Solar Controller mounting in 400

gande

I have a 2018 Tab 400 and am installing a Renogy 200w solar suitcase system.  I need to mount the Renogy Rover 20A controller.  It is 6" w and 8 1/4" h.  The manual is recommending 6" of clearance above and below.

Where are others mounting the controller in their 400s?   Where does NuCamp mount the controller in the 400 when the factory solar is ordered?

Any pictures of your installation will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for any feedback!

N7SHG_Ham

The factory controller is under the bed, driver side on the front wall of the Alde compartment.

grubbster

I mounted mine on the passenger side under the bed to the left of the access door.  It easily allows me to run the cables out.

gande

N7SHG_Ham and @grubbster. 

Could I ask the make and model of the controller you are using?  My Renogy Rover seems quite large for either of these installations, especially if I leave the clearance (for cooling?) the manufacturer recommends.  Maybe I need a smaller controller.

@grubbster...is yours mounted to the rear of the access door (towards the rear of the trailer)?

N7SHG_Ham

@gande it is the Victron that NuCamp is installing at the factory, not sure of size, maybe 4" x 6"?

b407driver

It's the Viltron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 75|15, 100 x 113 x 40 mm.

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-SmartSolar-charge-controller-MPPT-75-10,-75-15,-100-15,-100-20,-100-20_48V-EN.pdf

tteam

We have a dealer installe solar panel and Victron MPPT 75-10 controller. We have downloaded the app to monitor the solar output and battery. We have only seen .01 volts from solar and the battery voltage going down. The blue light on the MPPT always blinks. We have it back to the dealer now to see if they can solve the issue. Does anyone have any suggestions?

gande

I barely know what I'm talking about here but there seems to be a lot of discussion about reversed wiring.  I would talk to the dealer that did the installation after maybe first talking to Victron.

Sharon_is_SAM

Follow the controller leads and make sure they are connected positive to positive and negative to negative for both the battery and the PV leads.  There have been wires crossed in the past that resulted in malfunction.  The blinking blue light indicates Bulk charging which 

Jax0913

Hey there! We recently installed 200 watt panels and the Rich Solar (basically the Renogy) 20 most controller. I mounted it under the bed on the middle section on the backside facing the rest of the camper. I did mount mine horizontally so I could have ample clearance top and bottom. That allowed my battery leads to be maybe 12”. 

gande

I ended up returning the Renogy controller and purchasing the Victron 75/15 which is less than half the size of the Renogy.  It easily fit under the bed close to the battery.  I'm using about18" leads to the battery.

Amazingly, I wired everything correctly and the Renogy 200w suitcase panels easily kept our battery charged on our latest four day trip to Monterey Bay where no hookups were available in the state park.

Sharon_is_SAM

It is really pretty simple to connect a controller.   I think the hardest part (besides running wire through the trailer) is disconnecting the MC4 connectors!

gande

@Sharon_is_SAM...the MC4 connector tool (about $8 on Amazon) makes disconnecting very easy.

Sharon_is_SAM

I know, we have...several😏

pthomas745

I've never had any luck at all with those "disconnecting" tools.  Broke every one I've ever bought.  Here is a flash: why don't they make them out of metal with some sort of plier action that actually disconnects the MC4?  I wound up filing down the hook points on the connector and using an old pair of needlenose pliers. 

Cbusguy

Just cut off the mc 4 connectors and use appropriately sized Anderson connectors cheaper and no tools required to disconnect.