Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Fleet | Keystone RV Models > Lite Weight Trailers
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-26-2019, 04:49 PM   #1
DKStewish
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Boise
Posts: 1
Solar Panel Setup

I have a Keystone Passport 171 LTE.

Can I just plug in a solar panel to the port or do I need a solar panel controller?
DKStewish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2019, 05:04 PM   #2
Steve/
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Denver
Posts: 89
Anything bigger than a 40 watt panel I would install a controller with 2 battery.
A 40 watt panel is not going to be much help.
I would start will a 100 watt and a controller and add more panels as needed.
__________________
RB195 2017
4Runner V8 2005
Steve/ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2019, 04:37 AM   #3
German Shepherd Guy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Norwood, CO
Posts: 667
I am curious about this too. So my 26rbpr has a solar plug right up front, built into the trailer. Steve, are you saying that the trailer/converter has no charge controller built in with that plug? I would need to add a controller into the system to keep my solar panel from frying my batteries?
Thanks,
Oak
__________________

German Shepherd Guy

2018 Keystone 26RBPR
2014 Suburban 2500, 6L with 3.73 rear

German Shepherd Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2019, 06:17 AM   #4
HeadShed
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Zion
Posts: 12
Always use a controller, so when the battery is charged the controller will only let it float. It will save your battery and prevent risk to battery boil.

If you RV is prewired, you can buy branded panels meant to plug and play and are already wired to your battery - those panels have individual charge controllers inside each panel. Places like Zamp can provide custom panel setups with controllers that will be plug in play.
__________________
USAF 2A5. ARMY 11B ||| "What does it feel like..?" - "Recoil"
הָיָה הָיָה הָיָה | If God is your co-pilot, you need to switch seats!
HeadShed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2019, 08:47 AM   #5
Steve/
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Denver
Posts: 89
The solar plug, is just a 12 volt plug that is wired to the battery. So a solar panel with a controller can be connected to the 12 volt system.
Now about the controller, I do not worry about the damage to the battery with high voltages, ( bring out the popcorn ) what I worry about is the equipment connect to the 12 volts/battery, some could only be rated to 15/16 volts max, (lights, CO Detector, smoke Detector, radios, refrigerator control boards, ect..... ). Most 12 volt solar cell/panels are rated at around 20 volts, so without a controller you have the possibility of blowing up a lot of equipment.
I do NOT recommend this but I have run 200 watts panel into the plug without an controller after a night of camping and battery voltage down around 11.7 volts, 2 battery, I know the voltage will be less then 14.2 volts after 2 hours, I will have a digital voltmeter to show me voltage so I act as the controller. I know the risk and willing to take them. All that said I have a 100 watt panel on the trailer roof that is connected to a controller that runs 24/7 so when the trailer is in storage the battery stays charged, I adjust the voltage down on the controller when not camping. I also have another 100 watt panel with a second controller that I plug into the plug that I can move around.

Hope that helps
Steve
__________________
RB195 2017
4Runner V8 2005
Steve/ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2019, 06:29 AM   #6
Bisjoe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Sammamish
Posts: 256
Be careful when selecting the panel, because the Zamp is wired the opposite of the other brands. Typically, like on my Springdale the plug is labeled "Solar Ready" while if it's a Zamp plug it will say something like "Warning - use only Zamp charging systems." You can still use another solar panel, but need an adapter to change the polarity.








https://www.zampsolar.com/polaroty-adapter/
__________________
2017 Springdale 202QBWE, 2017 F150 XLT 5.0

Bisjoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2019, 07:25 AM   #7
German Shepherd Guy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Norwood, CO
Posts: 667
Steve, and Bisjoe, Thank you very much. Great explanation Steve, I think you might have saves me some grief. And thank you Bisjoe, did not realize that difference.
Oak
__________________

German Shepherd Guy

2018 Keystone 26RBPR
2014 Suburban 2500, 6L with 3.73 rear

German Shepherd Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2021, 07:08 PM   #8
djac13
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Hillsboro
Posts: 54
@bisjoe, how do you know if you need to switch the polarity or not? Will the charge not work or are there other worse symptoms that might happen?
djac13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2021, 11:16 PM   #9
MXRacer
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by djac13 View Post
@bisjoe, how do you know if you need to switch the polarity or not? Will the charge not work or are there other worse symptoms that might happen?
If you have a Zamp "solar ready" or full OTG system, the SAE connectors will be reversed in polarity for most, if not all, non-Zamp solar panels. Also, most other solar panels will have MC4 connectors rather than the Zamp/SAE connectors. I added Renogy panels to my Cougar Zamp OTG system, so I ran MC4 to SAE connectors, then had to add the SAE reverse polarity connectors to maintain correct polarity. Verify your connections with a multi-meter. It can be a bit confusing to convert connectors and switch polarity all at the same time.
__________________
2021 Keystone Cougar 25 RDS SWE
Dexter EZ-Flex equalizer
Mor Ryde X-Factor frame braces
Goodyear Endurance Tires
Victron 100/50 MPPT charge controller
Tow vehicle: 2018 Ford F250 CCSB, 6.2 gas 4x4
MXRacer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 06:23 AM   #10
djac13
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Hillsboro
Posts: 54
Thanks @mxracer

