Post by westcoastgeek on Oct 15, 2017 13:01:48 GMT -8
I just got a solar suitcase, the 100W model with the Adventurer 30A controller. Right now, I have it hooked up to my Casita camp trailer's group 27 battery, with the controller still mounted on the panel, using a voltage sense wire, but not the temp sensor.
temporarily, I made a 'pigtail' out of about 18" of 12/2 marine wire to run from the battery to a red/black Powerpole 30A connector, and I spliced a 30A connector onto the end of the wires from the Controller, connecting the battery sense wire along side the power wire (I figure the voltage at the end of a 18" 12/2 pigtail is close enough to battery voltage as it shouldn't matter).
Its in the sun, and the temp display on the controller says its like 115F or something (air temp is 89F), but my IR thermometer says the battery casing is 58F (its in fiberglass 'cave' in the trailer).
so if i really want to leave the controller on the panel, I really should have 6 wires from the controller to the battery, a 12/2 or 10/2 for the battery charging power, and a 20/4 or whatever for the temp and voltage sense wires? this means I'm going to want a 6 pin connector plug on the camper as I don't wan to be messing with multiple plugs. What sort of connectors do people use for this kind of thing? I could stack power poles into a 3x2 block, using 15A pins for the sensor wires.... or I guess I could get some kinda Delphi WeatherPack or whatever 6 pin connector (except, I hate the insertion force those require, as this will be a frequent disconnect/reconnect item)
temporarily, I made a 'pigtail' out of about 18" of 12/2 marine wire to run from the battery to a red/black Powerpole 30A connector, and I spliced a 30A connector onto the end of the wires from the Controller, connecting the battery sense wire along side the power wire (I figure the voltage at the end of a 18" 12/2 pigtail is close enough to battery voltage as it shouldn't matter).
Its in the sun, and the temp display on the controller says its like 115F or something (air temp is 89F), but my IR thermometer says the battery casing is 58F (its in fiberglass 'cave' in the trailer).
so if i really want to leave the controller on the panel, I really should have 6 wires from the controller to the battery, a 12/2 or 10/2 for the battery charging power, and a 20/4 or whatever for the temp and voltage sense wires? this means I'm going to want a 6 pin connector plug on the camper as I don't wan to be messing with multiple plugs. What sort of connectors do people use for this kind of thing? I could stack power poles into a 3x2 block, using 15A pins for the sensor wires.... or I guess I could get some kinda Delphi WeatherPack or whatever 6 pin connector (except, I hate the insertion force those require, as this will be a frequent disconnect/reconnect item)
