the Novacool fridge in it like mine it draws 2-2.2 amps when running. This means when it runs you'll need a panel to push more than that into your batteries or it won't be charging them anymore.

Using my 75W panel in normal camping conditions (meaning not always perfect sun) it was only pushing 2 amps in, so when the fridge was running it was useless. Ideal conditions it pushed 3-4 amps, usually not more than 3. That said, in the summer I never ran out of power but in September the batteries never charged properly. I use 2 Trojan T-125s.

Solar is a hobby for me, so I recently bought a 215w Sanyo high voltage panel to over come all of this. With a real mppt controller it will easily hold the battery charge where I want it when the fridge runs. Of course I wouldn't normally recommend that panel brand due to cost, I was lucky to find one second hand and never used.

[Ed Harris]

Well the Panels came in Today and they are very nice!
I am happy aside from the fact that they have connectors on them that I don't have mating ones for.

It seems silly that the website would not mention this when ordering as it would have been an easy add-on sale at the time.
Now I have found them local and will not be spending the extra money with SolarBlvd and I don't have to wait for shipping.

Thanks for the link.

[Ryan P R]

What type of connectors did they come with?

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Ryan P R

What type of connectors did they come with?

The most common type are MC4 connectors. I bought mine from a North American source on eBay.

MC4 Connector Male Female Pair Solar Panel Cable Wire | eBay

[Ed Harris]

It is known as an MC-4 connector.
It is a single conductor waterproof high current connector,evidently standard in the Solar industry now.
They are nice connectors,I just don't have any.
So either I wait and get some or I hack them off and do my own thing,also not a huge deal as I do this sort of thing everyday.

The panels have a little junction box on the back. There are 2 pigtails coming out of it through waterproof gland nuts,one is positive and one is negative from the panel. They look like they are 4 feet long maybe but they are separate conductors not a zip cord or a jacketed multi-conductor cable either.
So I may also just remove the pigtails completely from the junction box and go straight into it with whatever cable I use from the panel to the controller. I also haven't really decided much about how I will configure any part of this system so I need to ponder this and make some choices.

[Ed Harris]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

The most common type are MC4 connectors. I bought mine from a North American source on eBay.

MC4 Connector Male Female Pair Solar Panel Cable Wire | eBay

Funny I guess we posted at the same time?
Like I said I have a local source for them if this is the way I end up going.

[multi-task]

Be sure to read your warranty before removing the cables from your junction box, most manufacturers state that will void the warranty. I bought cables from ebay and cut those to the needed length.

[mmeyer]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

The most common type are MC4 connectors. I bought mine from a North American source on eBay.

MC4 Connector Male Female Pair Solar Panel Cable Wire | eBay

Not real thrilled with MC4 for portable panel use. Really need to have a tool to take them apart right or cut off the ears.
I had an issue last month where I was not getting any output from my portable panels. turned out that the male pin holder had pushed the female socket back in the connector and was not making contact, had to reset metal in the socket and carefully insert to make it work. could be that I was a little hasty when I assembled it and did not get the barbs on the metal to seat right after I crimped the wires to it. for permanent use they look really good with good water resistance and I used them on my permanent 50W panel on top of the VT but still made all connections inside the trailer.
I ordered some 10 ga. two pin trailer connectors to try on my portable set up. Time will tell if they are a viable option.
My two cents.
Michael j.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Ed Harris

..........
So I may also just remove the pigtails completely from the junction box and go straight into it with whatever cable I use from the panel to the controller. I also haven't really decided much about how I will configure any part of this system so I need to ponder this and make some choices.

You could also create a soldered splice in the short lead wire and cover it with adhesive lined shrink tape.

Originally Posted by mmeyer

Not real thrilled with MC4 for portable panel use. ...............
I ordered some 10 ga. two pin trailer connectors to try on my portable set up. Time will tell if they are a viable option.
My two cents.
Michael j.

If you are taking them apart frequently, the two pin connector is probably the better choice. The MC4 is designed as a robust connection for a permanent installation.

[Ed Harris]

I will probably use some Speakon connectors on every cable and a bulkhead model on the trailer.

Speakon connector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mainly because I have a lot of them and a lot of big heavy cables already terminated with them.
I have used these for years with Portable Solar for Ham Radio applications and overall they are just a nice heavy duty, high current,self-cleaning, locking, watertight connection.

I might use a short adapter from the MC4 to Speakon so I don't change the panel in any way to do it,but I might not too,the fewer connectors the better usually.

I think I will likely set things up like Mike did with a panel on the trailer roof and an external input on the trailer for additional panels placed more directly in the suns view.

I already have a few panels I use for this for Radio work and I mount a cheap meter on the back of the panel so I can use the meter to aim the panel for maximum output at the moment I put it up.

I also need to find a spot to mount a couple more batteries on the trailer to make this all worthwhile.

My charge controller is designed to charge and maintain 2 separate battery banks independently and has a remote panel for inside the trailer.

I am usually plugged into shore power but the details and practicality have rarely influenced me before and I don't see that starting now!

[Kevin K]

Ed Harris
Speakon connector 4 pole or 2 pole for solar panel? Will 10 Gauge wire fit in these type of connectors?

[Ed Harris]

Originally Posted by Kevin K

Ed Harris
Speakon connector 4 pole or 2 pole for solar panel? Will 10 Gauge wire fit in these type of connectors?

Yes

I usually use Ancor bonded boat cable for Solar installation in a Mobile environment and I have gotten that in a Speakon before.

Standard Duplex Cable | Marinco

I also have several 12gauge cables with Speakon on both ends and 12g is entirely adequate for short low current runs like I will have here.

[Kevin K]

4 pole or 2 pole?

[Ed Harris]

Originally Posted by Kevin K

4 pole or 2 pole?

Whichever I have at the time?

I first thought I would use just 4 pole and for Solar wire them differently than for speakers so I could not make a smoky mistake someday but then I realized that I will likely not ever do that and no one else will likely ever use my cabling so now I just use what I have on hand and wire to the 1st pair which is the same in both connectors.

I also have a bunch of 8 conductor models in stock but I don't want to show off by using them!

[mmeyer]

Like the meter idea, will have to incorporate into my set up.

Michael J