Another solar setup for your critique

[bbauer]

Technically speaking, could I install dual 12v receptacles in the bed of my GMC Sierra pick-up,

and connect them to a 100aH house battery kept in the extra battery spot under the hood, then plug in this portable solar panel with integrated controller into one of the 12v receptacles to trickle charge the battery while I plug an ARB fridge into the other?

http://thesolarstore.com/solar-pane...ble-solar-panel-charge-controller-p-1113.html

Or is my electrically fangled thinking ungood?

 

[4x4junkie]

I don't think that is going to work well because the battery will be too far away from your solar connections (too much wiring resistance, and cig-lighter sockets themselves usually have too much resistance to work well as a charging input anyway).

Better would be to have a hi-current connector of some sort right at your battery where you can connect your panels (that is if you're avoiding simply using the cable clamps it appears that solar kit comes with).
The running of a #8 or #10 wire from the battery to the cig lighter receptacles you pictured to bring power from the battery to your fridge should be fine though.

 

[G35Vortec454]

I don't see why not, as long as you use properly sized cables to compensate fir the extra lengths.You're not passing enormous currents through the cables.

 

[bbauer]

The Go Power portable panel comes with this terminal ring connection.

Maybe I can mount the Anderson plug under one of the grill slats to be closer to the battery. Just trying to avoid popping the hood every time and connecting clamps.

 

[bat]

For $600.00 dollars got to solarblvd and save $300.00

 

[Google it Research]

For $600.00 dollars got to solarblvd and save $300.00

Seriously! I 2nd SolarBlvd.

 

[bbauer]

Thanks for the input. I've got a technical plan and prices at Solar Blvd make it even better...

 

[4x4junkie]

The Go Power portable panel comes with this terminal ring connection.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/28/apy2aqu6.jpg

Maybe I can mount the Anderson plug under one of the grill slats to be closer to the battery. Just trying to avoid popping the hood every time and connecting clamps.

Something like that would certainly work better than charging through a cigarette-lighter socket.

And ×3 on SolarBlvd. I haven't actually bought from there yet, but their prices do look very reasonable and they have everything you'd need to put a kit together similar to the one you linked in your OP.

 

[bbauer]

Uh... And the negative from the 12v socket in the bed just goes to a ground on the chassis, right?

 

[oldnslow]

It will be better if you run the negative all the way back to the battery. The chassis is usually not that good of a conductor.

 

[4x4junkie]

Actually the chassis is a great conductor simply because of it's sheer mass. Where you could have an issue though is up at the battery, the factory chassis ground wire is usually only #10 or so that I've found.
Since you're not going to be pulling massive amounts of current through a simple pair of cigarette lighter sockets, I think you would be fine just grounding it to the chassis. Just be sure to use some dielectric grease or something to prevent any dis-similar metal corrosion occurring where you make your connection.

 

[bbauer]

Found a good spot on the chassis near the gas tank that something else is ground to. I'm getting steady 12v from the installed receptacle so I think I'm all good. I used a length of wire that would run all the way up to the battery and just coiled it up and zip tied it in case I run into problems with this ground.

Thanks again for the input.