Portable Solar Panel Addition

S

Santiam Camper

Advanced Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2017
Messages
31
Location
Corvallis, Oregon
I have read the section in my manual and searched as many posts as I could find, but still am not clear on how to add a portable solar paned to my 2017 Fleet. It has the standard connection at the rear of the camper.

My primary question is can I just purchase a portable panel and plug it into the provided connection, or do I have to do some wiring?

Do I need to purchase a panel with a controller, or does it use the existing controller?

Any recommendations on good panel to consider?

Thanks for your advice.

Mike Madden
 
If you have a solar plug it should be wired unless it is a shell. You will need to speak with FWC. What year is your camper? Is it a shell or standard build? You will need to have the solar panel with controller on the back. There has been several conversations about the wires being reversed on the panel end, meaning the red is the ground and black power so you will need to test them. What kind of battery(s) do you have. You will need to provide more information.


Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Wander The West mobile app
 
Howdy Mike - there are two options, as you described. 1. A panel with a controller or 2. A panel and a separate controller. I think you'll find that most folks here install a separate controller because it gives you more options for integrating more panels.

Given you referenced the provided connection, I suspect that you have a camper that is wired for solar.

In the post below, I described how I installed the controller. When following the methods I described, you will make the roof and rear solar plugs viable.


http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/16154-solar-wiring-discovery-2017-hawk/#entry192902
 
Does your Fleet already have the FWC solar package which (in our 2016 Grandby) included a 30 amp Zamp solar controller? If so, the aux solar plug on the back of the camper is wired into the Zamp controller and does not require a panel with a controller mounted on it. If you don't already have a solar controller you will need to add one. It is better to have the controller closer to the battery than the solar panel, so a separate controller is the better way to go. I actually use a Renogy 100 watt folding panel that I removed the controller from and use it attatched to a battery box in my VW camper. I use it without the controller as the aux panel for my FWC.
 
I do have the Zamp solar controller installed.

This is very important. Thus, you do not have to install a controller nor do you need a panel with a controller. The simplest thing for you to do is to purchase a Zamp panel. As described in other posts, the polarity in the Zamp controller is reversed from other manufacturers. So, if you get a Renogy or something else, you'll have to be aware of the polarity and reverse the connection.

Karlton
 
I am looking to purchase a 120 watt portable solar panel for use with my 2017 Fleet. I want to buy a solar panel without a controller, but with a cable to attach to the factory installed plug on the rear of the camper.

It would be simplest to get one from Zamp, but they have to be custom made to not include a controller. Plus, I would like to get something a bit less expensive since I will be using it only on those times I cant get good un exposure on my rooftop panel.

Do you guys have any recommendations on brands to look at?

Thanks

Mike
 
Mike - I have a Renogy panel, and it performs well. I think that you can wind up paying a lot for portable solar, especially the kind that roll up. I recall that someone posted they got 60W for $600. That is way too expensive.

Is this the type of panel you are looking for? It is rigid, but folds up and does not have a controller.
https://www.renogy.com/renogy-100-watt-eclipse-solar-suitcase-w-o-controller/

One important thing to note is that the polarity of the wiring from the Zamp plug will be reversed from the wiring from other manufactures. In other words, the positive wire on the Renogy panel will connect to the negative plug on the Zamp port. Further, if you get a Renogy (or likely other manufacturer), you'll need an adaptor to for the wires on the panel. A simple fix would be to snip the connector wire and simply switch the wires so that the positive wire plugs into the positive port.

Not having a Zamp panel will introduce a few more steps. Check out this post.
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/16317-fwc-solar-connector/


So, here is a summary...
Find portable solar panel without controller
Determine what connector is needed to attach panel to Zamp plug
Check polarity and change if needed
 
I'm in the market for a foldable portable 100-watt (or so) solar array that I can plug into the back of my FWC (Zamp 160W on the roof, Zamp 30A controller, 2x AGM batts). I've narrowed it down to these two, in order of my preference:

1. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074ZR3RNP/ref=psdc_2236628011_t1_B01M8LCDN2


2. https://www.amazon.com/Lensun-Foldable-Ultralight-Motorhomes-Caravans/dp/B071FSLZGT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534965423&sr=8-1&keywords=lensun+100w+foldable

Both will plug into the FWC's Zamp rear SAE plug (I'll have to get or make the reverse-polarity adapter) and will be used W/O their included charge controllers, allowing the Zamp 30A to handle the battery charging. The controller would obviously be needed for other charging applications outside the FWC.

Can anyone advise me on their opinions of this plan, or; comment on the above listed selections?

I've chosen the 'foldable' type array over a 'flexible panel' (which would be substantially less expensive) for the storage consideration, pretty important in a FWC. :D

Update: I've changed my first choice due to some additional research.
 
Santiam,

I have a 2015 fleet with the Zamp factory solar. I've added an auxiliary panel and it works great to keep the batteries fully charged when shade's an issue. It's very easy to do:

1. We used a soft panel - it's much lighter and easier to store in the camper. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XVWPD7N/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2. We also got extension cables so that we could move the panel into the sun. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D7VBMPU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

3. As mentioned above, we had to reverse the polarity of the auxiliary panel input. I simply cut the extension cables and reversed them using large wire nuts.

I hope that helps. Lemme know if you have any other questions.

