100W Portable kit on ebay
- Thread starter Dennx
- Start date
yes, its just a cooler, I won't be using it over night, but just having the jeep off for say 3-4 hrs at a time. I heard they kill the battery fast, so I would like some insurance for it while stopped. I am looking at a real fridge from the good ole Home Depot, that should save the battery, but until then I still want something to help conserve my battery. It works great while travelling to keep the slush in my diet pepsi, water and beer.
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
A "real fridge" would be 110v and need an inverter which would likely suck much more juice.
Start looking at Edgestars if you're trying to maintain a budget.
Tried out the new Renogy 100w kit over the weekend. 5000 feet elevation, very sunny (with fridge in direct sun), ARB 50L set at 31 degrees F, lots of open time on the fridge, two 122 AH JCI marine batteries from Walmart (flooded but maintenance-free).
I set the controller and watched the voltage climb. Very happy when it settled in at 14.47 volts and never budged.
Overnight I lost 1/10 volt as expected but otherwise this kit did precisely what its supposed to do.
Open bag
Hook to battery, deploy legs, set controller
Turn it every so often to face the sun
The only drawback is that you need to visit it every so often to move it for maximum sun exposure.
Otherwise I'd say it's perfect.
Start looking at Edgestars if you're trying to maintain a budget.
Tried out the new Renogy 100w kit over the weekend. 5000 feet elevation, very sunny (with fridge in direct sun), ARB 50L set at 31 degrees F, lots of open time on the fridge, two 122 AH JCI marine batteries from Walmart (flooded but maintenance-free).
I set the controller and watched the voltage climb. Very happy when it settled in at 14.47 volts and never budged.
Overnight I lost 1/10 volt as expected but otherwise this kit did precisely what its supposed to do.
Open bag
Hook to battery, deploy legs, set controller
Turn it every so often to face the sun
The only drawback is that you need to visit it every so often to move it for maximum sun exposure.
Otherwise I'd say it's perfect.
When I said real fridge, I meant something for the vehicle like the arb etc. Hope depot has a version available for a really good price. They are 12v, and come in a variety of sizes. I will check out the edgestar too. I am going to mount two new AGM marine batteries onto my pop up as well for when we take that. I love the spod, they are cool campers. If it were just the wife and myself, I would have one.
rotti
Adventurer
And they're gone.
On the Renogy site the 100w kit isn't available until Aug. 1.
I knew I shouldn't have procrastinated. Keep the reviews coming though.
Has anyone rewired their battery clamp cables to a SAE (Battery Tender style) connector?
My camper is prewired for solar with a SAE outlet.
On the Renogy site the 100w kit isn't available until Aug. 1.
I knew I shouldn't have procrastinated. Keep the reviews coming though.
Has anyone rewired their battery clamp cables to a SAE (Battery Tender style) connector?
My camper is prewired for solar with a SAE outlet.
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
Wouldn't be hard to do.
I'm not sure what kind of connector I'll stick with. The Anderson connector on it gives you options.
I have to take care of some company cars from time to time, cars that have been idle for various periods. I can see myself bringing the panels to work to rejuvenate a battery as needed.
RangerXLT
Adventurer
rotti
Adventurer
Yep like that.
Did your panel come with the SAE connectors or did you rewire?
The reason I ask is that I emailed Renogy about it and they said if you hack their cable the warranty is null and void.
So would like to find another cable with the Anderson on one end and SAE on the other.
Did your panel come with the SAE connectors or did you rewire?
The reason I ask is that I emailed Renogy about it and they said if you hack their cable the warranty is null and void.
So would like to find another cable with the Anderson on one end and SAE on the other.
surly
surly adventurer
Mine came (today) with an Anderson connector and jumper style clips which will work fine.
Eventually I will replace with a more permanent plug in on my Jeep or trailer.
Its larger and heavier than I thought and the quality seems really nice too. Hopefully well see what it can do over the weekend.
Eventually I will replace with a more permanent plug in on my Jeep or trailer.
Its larger and heavier than I thought and the quality seems really nice too. Hopefully well see what it can do over the weekend.
lcsodiver
Adventurer
I've ordered from these guys several times and they have various adapter cables for getting power pole connectors to other common connectors.... if you don't want to make your own.
http://www.powerwerx.com/adapter-cables/
http://www.powerwerx.com/adapter-cables/
dstock
Explorer
I have the original solar panel from when this thread started. Recently I re-wired it to use 10 gauge wire with anderson connectors which really improved my current flow.
I'm now having an issue keeping the wiring attached to the charge controller, the holes are just too small on the controller, and frankly, the lack of a ring terminal setup on the charger controller is just plain cheap. I do like the fact that the controller is mounted on the back side of the panel, so what I am interested in is a new 10amp controller that could be adapted to fit the mount on the panel. Anyone already gone this route and what controller did you use?
TIA
I'm now having an issue keeping the wiring attached to the charge controller, the holes are just too small on the controller, and frankly, the lack of a ring terminal setup on the charger controller is just plain cheap. I do like the fact that the controller is mounted on the back side of the panel, so what I am interested in is a new 10amp controller that could be adapted to fit the mount on the panel. Anyone already gone this route and what controller did you use?
TIA
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Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
I sent that link to Renogy and asked if they were thinking of making any adapter cables. I got two replies; one said they were not and the other said that they were checking out our thread, were looking into making adapters, and would keep my contact info for possible later beta testing...
The alligator clips work pretty well but I'd like to have ring terminals, 6 gauge wire, and another Anderson connector. Just leave it on the batteries all the time and plug in when I need it. I'd like to keep the alligator arrangement for other uses, like my company cars, Jeep, whatever.
I'll wait a week or so and see if they holler back. I think it would be a good set of items for them to carry. Easy money, convenient for customers.
Overland_Brandon
Observer
I don't want to hijack this thread… but you guys seem a bit more knowledgable in this area than me.
My ArkPak has the 50amp Anderson connector.
I was wondering if it would work to use that connection to feed power to this 40amp power distributor: http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-power-distribution/rigrunner-4005.html
Then be able to attach my edgestar, a water pump, etc from there.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Brandon
My ArkPak has the 50amp Anderson connector.
I was wondering if it would work to use that connection to feed power to this 40amp power distributor: http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-power-distribution/rigrunner-4005.html
Then be able to attach my edgestar, a water pump, etc from there.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Brandon
Overland_Brandon
Observer
Those of you using the Renogy suitcase:
Did you make any changes to the power controller?
I have been using all of the default settings.
Thanks again,
Brandon
Did you make any changes to the power controller?
I have been using all of the default settings.
Thanks again,
Brandon