Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:14:37 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Solar Panel outdoor electrical connect
In-Reply-To: <C4AEA15B8C044C43A62EE2F02BA4C715@troyb5bff49d63>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Now you see, what I'm-a gonna do is put my solar panel input connector
inside the spot where the (unused) city water inlet thingy goes. This
was a David B suggestion.
I use Anderson Powerpoles (see
<http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson-powerpoles/powerpole-sets/>) to
connect the panels to the charge controller. I have three "extension
cords" of various lengths I can connect together as needed depending on
whether that sunny spot is right next to the van or over there [points
into the middle distance].
The wire I use is pretty heavy, being 6-gauge (fat = less power loss in
the wire resistance) and I prefer to not have one giant heavy spool of
wire to deal with. I have a 30 footer, a 20 footer, and a 50 footer.
It's harder to handle and heavier than a pressurized garden hose so I
like being able to break it all down into shorter hanks as needed,
depending, of course, on whether the sunny spot is in camp or over there
[points again into the middle distance].
ANYway, at present I hang the connectors to the charge controller out
the driver's side door. The wires here are short so I can use smaller
gauge (two separate 8-gauge wires) which are not too fat to interfere
with door closure. But that's just tacky, having those wires dangling
out the door. It embarrasses me every time I look at it.
"Self," I say to myself, "you can do better than that. (Though it has
worked find for years.)
So Marius Strom is (or says he is) sending me a junk inlet to use. I
trashed mine years ago mounting a muffin fan to it to blow out hot air
from the backside of the (now gone) Dometic refrigerator. I'll modify
the inlet to house a set of Powerpole mounting clamps (see
<http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson-powerpoles/accessories/1462G1-mounting-clamp-set.html>
which should provide an elegant solution to the otherwise messy and
embarrassing problemn of having dangling wires.
(Rocket J Squirrel still thinks that people who mount their panels on
the roof are just weird. Who wants to park in the sun alla time???)
-- RJS
On Sat, 2011-06-25 at 23:51 -0800, Troy wrote:
> Hi folks:
>
> Just finished putting together my solar panel, and MPPT controller setup. My original plan was just to close the door on the wire, figuring the gasket would form fit around the wire, but with 12gauge heavy duty wire, the door is not going to close. So, now looking at outside plug-ins. All of my utility outlets are in use, so that's not an option. I'm not completely opposed to putting another electrical connector through the side wall of the van, but would prefer something I can mount to the underside of the van with a waterproof cover. Maybe under the sink cabinet? My connectors and controller are currently behind the drivers seat.
>
> Most everything I've seen are cigarette lighter adapters, and not sure they can handle the higher voltage of a solar panel. So, I'm sure I'm not the first person to hook up solar to my van. Any suggestions on electrical connectors to get from inside to outside?
>
> Troy