I want to get a easy to use basic Solar system. I have a 2016 T@B MAX S. I have seen the terms Zamp and Renogy tossed around and presume they are 2 different types of solar systems. What are advantages/disadvantages of each.? i have been told 100 watts is about right. I currently am camping in the PNW for long weekends. I don't want anything terribly heavy ( < 20 lbs maybe) or complicated for starters. Thanks for advice
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It has also worked fine with my 2017 Outback and stock battery. I originally went from the solar controller to the battery using alligator clips. With great help from these forums, I learned how to plug it to the Zamp connector while learning all about the dreaded "Reverse Polarity."
After several trips, the combination works just fine with the T@b's electrical use. I discovered that my laptop plugged into an inverter was my largest energy user. (The laptop runs about one amp an hour or more depending on the photograph editing I'm doing). I purchased a 12v power supply for my laptop (which means it plugs into a "lighter" plug), and a 12v adapter for my old 35AH battery. That little battery will power my laptop for at least 14 hours, I've discovered. The 35AH battery fits into a battery box where I carry all the other solar tools. I feel I've removed the biggest "energy hog" completely off the T@b's grid. The 35AH battery has a small footprint on the T@b's floor, and those inverters can disappear.
Here is a photo of my solution to the Zamp wiring: on this cable the "positive" wire is marked in white letters. Note the white letter cable goes to the metal connector on the plug. Zamp is concerned that sparking may occur if that metal part was "hot." So, they flipped their plug: the "hot" side of the wire is now inside the plastic part of the plug. I cut off the end of the cable ( called an SAE cable.) I put a red piece of electrical tape on the unmarked wire of the cable, noting it as the new "hot" wire. You can see the red wire is attached to my controller + and the black to -. If you trace out the wire marked in white letters, you can see the negative wire goes to the metal connector on the plug.
Plug it into the Zamp port, and power on. You can also go directly to the battery using simple alligator clips, red/positive black/negative.
PS: I have cleaned up the appearance of these wires as to not offend my many DIY professionals.
PPS: I always imagine this is what Zamp had in mind when they worried about sparking wires:
Oddjob and Bond fight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDDjxa7RsKg
P.P.P.S My setup is very simple, and would not have been possible without help from the users on this forum. There are many examples of solar setups in the forums, from my stupid simple to the wonderfully thought out and well designed.
tv 2010 Lexus RX350 Matador red
TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
Spokane, Wa.
Eric aka: Lone Wolf
TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
Spokane, Wa.
Eric aka: Lone Wolf
(We love our large AGM battery. No storage worries.)
TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
Spokane, Wa.
Eric aka: Lone Wolf
TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
Spokane, Wa.
Eric aka: Lone Wolf