Locking System for ZAMP Portable Solar Panels

[SilverWind]

I'd like to find or fabricate a Locking System for my 140 watt ZAMP Portable Solar Panel. I occasionally leave mine unattended while charging.

What is your security solution for the current generation of ZAMP panels?

[mikeinca]

Fold it up and put it in the truck or trailer? Well obviously, you won't do much charging that way.

Seriously, though, it's tough to find a great solution for securing the Zamp panels since they are by design portable. I have run a chain through the folding legs to keep someone from just walking away with my 200W panel while we're in the trailer or around the campground but that wouldn't stop anyone who was serious about taking it while we're away from camp. I've read of people drilling a hole through the aluminum frame to secure the panel with an eye bolt and chain and that might make it a bit more difficult to steal.

[Acheron2010]

[wulfraat]

I locked mine up by attaching feet and then permanently glueing them to the roof using 3M tape and silkaflex. [emoji14]

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Unfortunately, getting carried away isn't the only thing that may happen to unattended solar panels. The same lovable pooch in the post two up might decide it's a vertical object and "treat" it accordingly. Kids playing with various toys, either with or without evil intent are another risk.

Anything you can practically lock them down with is < 10 seconds for a thief to remove. Some techniques are fast and a bit noisy, others are pretty quiet.

As mentioned above, best approach is to put it away / out of sight.

All that said, in over 50 years of doing this, I've never had anything "wander" off from a campsite. Just about all that time was in tents. With one of those the whole idea of "lock it up" is silly. Indeed the vehicle did get broken into when parked "in town" on one trip. In that case, the stuff probably would have been better off on the floor of the tent ....

Bob

[HHPJ]

The handle on my Zamp 180 is solid metal and connected well to the frame. I run a cable and lock through the handle to what ever is closer, the AS or TV.

[SilverWind]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Here is a prototype that I came up with today for securing my ZAMP 140. I'll put a lock on each of the two lower corners and cable the panel to the trailer or TV.

Security screws and the placement of the cable loop to discourage good hacksaw purchase should help eliminate my solar panel as the low hanging fruit in the campground.

[mikeinca]

Looks interesting. I guess I'm having difficulty visualizing how the metal piece that the cable ties to doesn't interfere with closing the panel. Does it swivel out of the way somehow?

[SilverWind]

Originally Posted by mikeinca

Looks interesting. I guess I'm having difficulty visualizing how the metal piece that the cable ties to doesn't interfere with closing the panel. Does it swivel out of the way somehow?

The angle aluminum piece is mounted just below the top edge of the panel so does not interfere with closing.

[ROBERT CROSS]

What is the definition of 'portable'? 🤔
If the 'Burb gets stolen we ARE in trouble.👎
I do have a 15' Master Lock Cable...but realistically it's just 7'.
Just easier to take advantage of the portable feature. 👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[smithcreek]

I have the 160 suitcase and after thinking about it figured anything I came up with on the suitcase itself was nothing when the Master Lock cable could be cut with a pair of snips in minutes or a cable cutter in seconds.

[JCWDCW]

Originally Posted by smithcreek

I have the 160 suitcase and after thinking about it figured anything I came up with on the suitcase itself was nothing when the Master Lock cable could be cut with a pair of snips in minutes or a cable cutter in seconds.

Yes but typically the thief is just an opportunist and won't take time to go find the tools. If someone is determined to steal it, none of the solutions above will work
Except foe the Dog....Love that one!!!
JCW

[DaveP]

On my Renogy Suitcase, I riveted two heavy duty metal tie-downs to the frames and use a 30 foot Python Cable Lock to secure it to the trailer or TV. Available on Amazon. Not fool proof, but stops the casual thief.

[drbrick]

15' 3/8 braided steel cable (PVC coated) and a Bolt Pad Lock ... this keeps honest people honest and deters other as it requires bolt cutter's to remove it. Nothing is absolute. When in doubt lock it up in the back of the truck.

[smithcreek]

Originally Posted by JCWDCW

Yes but typically the thief is just an opportunist and won't take time to go find the tools. If someone is determined to steal it, none of the solutions above will work
Except foe the Dog....Love that one!!!
JCW

Yeah, that's what I was getting at. I could rivet this, that or the other thing to the panels that might be more solid than the legs and handle, but in the end, it doesn't make a difference if the cable can be cut easily. So I just thread it through the legs and handle to discourage any opportunist.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Given that I've never seen anything ever "wander off" from a campsite, I don't think that random wanderer's are the issue. Indeed if you put out a big pile of candy you might attract three year olds. I still see a *lot* of people leave a lot of stuff out around their campsites. From talking to them, it does not wander / has not wandered from their sites either.

What you are up against is somebody who steals stuff for a living (or for drugs). They do indeed come prepared with tools that will take care of your locking gizmo in seconds. They aren't grabbing something for their use, it's strictly for resale. Out of sight where it can't be spotted is a much better solution there.

Is all that true 100% of the time? Of course it's not. Meteor strikes are also going to happen. When they do, there will be a lot of press. Yes, camping out in a downtown parking lot may have a different set of issues ...

Bob

[Gmccloskey]

Perfect!

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by Acheron2010

Will this dog work just as well?

[rmkrum]

Note that all dogs usually have sharp teeth, and will bite if provoked or they think their family is in danger.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Ok so your couple of hundred dollar solar did not go walkabout. Now your guard dog has bitten this cute little girl and you have a million dollar lawsuit in a state far away from where you live

Bob