Solar Controller mounting in 400

gande
gande Posts: 105
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
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!
gande

2018 T@b 400
2019 Ram 1500 crew cab / 5.7 V8

Comments

  • N7SHG_Ham
    N7SHG_Ham Posts: 1,261
    The factory controller is under the bed, driver side on the front wall of the Alde compartment.
    2019 T@B 400 Boondock Lite
  • grubbster
    grubbster Posts: 115
    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.
    2023 F-150 Powerboost hybrid
    2019 T@B 400 Boondock
  • gande
    gande Posts: 105
    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)?
    gande

    2018 T@b 400
    2019 Ram 1500 crew cab / 5.7 V8
  • N7SHG_Ham
    N7SHG_Ham Posts: 1,261
    @gande it is the Victron that NuCamp is installing at the factory, not sure of size, maybe 4" x 6"?
    2019 T@B 400 Boondock Lite
  • b407driver
    b407driver Posts: 139
    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
    2020 T@B400 Boondock Lite w/solar
    2024 T@g 5-wide Black Canyon 
    TV is 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser LCP

    Jeff --Front Range of Colorado
  • tteam
    tteam Posts: 26
    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?
    Tteam, Wisconsin
    2020 TAB 320S Boondock Lite
    TV: 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  • gande
    gande Posts: 105
    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.
    gande

    2018 T@b 400
    2019 Ram 1500 crew cab / 5.7 V8
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Posts: 10,035
    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 

    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • Jax0913
    Jax0913 Posts: 72
    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”. 
    2018 T@B 400
    2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
  • gande
    gande Posts: 105
    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.
    gande

    2018 T@b 400
    2019 Ram 1500 crew cab / 5.7 V8
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Posts: 10,035
    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!
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • gande
    gande Posts: 105
    @Sharon_is_SAM...the MC4 connector tool (about $8 on Amazon) makes disconnecting very easy.
    gande

    2018 T@b 400
    2019 Ram 1500 crew cab / 5.7 V8
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Posts: 10,035
    I know, we have...several😏
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Posts: 4,645
    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. 
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • Cbusguy
    Cbusguy Posts: 771
    Just cut off the mc 4 connectors and use appropriately sized Anderson connectors cheaper and no tools required to disconnect.   
    2009 GMC Canyon,   3.7 liter 
    2020 320s Boondock lite, With Lots of mods

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