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Anything but zamp......

CbusguyCbusguy Member Posts: 771
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
So the old reverse polarity zamp plug in the tongue box for solar,  well that just isn't gonna cut it for me.  

Did a couple of searches and there doesn't seem to be a standard for this type of connection.   Solar panel to RV.

So engineer tinkerer types what did you end up doing as an improvement over zamp?

2009 GMC Canyon,   3.7 liter 
2020 320s Boondock lite, With Lots of mods
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    rcuomorcuomo Member Posts: 319
    edited March 2019
    Solarseller.com. Less than $20 standard SAE plug adapted to Renogy 100w suitcase. 




    ‘18 Tab 320S- mfg’d 4/17, acquired 9/17
    Spare & bike rack on tongue, Renogy 100w suitcase connection, cargo & door nets, sway bar, wired rear camera, Norcold aux fan, front window protection, frame mounted sewer & water hose storage, Krieger 1500w inverter w/100Ah LIFePO4.
    ‘17 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E- 5000# tow cap, 600# tongue cap
    ‘20 Honda Pilot Elite- 5000# tow cap, 500# tongue cap
    Huntington LI
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    Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Administrator Posts: 9,497
    If you want to use the solar SAE port as is on a non-zamp solar panel, just arrange the leads on the battery to suit your application.  We ended up having our charge controller at the battery, so the Zamp port pigtails were disconnected from the battery and now connect with pigtails at the charge controller.  In the near future, we are going to eliminate use of the solar port as we think the SAE connection is a weak link in the system.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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    ScottGScottG Administrator Posts: 5,428
    edited March 2019
    I wouldn't necessarily call it an improvement, but I ended up making my own custom cables/adapters as part of my modular "solar lunchbox" mod. My Renogy panels plug directly into the exisiting Zamp port, which is wired through my controller and then on to the battery. This discussion includes some descriptions and photos of what I did, as well as some creative alternatives from other owners.
    Whatever approach you take, it's not a big deal so long as you are always careful to connect positive to positive and negative to negative.
    2015 T@B S

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    pthomas745pthomas745 Moderator Posts: 3,659
    edited March 2019
    The whole point of the Zamp/SAE cable is to prevent the metal part of the SAE cable from becoming the 'hot" lead, which could cause sparks, safety issues, etc.

    I simply wire my solar controller's SAE cable so the positive lead from the controller goes to the plastic part of the cable.  Like this:  The wire with the lettering goes from the negative output of the controller to the to the metal part of the SAE.  The "unlettered" cable (with the red electrical tape) goes from the positive output of the controller to the black plastic part of the SAE cable.  

    Done.  The Zamp connector (just an SAE plug) is a simple way to connect solar, but the "reverse polarity" hangup causes untold confusion.

    Took me months to get my head around it, but the Forums eventually hammered the answer into my head.


    Or, you can just buy one of these, and it will perform the "polarity" trick for you.




    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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    jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,391
    Victron (and others) reverse the polarity in the solar controller. 

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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    CbusguyCbusguy Member Posts: 771
    Oh well,  looks like i will just need to come up with something.   thx for the responses.  I own about 1kw of solar and could probably run the AC  during the day,   Need a connector that will with stand 80-100 amps.
    2009 GMC Canyon,   3.7 liter 
    2020 320s Boondock lite, With Lots of mods
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    ChrisFixChrisFix Member Posts: 725
    Cbusguy said:
    Oh well,  looks like i will just need to come up with something.   thx for the responses.  I own about 1kw of solar and could probably run the AC  during the day,   Need a connector that will with stand 80-100 amps.
    Out of curiosity, how do you carry that much solar with a T@B?
    After two years of looking and considering...finally the proud owner of a 2021 T@B 400 Boondock!
    2023 Honda Ridgeline RTL-E with Redarc Trailer Brake Controller
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    CbusguyCbusguy Member Posts: 771
    It isn't that many panels,  everyone thinks in terms of suitcase setups.   I drive a pickup and they fit nicely in the bed of the truck.  I think the package is 3foot by 2 foot by 5.  
    2009 GMC Canyon,   3.7 liter 
    2020 320s Boondock lite, With Lots of mods
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    ScottGScottG Administrator Posts: 5,428
    Cbusguy said:
    Oh well,  looks like i will just need to come up with something.   thx for the responses.  I own about 1kw of solar and could probably run the AC  during the day,   Need a connector that will with stand 80-100 amps.
    Reverse polarity or not, that might be a different issue. Maybe replace the Zamp port with a twist-lock receptacle, provided you can find one that is rated that high.
    2015 T@B S

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    seajeeperseajeeper Member Posts: 37


    Sounds like you need a forklift battery connector or winch connector....

    https://powerwerx.com/anderson-sb-connectors-sb120-120amp

    2016 Max S, 2011 Volvo XC60

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    CbusguyCbusguy Member Posts: 771
    @seajeeper  That is what I ordered,  except  120 amp rated.   I was just hoping for a more eloquent solution
    2009 GMC Canyon,   3.7 liter 
    2020 320s Boondock lite, With Lots of mods
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    jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,391
    Honestly, you would need a thicker gauge of wire than the Zamp port had. The Naderson connectors are a good call.

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

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