Factory Zamp External Connector and Amp Rating

[WellSaid11]

Was looking at buying a 230W Zamp Legacy Suitcase for connection to the external hookup. Looked at the wiring diagram for the AS and the external Zamp has a 10A fuse inline before the battery, yet the Zamp 230W panel generates 12.2A (max I assume).

Called Zamp, was told the Zamp connection itself installed in the AS is rated for 20A and the tech was baffled as to why a 10A fuse would be used. He believed that it would be an issue with the 230W. FWIW, the 180W Zamp Legacy suitcase is rated at 10A.

I am not sure where that fuse is based upon the wiring diagram but am guessing it is in the frame behind the connection port itself.

Anyone else run into this issue or something similar? Thoughts?

[Brian S]

I have a 2020 Bambi with Zamp external SAE and plug in a Zamp Legacy 140kwh suitcase while boondocking with no issues. Granted, mine is 140kwh but I also have a 90kwh zamp panel on the roof which is factory installed.

[edit]
why the legacy panels when the obsidians are significantly lighter (but more expensive)?

[s1000pre]

My 2021 30 bunk has a 15amp fuse. My guess is someone placed the wrong sized fuse in your Pottery Barn. Your main concern is wire size, if it’s 14awg or heavier, your fine (heavier meaning a smaller number) anywhere between 6awg-14awg

Btw, I have two zamp 100 suitcases which consistently generate 10.5-11 amps.

[ROBERT CROSS]

We use 2 180w Zamp suitcase's charging thru the 7-pin, 10g wire. 5 seasons. No fuse, that I'm aware of. SFSG

Bob
🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦

[WellSaid11]

Originally Posted by Brian S

I have a 2020 Bambi with Zamp external SAE and plug in a Zamp Legacy 140kwh suitcase while boondocking with no issues. Granted, mine is 140kwh but I also have a 90kwh zamp panel on the roof which is factory installed.

Different trailer, different setup. See image below.

Originally Posted by Brian S

[edit]
why the legacy panels when the obsidians are significantly lighter (but more expensive)?

Simple answer: Obsidian panels are 5" longer than Legacy panels and will not fit in my AS closet when stowed!

Originally Posted by s1000pre

My 2021 30 bunk has a 15amp fuse. My guess is someone placed the wrong sized fuse in your Pottery Barn. Your main concern is wire size, if it’s 14awg or heavier, your fine (heavier meaning a smaller number) anywhere between 6awg-14awg

Btw, I have two zamp 100 suitcases which consistently generate 10.5-11 amps.

Wiring diagram is attached, shows 10A fuse. Unlike almost all other wires, no gauge is shown. Also can't find "Note 5" as well.

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

We use 2 180w Zamp suitcase's charging thru the 7-pin, 10g wire. 5 seasons. No fuse, that I'm aware of. SFSG

Bob

Thanks Bob, saw your post in the other thread as well. Don't think the 7-pin wiring has anything to do with this issue!

[richard5933]

I added a new input for my portable solar panels by using three-conductor screw down terminals on the lines feeding my Victron solar charge controller. They're connected in parallel and within the input limits for the controller, so all is good. The connection to the portable panels is via Anderson connector.

I did this because when we're using the portable panels we have a 50-ft cable so we can park in the shade, and the Anderson connector allows the 6 ga wire we're using to go this distance without voltage drop.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by Brian S

I have a 2020 Bambi with Zamp external SAE and plug in a Zamp Legacy 140kwh suitcase while boondocking with no issues. Granted, mine is 140kwh but I also have a 90kwh zamp panel on the roof which is factory installed.

[edit]
why the legacy panels when the obsidians are significantly lighter (but more expensive)?

Welcome

Please note that 140kwh is not correct should just be 140w.

140kwh is 140 kilowatts an hour or 140,000 watts an hour that would be a tough suitcase to haul around. Would be able to charge a Tesla in under an hour, that would be cool.

[ROBERT CROSS]

If I was to put a fuse in ours, 10g wiring, (360w) I'd go for 20a.

