jameshowison
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2021
- Messages
- 184
Quite a few RVs are now advertised as "Solar Ready". We have an rPod from Forest River. Ours is not the Zamp SAE connector stuff, but a GoPower branded thing (well, that's what's on the sticker at least)
What this means for the rPod is that there is a through-the-roof gland that (I think) takes MC4 connectors. Those are attached to two 10AWG cables (red/black) that run into a cabinet, and loops back out and directly to the battery. The cabinet has a sticker on it showing where the solar charge controller should go. I gather the idea is that you cut the cable at the loop, then place the SCC inline. I guess using a continuity checker to know which part of the loop is going to the battery and which to the panels, or I guess just see which end has the 12v across them from the battery?
Of course the actual path the cable takes is hard to know, and there is a ton of foam disguising spots where the cable goes in and out.
Nonetheless, I think I can (temporarily) use this wire. One question, though: there doesn't appear to be a fuse anywhere. I think there should be a fuse at the battery, no? But there doesn't seem to be one there at the moment.
Ok, explored a bit further, the sticker is "GoPower" and they do actually have an installation guide here. Indeed their kit provides an in-line fuse "as close to the battery as possible", cutting the wire and adding that. https://gpelectric.com/wired-for-solar/ with a drawing of what was actually installed (I have the roof gland preinstall) and installation details on p 16. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/catsy.549/56587_MANUAL_GP_RV-KITS-SYSTEMS.pdf
So I have a Victron MPPT I'm not currently using and will install that temporarily. Any suggestions for the fuse? Options seem to be using an MBRF fuse at the battery terminal (but that's a few extra dollars) or the line blade fuse and holder (are those weather proof)?
What this means for the rPod is that there is a through-the-roof gland that (I think) takes MC4 connectors. Those are attached to two 10AWG cables (red/black) that run into a cabinet, and loops back out and directly to the battery. The cabinet has a sticker on it showing where the solar charge controller should go. I gather the idea is that you cut the cable at the loop, then place the SCC inline. I guess using a continuity checker to know which part of the loop is going to the battery and which to the panels, or I guess just see which end has the 12v across them from the battery?
Of course the actual path the cable takes is hard to know, and there is a ton of foam disguising spots where the cable goes in and out.
Nonetheless, I think I can (temporarily) use this wire. One question, though: there doesn't appear to be a fuse anywhere. I think there should be a fuse at the battery, no? But there doesn't seem to be one there at the moment.
Ok, explored a bit further, the sticker is "GoPower" and they do actually have an installation guide here. Indeed their kit provides an in-line fuse "as close to the battery as possible", cutting the wire and adding that. https://gpelectric.com/wired-for-solar/ with a drawing of what was actually installed (I have the roof gland preinstall) and installation details on p 16. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/catsy.549/56587_MANUAL_GP_RV-KITS-SYSTEMS.pdf
So I have a Victron MPPT I'm not currently using and will install that temporarily. Any suggestions for the fuse? Options seem to be using an MBRF fuse at the battery terminal (but that's a few extra dollars) or the line blade fuse and holder (are those weather proof)?