K
 
deezlgeezr said:
I'm in the market for a foldable portable 100-watt (or so) solar array that I can plug into the back of my FWC (Zamp 160W on the roof, 30A controller, 2x AGM batts). I've narrowed it down to these two, in order of my preference:

1. https://www.amazon.com/ACOPOWER-Portable-Foldable-Connectors-Controller/dp/B01M8LCDN2


2. https://www.amazon.com/Lensun-Foldable-Ultralight-Motorhomes-Caravans/dp/B071FSLZGT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534965423&sr=8-1&keywords=lensun+100w+foldable

Both will plug into the Zamp rear outlet (I'll have to get or make the reverse-polarity adapter) and will be used W/O their included charge controllers, allowing the Zamp 30A to handle the battery charging. The controller would obviously be needed for other charging applications outside the FWC.

Can anyone advise me on their opinions of this plan, or; comment on the above listed selections?

I've chosen the 'foldable' type array over a 'flexible panel' (which would be substantially less expensive) for the storage consideration, pretty important in a FWC. :D
Click to expand...
I like the 160W option on the lensun brand.
 
deezlgeezr said:
I'm in the market for a foldable portable 100-watt (or so) solar array that I can plug into the back of my FWC (Zamp 160W on the roof, 30A controller, 2x AGM batts). I've narrowed it down to these two, in order of my preference:

1. https://www.amazon.com/ACOPOWER-Portable-Foldable-Connectors-Controller/dp/B01M8LCDN2


2. https://www.amazon.com/Lensun-Foldable-Ultralight-Motorhomes-Caravans/dp/B071FSLZGT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534965423&sr=8-1&keywords=lensun+100w+foldable

Both will plug into the FWC Zamp rear SAE plug (I'll have to get or make the reverse-polarity adapter) and will be used W/O their included charge controllers, allowing the Zamp 30A to handle the battery charging. The controller would obviously be needed for other charging applications outside the FWC.

Can anyone advise me on their opinions of this plan, or; comment on the above listed selections?

I've chosen the 'foldable' type array over a 'flexible panel' (which would be substantially less expensive) for the storage consideration, pretty important in a FWC. :D

I will be interested in your choice. I bought a 100watt lightweight foldable and it was disappointing. Could barely get 4 amps when I should have been able to get well over 5. Compared it to my homemade 100 watt and it was an amp lower or more on output. Sending it back.....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076K55CMB/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Click to expand...
 
I have a Zamp portable panel with a controller, and a 2018 Fleet. Going to hook it up but after reading numerous posts on this site I'm a bit confused. The panel came with no instructions (well, it shows how to connect with alligator clips directly to the battery). So here's the wires I've found in the camper that I think are related:
  1. SAE plug on the back, and another on the top. Will check to make sure they have the same polarity, after reading many posts here.
  2. Coiled wires under the sink. It's hard to see -- are the wires continuous to the next item (3.)?
  3. Coiled wires near the battery. Also hard to get to until I remove the battery, but I'm pretty sure it says "solar battery".
Questions:
  • Are the item (2.) coiled wires under the sink continuous? So if I added a controller under the sink, I assume you snip the wires, then connect so power goes through the controller. But I don't have that. So I assume I don't have to do anything with these wires.
  • Should I connect the item (3.) wires using some sort of washer-shaped connector to the battery?
Thanks for your sage advice.
 
After much checking, I think I've answered my own questions. The coiled wires appear to be continuous, at least from the rear SAE plug. And yes on the connector.
 
Check out post #13 in the thread below for a wiring diagram. Note that the wires from the battery box did terminate under the sink as shown in post #1, but as I wanted to install my controller in the battery box I did not need wires running from the battery box to the area under the sink.

http://www.wanderthe...wk/#entry192902
 
Michael, Looks like a good kit. If you use a lot of power and have the room, I would go with a bigger panel, Maybe 150-165 watt.

Renogy has a good rep for standing by their products.
 
Santiam Camper said:
I am looking to purchase a 120 watt portable solar panel for use with my 2017 Fleet. I want to buy a solar panel without a controller, but with a cable to attach to the factory installed plug on the rear of the camper.

It would be simplest to get one from Zamp, but they have to be custom made to not include a controller. Plus, I would like to get something a bit less expensive since I will be using it only on those times I cant get good un exposure on my rooftop panel.

Do you guys have any recommendations on brands to look at?

Thanks

Mike
Click to expand...
I didn't have any problems getting an 80W Zamp panel directly from Zamp. My 2014 came new with 100W on the roof. I called Zamp and FWC and the rear plug was wired directly to the solar charger. jd
 
Wandering Sagebrush said:
Michael, Looks like a good kit. If you use a lot of power and have the room, I would go with a bigger panel, Maybe 150-165 watt.

Renogy has a good rep for standing by their products.
Click to expand...
Thanks Sagebrush.....for now all it is really used for is the cooling fan for the 3 way fridge along with a 12 volt 4 year old FLA deep cycle. I am still thinking of going 160 Watts but can't find one from Renogy as a kit yet. Will keep looking.
 
My guess is 100W is enough for those loads. But I wonder about the flexible panels. Do you lay them on the ground? If you drape them over a chair, for example, will the panel bend over the chair, thus not all the cells will be at the same angle? I think that will affect the power output quite a bit. I like the light weight though.
 
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