Bob
🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦

[Ephraim]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

We use 2 180w Zamp suitcase's charging thru the 7-pin, 10g wire. 5 seasons. No fuse, that I'm aware of. SFSG



Bob

[emoji1255][emoji631][emoji1255]

My classic has the 7-way +12 tied to the main bus at through a self resetting thermal breaker. No idea what the rating is as it’s on the underside glued down to the distribution box. Probably around 25A

[WellSaid11]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

What is the 'issue'? If I thought a fuse was necessary for my 10g wire I'd go for 30a.

Bob
������������

Pretty simple Bob:


Per Zamp, the 230W panel will (can) generate 12.2A and the fuse as listed in the AS wiring diagram is 10A. Zamp said no dice on this.


Also, it is unclear what gauge wire is used by AS to run from the Zamp port to the fuse, then to the battery (would of course likely be the same).

[WellSaid11]

Contacted JC and almost all roads led to "contact Zamp" when I asked questions about the wiring diagram, fuse size, wire gauge, "note 5" and just about all else.

Was also told by JC that it was "recommended" that the external panel "should be 100W or less as that is what the dealers sell....."

Sooooo......

Opened up the battery box and traced the wire going there from the Zamp external connector. Wire has an inline fuse, it is a blade and not 10A as listed on the wiring diagram. It is 15A and says on the outside of the housing "not to exceed 25A."

Anyway, there is a second wire coming off the Zamp external controller that is on the wiring diagram (see "Note 5" comment above) but I cannot find it coming into the AS. Was thinking it was going to the Victron Solar Controller, but I didn't see it.

Thoughts on what that wire might be doing or where it is going? JC didn't really want to pint me to where "Note 5" was. Pictures attached.

I guess I will see what happens when I receive the suitcase panels and fire it up.

[Silvr_Bullet]

Silly question, in regard to note 5, do you have roof mounted solar panels? I only see one wire off the external Zamp frame plug, that connects directly to battery, right.

[WellSaid11]

Originally Posted by Silvr_Bullet

Silly question, in regard to note 5, do you have roof mounted solar panels? I only see one wire off the external Zamp frame plug, that connects directly to battery, right.

Yes, have 3 roof-mounted panels as well.


You can see the second wire going from the connector into the front of the trailer as well and it is circled. The explanation for where this wire goes (looks the same as the other) is likely in Note 5.

[Mollysdad]

My Zamp connector is located on the battery box. Following the wires inside the box the fuse is inline on the positive lead. It's one reason I didn't want to flip the +/- when using the Zamp connector to power my TPMS repeater, Instead, I flipped the leads from the repeater.

[WellSaid11]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

My Zamp connector is located on the battery box. Following the wires inside the box the fuse is inline on the positive lead. It's one reason I didn't want to flip the +/- when using the Zamp connector to power my TPMS repeater, Instead, I flipped the leads from the repeater.

That makes sense. I have my TPMS repeater right there on the box and use the clips when connected/on the road. Might use the setup you have as well.


As for the second wire from the Zamp connector - you don't have one going into the AS like the picture above?

[Silvr_Bullet]

The one wire you have circled, where is that from , before going into trailer.

[WellSaid11]

Splitting off the back of the Zamp connector, attached to the one going into the battery box for about 2 inches.

I am thinking this wire(s) are actually later spliced into one set of the infamous yellow and green solar wires AS uses that are then attached to the Victron solar controller.

I say this because I looked underneath the front sofa where the Victron solar controller is and there is a set of yellow and green wires coming down into the driver side hole, and another set coming through what appears to be the front of the AS. I would assume that the yellow and green set on the driver side is from the three panels on the roof, and despite many external panels having an additional controller, AS finally got it right and actually ran the external Zamp connector port wires into the Victron controller so as not to have conflicts between the factory Victron controller and the external Zamp panel controller.

I should have the panel in a few days, and will be able to report back.

[Silvr_Bullet]

If that’s the case , I think you could order a portable without a controller on it. I don’t know what price difference there would be.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by WellSaid11

As for the second wire from the Zamp connector - you don't have one going into the AS like the picture above?

No. One only.
I actually moved the Zamp connector to the street side of the battery box when I mounted the battery disconnect on the curbside.

[nilesrob]

We just bought and connected the Zamp 230w suitcase, and hooked it up to the existing Zamp external port (2019 Classic 30). We only tested it out for a few hours, but just hooked it up and Bob's your uncle - no problems.