Yet Another Portable Solar Charger Project

[Steve Morris]

Prompted by similar posts on the Facebook groups and here on the Oliver forum, I finally assembled my portable solar kit. 

I’ve had a Bluetti 200W solar panel (which does not have an integrated charge controller) for several years to help keep the EB70 in my truck charged up. I added a second after we got the Oliver, as well as a Vicrton MPPT 100/20 charge controller.  My original intention was to interrupt the line between the solar port and the battery. But I really didn’t want to do something that invasive. 

So instead, like many owners before me, I built a suitcase case to supplement my suitcase panels. A Cabela’s plastic ammo box works great to mount the charge controller, an SAE solar port, and an MC4 PV port. It also holds the 10 gauge SAE and 30’ 10 gauge MC4 cables, inline fuse, polarity reverser, and MC4 tools. All in a handy box. 

This will be handy next weekend, when we leave for a ten day trip to New York’s Adirondack area at Fish Creek Pond. There are camp sites all around the lake; every one a waterfront spot. But no hookups and lots of trees. So hopefully 800W of solar panels will keep us well charged. 
 

 

 

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

 I may do something like this, but is it necessary?  Does the wiring from the external SAE solar port connect directly to the batteries, or do they go to the onboard charge controller?  
 

I have 2 portable 160 watt EcoFlow panels that do not have a controller.  If the external wiring goes from the SAE connector to the charge controller, all I need is a MC4 to SAE adapter, and possibly a reverse polarity adapter if the trailer side has Zamp polarity.

Edited Monday at 08:43 PM by Wandering Sagebrush

[Steve Morris]

41 minutes ago, Wandering Sagebrush said:

 I may do something like this, but is it necessary?  Does the wiring from the external SAE solar port connect directly to the batteries, or do they go to the onboard charge controller?  
 

I have 2 portable 160 watt EcoFlow panels that do not have a controller.  If the external wiring goes from the SAE connector to the charge controller, all I need is a MC4 to SAE adapter, and possibly a reverse polarity adapter if the trailer side has Zamp polarity.

The external SAE port goes directly to the battery, not to the charge controller. 
 

Even if it did go to the charge controller, you wouldn’t necessarily be able to tie into it. In my case, the Oliver mounted panels are 24 volt, where my portable panels are 12. Mixing voltages drags the 24V panels down to the lower input. 
And if both your installed and portable panels are the same voltage, you might need a larger charge controller to handle the combined input. 
I’ll eventually mount a controller inside for convenience. But having the setup that I have now has already saved the day for a friend while camping with no hookups. He was able to use my kit to keep his battery charged enough to run the fridge instead of having to go home early. 

Edited Monday at 09:22 PM by Steve Morris

[Galway Girl]

17 hours ago, Wandering Sagebrush said:

2 portable 160 watt EcoFlow panels that do not have a controller.

Yes you need a controller for the 2 external panels as the ZAMP connector on the side of the trailer goes through a fuse then onto the batteries.

Solar Suitcase Tips and Build
 

Inside this article I discuss how the zamp connector is reverse polarity from other SAE connectors so be certain you wire your adapters correctly. 
You can buy the adapters on Amazon.  

Zamp Cable - Zamp Cable from Amazon

Craig
 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Craig, thank you.   I’ve got the MC 4 to SAE adapter, with polarity reverse plug.  Looks like I just need to pick up a controller.

Thanks again…