Solar Blvd portable kits

[Ford_6L_E350]

In the middle of this photo, the 1.5" round thing is the external connecter for the solar prep on my van. Also included was a plug for the connecter to make it easy to hookup an external solar panel.

Do you have a connecter like that on your van?



edit: added photo

Mike

[stevepar]

Alan at SMB got back to me with this response:
Those are just the female ends and most any automotive or RV supply will have the male counter parts. The answer is usually simpler than I make it. I am about 45 minutes from Solar Blvd in Norco CA so I am going to head out there next week and check them out. Let me know if anyone needs any questions answered. I will post any info I get.

[Scalf77]

If you have an existing solar controller then you will have to modify that existing kit to eliminate the controller on the panels. That is not much of a loss as the panels are still a good deal at that price and the controller on them is about a $10.00 unit.

I agree that those connectors look more like butt connectors to me. It also looks like it on a penthouse roof, while this would be good for roof top panels, I would think you would want to run something lower for easer access to portable panels.

-greg

[stevepar]

Mike...unfortunately I do not have an exterior plug as shown in your photo. That would make my install a piece of cake. As Greg recommends, I will have to relocate my existing wires to make it easier to use the portable panels.

[joey2cool]

Does anyone know if you can find one of these kits with a three prong plug that connects to the shore power?

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by joey2cool

Does anyone know if you can find one of these kits with a three prong plug that connects to the shore power?

Your shore power connection is connected to your converter or inverter to convert 120V AC to DC, so it is not set up to accept DC directly. There are a few exterior electrical connectors that can be used to send solar power to your controller with just a little cutting and wiring (e.g. I have exterior Marinco cigarette socket that I will be using for my portable solar panel, but there are also exterior MC4 style connectors that I've seen).


Herb

[Scalf77]

There are a couple that can be found at West Marine


http://www.westmarine.com/marinco--c...09_275_007_500



http://www.westmarine.com/perko--wat...09_275_007_008

The trolling motor plug would provide the most current capability, The Perko 15 Amp connector should handle the output of the portable panel.

Where you wire the receptacle to depends on if you want to use your existing solar controller (best option IMO) or if you want to use the controller on the Portable kit.

-greg

[Ford_6L_E350]

Originally Posted by joey2cool

Does anyone know if you can find one of these kits with a three prong plug that connects to the shore power?

What??? Do you want the AC to fry the solar, or do you want the solar to disrupt the grid? Seriously, two different animals.

Mike

[mikracer]

Inexpensive portable kits are back in stock at solar blvd. Not sure if these come with carrying cases like the last ones, but I imagine they do.

120 watt kit
http://www.solarblvd.com/Solar-Panels-& ... _info.html


160 watt kit
http://www.solarblvd.com/Solar-Panels-& ... _info.html

[Abitibi]

Is this for the portable panel only our is it a plug and play kit? The website seems to show only the panel...

Cheers
Mr. D