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Date:         Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:38:04 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solar Panel outdoor electrical connect
Comments: To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <1309306477.6350.58.camel@TheJackUbuntuNetbook>
Content-type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII

Uh your description of using an inlet housing for the powerpoles is how i already have done it.

Additionally if you use marine grade cable instead of standard copper cable youll gain a lot of flex without losing thickness of cable.

On Jun 28, 2011, at 20:14, Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> 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


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