How NOT to Connect an External Solar Panel to the Solis Pocket (and the RIGHT Way)
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- In this video, we try to supplement the rooftop solar panel with an external solar panel to boost battery charging, using the Zamp auxiliary solar panel connector. After some problems, including toasting some electronics, we walk through the right process to use before attempting to do this in order to prevent damage to the solar panel or van.
Products in video:
SAE to DC Adapter
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Portable solar panel (this replaces our Rockpals model)
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Solar MC4 connector tool:
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#solis #vanlife #outapocket #solispocket #solarpanels
Thanks for taking one for the team. Your inside solar charging display panel is so much better than the one in my 59PX
Great, thanks for watching! I wonder if that panel can be upgraded (I have no idea).
Remember that the Auxiliary Zamp Solar Panels with the SAE connectors are reverse Polarity to shield the Positive terminal. The Zamp receiver plug is wired to accommodate that. Winnebago uses the Zamp SAE connector for Auxiliary Panels and is wired accordingly. Anytime you plug an Auxiliary Zamp Panel into anything other than a Winnebago you will need a Polarity Reverser. Anytime I plug anything other than a Zamp Panel into a Winnebago I will need a Polarity Reverser. I always keep 5 or 6 of those Reverse Polarity adapters in my tool kit.
My Zamp 140watt Unregulated Deployable Solar Panel is rated at 7.8amps and is regulated by my on board Zamp Controller. On a good day I can get 40-50 amps total out of just my Portable Zamp Panel.
Hi, thanks for your comments. I do understand the Zamp polarity situation now, and why they did it, however I think they could do a much better job informing or labelling things so the consumer is aware. Thanks and take care.
One last thought. Many don't realize that to charge the pocket house battery the main switch (above the fridge) needs to be ON when driving and ON when plugged into shore power. The battery gets no charge in the off position even when there is "power" from driving or shore plug. Winnebago recommends to basically keep that switch ON all the time while in use. Otherwise the battery will not get a full charge and will drain over time needing replacement.
Thanks
You might want to call Zamp and talk to them about your system. I have a pocket and have run my fridge for 2 weeks straight with no issues - plus my Max fan - main lights on and off as needed. Do you have a battery issue? A wiring issue? It doesn't seem like a solar panel issue or lack of solar power - I live in Virginia so same type of "environment". I haven't had any need to get additional panels as the standard installed panel on my pocket handles things great.
Hi! Thanks for watching... The issue was we had the Pocket parked in the shade for 5 days. We were not staying in it, but it was very hot so we were running the maxxair every day to keep the interior cool plus the fridge. So there was minimal re-charging going on for those 5 days. Thus when we went riding I parked in the sun and wanted to maximize our re-charge rate for those few hours. The system itself seems fine... it simply wasn't recharging when parked out of the sunlight for so long, that's all. Thanks and take care.
Interested in your bike rack! What brand? Looks like back doors open enough with bikes(s) off so that you can access the garage area for anything you need to do? Thanks again for all the great info!
Hi! Thanks for asking. That is a 1UP Equip-D Double 1up-usa.com/product/equipd-double . It does angle down so the back doors can fully open, which is very nice. We have been very happy with the rack. Good luck and thanks for watching!
So easy for someone too steal that solar panel while you are off biking. I wouldnt want to take that chance. For my piece of mind, i would bypass all that and just park in the sun for while.
Thanks for your comments
Yep - just went out and checked my pocket Zamp panel - it's been rainy and cloudy for 3 days in Virginia - off and in sun but no direct sun - and my battery is completely charged. When I push the amp/volt button I get 13.6v, 0.1A, and 0.2Ah. I have an AGM battery. If you push the battery type button you can cycle through 6 different "modes" battery types. Are you synced properly? Really all of this is above my pay grade - I really don't know much except for reading my Zamp manuals a while back - but it sounds like different issue as I have had my pocket for 2 years and never really thought I needed any more solar. I do not do any boondocking - but like I said previously I have run my fridge and other stuff for weeks without any issues and without even driving the van. Hope this helps a bit - one pocketeer to another.
No worries... thanks for the additional info. I honestly think it is more running MaxxAir 12 hours a day for 5 days in 90+ degree weather that started dropping the battery, not as much the fridge. But in any case I'll keep my eye on it and good luck.
The polarity reverser surprised me. I thought there was an industry standard. Which one is backwards, the solar panel or the Solis? Thanks.
Hi and thanks for the question. The Zamp system in the van seems to be reversed compared to the rest of the industry. So, the van seems backwards to me. Thanks.
@@Outapkt Thanks so much. It's not something I would have ever thought of. I have some Oupes folding panels, and will now test the polarity FOR SURE!