Solar suitcase add to roof panels

[Sport 16 STL]

I need some of the assets here to help me check my work. I replaced my controller with an mppt Renogy 30 amp. I have two 90 watt Zamp panels on the roof. While replacing the controller, I added wiring and a plug on the frame for two Renogy 100 watt suitcase that I built.
The day was hazy with intermittent sun.
Without suitcase
16.8v, 1.42a, 24w. With better sun 16.8v, 2.41a 41w.

With suitcase
17.8v, 4.29a, 76w With better sun 16.5v, 6.48a, 105w

So does it appear that I have the connections made correctly? The measurements about were difficult as the sun was very variable.
Thanks.

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by Sport 16 STL

I need some of the assets here to help me check my work. I replaced my controller with an mppt Renogy 30 amp. I have two 90 watt Zamp panels on the roof. While replacing the controller, I added wiring and a plug on the frame for two Renogy 100 watt suitcase that I built.

The day was hazy with intermittent sun.

Without suitcase

16.8v, 1.42a, 24w. With better sun 16.8v, 2.41a 41w.



With suitcase

17.8v, 4.29a, 76w With better sun 16.5v, 6.48a, 105w



So does it appear that I have the connections made correctly? The measurements about were difficult as the sun was very variable.

Thanks.

Sure seems the setup is working right

[BayouBiker]

I agree, it seems about right, given the limited data, nothing there to suggest there is a problem.

[DaveP]

Sport 16 STL,

Sounds about right. It is winter time and you just are not going to get as much out of the panels.

We are about at the same latitude (I live south of Denver). As a reference, I just built a new 200 watt Renogy suitcase. I hooked up the one year old 200 watt suitcase 2 days ago (late in the day, but full sunshine) and got 130 watts out of it. I then hooked in the second new suitcase and the wattage doubled to 260 watts. I am waiting for another sunny day around noon time to test them again, but I do not expect to get 400 watts out of the four panels until late spring and summer when the sun is more directly overhead.

[drbrick]

We run 200 Watts on the roof and also 160 watt suitcase they work together no problemo. Each has there own controller all seems to work perfectly well. we primarily use the suitcase when the airstreams in shade and we need to chase the Sun.

[Sport 16 STL]

Originally Posted by drbrick

We run 200 Watts on the roof and also 160 watt suitcase they work together no problemo. Each has there own controller all seems to work perfectly well. we primarily use the suitcase when the airstreams in shade and we need to chase the Sun.

I decided to use one controller and try to keep it simple. Didn't know if 2 controllers would work well together 100% of the time. Can't wait to take an extended trip.
Thanks for the feedback.

[PCMcE]

Originally Posted by drbrick

We run 200 Watts on the roof and also 160 watt suitcase they work together no problemo. Each has there own controller all seems to work perfectly well. we primarily use the suitcase when the airstreams in shade and we need to chase the Sun.

drbrick, would you mind sharing how you’ve connected your portable and its controller?

I have 200w rooftop through factory pre wire and a 30a Zamp controller (2015 25’ FC). I want to add support for portable as auxiliary in a reasonable way. Considered ways to hook up portable (without separate controller) to existing controller but abandoned as marginally better performance but not worth the hassle. Reading through all the great info on various threads here, my understanding is that even two independent controllers will provide most (80%?) of the effective charging capacity as having it all on one controller. ESP in bulk charging mode where it is needed the most.

I don’t think I have a prewired port on the A frame or around the battery box so need something.

There is a very clever suggestion to wire the portable panels (with controller) to a female 7 point receptacle and push through the 7 point plug on the AS. That seems cleanest assuming the 7 point wiring is of sufficient AWG and will allow the controller on the portable unit to properly sense the state of the house battery.

Thanks in advance for any additional insight.

[Sport 16 STL]

I added a port to the frame for the suitcase. I was able to push the + and - wires through the same port in the floor that the battery cables pass through. The two wires were then spliced to the wires from the roof panels to the single controller using a three way connector. I am far from an expert but the process was fairly simple. The hardest part was working under the seat in my sport 16.