Renogy 200w solar suitcase extension

[rfequity1]

I cant seem to find on their site how long an extension I could use. Could I extend 20’ if I used 8AWG without having any voltage drop/ performance issues? Any extensions y’all recommend?

[dznf0g]

I made my own 50' extension from 6ga marine stranded duplex. It rolls up and stores inside the suitcase.

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[dznf0g]

Forgot to attach

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[trsvax]

Hard to tell from your post if the controller is in the panel. I have two with the controller in the Airstream and I get about 11 amps at 18 volts from those panels. If the controller is on the panel probably 15 amps at 14 volts. Those amps are full power. Generally they will be less.

I made about a 25 foot extension from 10 gauge solar wire. Could probably get to 100 feet on 10 gauge and you might loose 10% at that length when at full power. For 20 feet 10 gauge should be fine.

[trsvax]

Wire inside the panels is a nice touch. I'm going to do that.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by trsvax

Wire inside the panels is a nice touch. I'm going to do that.

With a little foam to hold it in place.

So, I have my Zamp controller (not in pic) now installed, but with anderson connectors. When I use the suitcase with the AS, I have the raw solar output paralleled with the 200Watts on the roof, (the zamp controller bypassed) and use a single 30 amp Victron controller. But if I want to use the suitcase for something....like charging a boat battery down on the dock, I just plug in the zamp controller. I am not a fan of multiple controllers in one system.

[trsvax]

I have two suitcases and five panels on the roof with two controllers. One for the roof and the other for the suitcases. Generally I run the suitcases in series.

The cord is always the in last place I look for it.

[1StreamDream]

Originally Posted by rfequity1

I cant seem to find on their site how long an extension I could use. Could I extend 20’ if I used 8AWG without having any voltage drop/ performance issues? Any extensions y’all recommend?

Your goal seems very reasonable, I have a Zamp suitcase, and Zamp sells a 15 foot extension cable (10ga) for their portable panels, so I would think 20 feet of 8ga should be very similar, and very acceptable, in performance. I wouldn't worry about it. The pure physics of it means the longer the cable (of any given wire size), the higher the loss, but I suspect it should be in the category of negligible here. If making your own cable, I would be sure to select some cable that is very flexible, Amazon has lots of options.

[JA15830]

For 20' ten gauge should work fine, but you shouldn't trust me, I majored in Sociology.

This guy is sponsored by Victron, and he is an excellent teacher:

https://www.explorist.life/how-to-ch...e_Size_-_Video

I think you can trust him.

[Mollysdad]

Watching with interest since I plan on the 100 w. Renogy suitcase.
I thought the 200w. was too heavy and hard to store. (for me) I just want to top off the wet cell batteries, not get into a full solar setup.
Was your foam the roll sheet type? Looks like you layered it, not the rigid insulation foam. Nicely done!

What I don't see are the legs and perhaps the controller?

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

Watching with interest since I plan on the 100 w. Renogy suitcase.
I thought the 200w. was too heavy and hard to store. (for me) I just want to top off the wet cell batteries, not get into a full solar setup.
Was your foam the roll sheet type? Looks like you layered it, not the rigid insulation foam. Nicely done!

What I don't see are the legs and perhaps the controller?

It was actually the packing material used in the shipping carton. It is the plastic-like sheets sort of like prodex, without the silver skin.

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[DaveP]

I have three 200W Renogy Solar Eclipse suitcases, two Victron 100/30 Smartsolar Controllers, and a Victron SmartShunt all in the trailer. The Victron Shunt forms a bluetooth network with the two controllers and ensures that the solar controllers do not fight each other. I have 8 feet of cable in each suitcase, a "y" adapter to parallel two of the suitcases, a 20-foot extension cord using 6 guage wire with Anderson connectors, and a 10-foot extension cable of the same. Often I can connect the suitcases directly to the front of the trailer without the extensions. Last week, this system was kicking out 520W at 10am and the four 100 Ahr Renogy batteries were at 100% SOC by 11:30am.

Rich - Nice idea with the duplex marine wire. Elegant! I got a cable bag and throw them all in there. (Less elegant...)

[dznf0g]

Ya know what. That pic is actually the suitcase I made for my son from two renogy 100 watt panels, some latches, and a stainless piano hinge. Sorry about that.

My zamp looks exactly like that pic, except it has legs.
I kind of copied the zamp when I made my son's suitcase. Only difference was the cost. About 400, including a Morningstar controller....instead of, what 750 for a zamp.


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[dznf0g]

Here is his, mounted on his Opus 4 offroad.
100 watts is usable while travelling. 200 watts when deployed off the camper.

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[JA15830]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

Watching with interest since I plan on the 100 w. Renogy suitcase.
I thought the 200w. was too heavy and hard to store. (for me) I just want to top off the wet cell batteries, not get into a full solar setup.
Was your foam the roll sheet type? Looks like you layered it, not the rigid insulation foam. Nicely done!

What I don't see are the legs and perhaps the controller?

I bought the bigger suitcase from Renogy (200 watt). When it arrived, I was pretty bummed. It is huge. I had planned on sliding it into the Truck bed vertically (handle up), but it is too tall to fit under the tonneau cover. I thought about returning it but didn't. I ended up making box out of some scrap OSB. I slide the suitcase in laying flat. I don't really miss the 2.5" of vertical space it uses up. It is super easy to slid it in and out, and I can leave it in the truck and not worry about it getting damaged.

[DaveP]

I put my three on the twin beds. Works great for weight distribution.

[trsvax]

I store mine in the hanging closet. They are just under the rod and fit pretty much perfectly. I built a little wooden box that holds shoes and keeps them from falling over.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by trsvax

I store mine in the hanging closet. They are just under the rod and fit pretty much perfectly. I built a little wooden box that holds shoes and keeps them from falling over.

Mine typically rides in the truck, vertically, against the folded up rear seat bottom. I utilize the "LATCH" system (child seat) anchors and seat frame mounts with motorcycle straps to secure.

[Ephraim]

Originally Posted by trsvax

The cord is always the in last place I look for it.

But isn’t that because you quit looking for it after you find it? [emoji12]

[rfequity1]

So I ordered these cables today from Amazon. I am going to attach one end to the suitcase and the other to the old batt cables that are still in my tongue batt box(LiPo is now in the front storage compartment). That way the charge will be running through my shunt so I can see the charge coming in. Any issues ya'll see with this?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1