Solar port in Nautilus compartment question

descott12

Hello all,
Many posts on this forum seem to suggest that the Nautilus port can be used to power something in addition to being an input for a solar panel/charge controller.
I have a 2025 Tab320S and that doesn't seem to be the case. The port appears unpowered or is floating at about 14 mV. The black wire seems to head to the ground bus bar under the driver side bench. The red wire is heading back into the ALDE area. I have not traced it fully yet but is may be heading towards the batteries. Does anybody know what the deal is?
My goal is to power my Starlink mobile off this port if possible so I don't have to run a wire through window or the door.
Thanks in advance.

donmontalvo

2024 320S BBC

Just a thought, maybe replace the SAE port with a Starlink Mini port.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1819102093/starlink-mini-dc-cable-panel-pass

Then install a step up converter (12 to 30V 3.5 AMP) on the inside of the camper so you can power the Starlink Mini directly off your LiFePO4 battery.

https://www.amazon.com/RVBOATPAT-Starlink-Adapter-Converter-Conversion/dp/B0DMVFH7BN/

Lastly would install an on/off switch between the converter and the LiFePO4, so you can power off the converter when it's not being used.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JFWPZZB

Lots of ways to skin this cat...

descott12

EDIT - False alarm. I think I just didn't have my meter probes in the port deep enough. It shows 13 volts. The polarity is reversed when compared to my port plug that I got from Amazon. The plug has the top female part black and the bottom male part red. The voltage is actually the opposite of that. Not sure who screwed up...

donmontalvo

descott12 said:

EDIT - False alarm. I think I just didn't have my meter probes in the port deep enough. It shows 13 volts. The polarity is reversed when compared to my port plug that I got from Amazon. The plug has the top female part black and the bottom male part red. The voltage is actually the opposite of that. Not sure who screwed up...

I hate SAE.

Gomers2

Glad @descott12 is all set; for others troubleshooting the SAE plug, be aware that the plug is not necessarily connected to anything from the factor. Supposed to be I assume, but mine was just a set of wires awaiting connection inside.

pthomas745

@donmontalvo   It isn't the SAE port you should be "hating" on. It is these constantly confusing photos and descriptions and badly explained Amazon reviews and products.

The SAE port on our trailers is "different" compared to the SAE cables shown in your description.  The photo below is what the port actually looks like. Note the positive from the battery is in the "top" of the port.  In your photo, the cable on the bottom right would be the proper cable to use to plug into a "port".  No Adapters or anything else needed.

PS: yes, this is a bit of a pain to deal with, and it takes a bit of thought at first.  There are easier connectors.  But the SAE works just fine.

donmontalvo

pthomas745 not sure what is different, as SAE is a standard. Can't tell what you mean by your photo.

The SAE port in the Nautilus compartment of my 2024 320S accepts standard SAE cables.

I plan to replace it with an Anderson Mini port since my stuff uses that kind of connector.

descott12

donmontalvo said:

2024 320S BBC

Then install a step up converter (12 to 30V 3.5 AMP) on the inside of the camper so you can power the Starlink Mini directly off your LiFePO4 battery.

https://www.amazon.com/RVBOATPAT-Starlink-Adapter-Converter-Conversion/dp/B0DMVFH7BN/

Lots of ways to skin this cat...

I am confused by this. I ordered a car lighter adapter cable from Starlink that is supposed to run it off of a standard 12 volts vehicle lighter. Is this not the case??

donmontalvo

descott12 said:

donmontalvo said:

2024 320S BBC

Then install a step up converter (12 to 30V 3.5 AMP) on the inside of the camper so you can power the Starlink Mini directly off your LiFePO4 battery.

https://www.amazon.com/RVBOATPAT-Starlink-Adapter-Converter-Conversion/dp/B0DMVFH7BN/

Lots of ways to skin this cat...

I am confused by this. I ordered a car lighter adapter cable from Starlink that is supposed to run it off of a standard 12 volts vehicle lighter. Is this not the case??

I’m not the person to ask about accessory port adapters. I avoid them since in my experience I find them to be unreliable.

My post provided a way to hard wire for efficiency and reliability, assuming you want to dedicate the port to Starlink Mini. Lots of ways to skin the cat though.

Horigan

descott12 said:

donmontalvo said:

2024 320S BBC

Then install a step up converter (12 to 30V 3.5 AMP) on the inside of the camper so you can power the Starlink Mini directly off your LiFePO4 battery.

https://www.amazon.com/RVBOATPAT-Starlink-Adapter-Converter-Conversion/dp/B0DMVFH7BN/

Lots of ways to skin this cat...

I am confused by this. I ordered a car lighter adapter cable from Starlink that is supposed to run it off of a standard 12 volts vehicle lighter. Is this not the case??

You’re okay. The Starlink cable (no longer seems to be available) or an aftermarket on Amazon will work. The 12V adapter cable is shorter than the AC cord/adapter that comes with the Mini to account for the lower voltage. We’ve been using this setup on our boat with zero issues. 

descott12

Hello all, I just wanted to report that the Starlink Mini works fine running of the 12 volt cigarette lighter using the adapter I purchased from StarLink. I also made an adapter that converted from the SAE port in the Nautilus compartment to a female cigarette lighter and that worked fine as well. I definitely had to reverse the polarity on that.

donmontalvo

descott12 said:

Hello all, I just wanted to report that the Starlink Mini works fine running of the 12 volt cigarette lighter using the adapter I purchased from StarLink. I also made an adapter that converted from the SAE port in the Nautilus compartment to a female cigarette lighter and that worked fine as well. I definitely had to reverse the polarity on that.

Glad you got it working, love having so many options.