want to use exsiting 100wat panel with my 200w solar suitcase

[dan0rl59]

hello I Have a 100 watt panel on top of my camper and i also have a 200 watt suitcase I want to be able to combine the suitcase and the roof panel. I basically use the 100watt now as a charger while traveling or in storage. I unplug that one and plug in the suitcase when boondocking. I have the suitcase wired in series i run a renogy 40 mppt. can i plug both the 100 watt and the suitcase into mc4 splitters and run all three like that? or is there another way to wire it and still be able to easily unhook the suitcase for travel and revert back to the 100 w on the roof ?

 

[Tomthumb62]

You can’t connect the two together because too great of a voltage difference.

But if you rewire the suitcase to be in parallel, then you could connect all three in parallel. This is what I do on our camp trailer. Just make sure the wiring from the combined three panels to the charge controller is 10AWG. The wiring from the panels up until they join together can be 12Awg unless you’ve long cable runs.

 

[Tomthumb62]

hello I Have a 100 watt panel on top of my camper and i also have a 200 watt suitcase I want to be able to combine the suitcase and the roof panel. I basically use the 100watt now as a charger while traveling or in storage. I unplug that one and plug in the suitcase when boondocking. I have the suitcase wired in series i run a renogy 40 mppt. can i plug both the 100 watt and the suitcase into mc4 splitters and run all three like that? or is there another way to wire it and still be able to easily unhook the suitcase for travel and revert back to the 100 w on the roof ?

You can install something like an SAE port to plug your suitcase panels into and unplug when you pack up for travel.

GODPEE 2 FT 10 AWG SAE Power Socket Sidewall Port to O Ring Connecters Extension Cable Connector with 10A 15A 20A 25A 30A Fuse, for Solar & Wind Power Parts & Accessories https://a.co/d/cbFSJod

Male plug:

ELECTOP 10AWG SAE Connector Extension Cable, SAE Quick Connector Disconnect Plug SAE Power Automotive Extension Cable Solar Panel Cable Wire(2 Pack) https://a.co/d/gmkSxyR

Or cheaper is this one and simply cut off the male plug to wire to your suitcase panel cables:

Extractme SAE Connector Harness with 15A Fuse, 2FT 10AWG SAE Power Socket Sidewall Port Connector, 2 Pin SAE Solar Panel Flush Mount Quick Connector Plug Cable for Solar Generator Battery Charger https://a.co/d/h19qkdC

 

[Rocketman]

The easiest thing would be to buy a cheap SCC (solar charge controller) for the 100w panel then use your current SCC for the deployment panels.

If you want to combine the two you can figure out the penalty for combining them. If you post the specs for each panel and how you want to combine them we can help figure it out.