Zamp are expensive panels, does anyone have some? Or what brand does everyone have and like?
djac13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 07:51 AM   #11
Cheesehead4Life
Member
 
Cheesehead4Life's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Monument, CO
Posts: 92
Quote:
Originally Posted by German Shepherd Guy View Post
are you saying that the trailer/converter has no charge controller built in with that plug? I would need to add a controller into the system to keep my solar panel from frying my batteries?
On my 2020 Outback, that Zamp inlet on the side of the trailer is basically just an "extension cord" that is routed up toward the battery. And in fact on mine, the wires don't run all the way to the battery, but only to a junction where other wires are combined on a fuse block. The solar leads are just hanging loose - NOT connected from the factory. Make sure to take a look on yours before you use it.
__________________
Bryan & Julie

2020 Outback 341RD
2018 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel
Cheesehead4Life is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 07:52 AM   #12
Summergirl
Member
 
Summergirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Surrey
Posts: 93
Or if like mine that was solar ready the plug in the front of the trailer wasn’t wired to anything. Unscrewed it from the front and removed only to find the wires hanging there. The wires from the battery were just tucked into the loom on the frame. That being said I wired in a controller in the pass through.
__________________
2018 Premier Bullet 22RBPR
2011 GMC 3500HD 6.6 Durmax
Summergirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 08:11 AM   #13
MXRacer
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by djac13 View Post
Thanks @mxracer

Zamp are expensive panels, does anyone have some? Or what brand does everyone have and like?
I added the Zamp OTG upgrade kit for my roof that contained one 175 watt panel from the factory. After installing that one and learning a bit more about solar panels in general, I bought two more Renogy panels at half the cost of the Zamps. The Zamp panels are made in Bend, OR, so I didn't mind the additional cost for buying American. But when I wanted more, $500+ each was getting really expensive.

What I saved by getting the two Renogy panels allowed me to nearly pay in full for a LiFePo battery. And the Renogy panels appear to be performing as good as the two Zamp panels. Just remember that you will be buying MC4 to SAE connectors and the polarity reverse connectors to add non-Zamp panels (if you are installing them on the roof and going through the Zamp roof port.)

Of course, if you plug into the port on the side of the trailer that goes straight to the battery, just buy a portable solar kit that contains a charge controller. Renogy and others make some decent kits. As you can see in the pic, my factory Zamp charge controller and wiring was on the driver's side of the pass thru. I dropped in a Victron MPPT charge controller and added a Xantrex remote panel.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20210502_091407397.jpg
Views:	539
Size:	193.9 KB
ID:	33314  
__________________
2021 Keystone Cougar 25 RDS SWE
Dexter EZ-Flex equalizer
Mor Ryde X-Factor frame braces
Goodyear Endurance Tires
Victron 100/50 MPPT charge controller
Tow vehicle: 2018 Ford F250 CCSB, 6.2 gas 4x4
MXRacer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 02:25 PM   #14
djac13
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Hillsboro
Posts: 54
Well noted on verifying if the plug is even hooked up. I’ll do that first. I’m looking at this kit Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BFCNFRM...ing=UTF8&psc=1

For start
djac13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2021, 02:50 PM   #15
jasin1
Senior Member
 
jasin1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,804
Quote:
Originally Posted by djac13 View Post
Well noted on verifying if the plug is even hooked up. I’ll do that first. I’m looking at this kit Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BFCNFRM...ing=UTF8&psc=1

For start
I have the renogy 200 watt suitcase. Seems like a good quality unit
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
jasin1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2021, 08:21 AM   #16
guitarboy52
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Flint
Posts: 42
I have a 2018 Passport 2520RL. Someone said I couldn't run over 200 w of solar? I have nothing right now but interested in getting hooked up with as much as logical. Hoping to do plenty of boondocking in the future.
guitarboy52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2021, 09:52 AM   #17
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,846
Quote:
Originally Posted by guitarboy52 View Post
I have a 2018 Passport 2520RL. Someone said I couldn't run over 200 w of solar? I have nothing right now but interested in getting hooked up with as much as logical. Hoping to do plenty of boondocking in the future.
This is "just a guess" but your trailer may have some OEM components installed that are rated "maximum 200 watts"... What those components are or which ones (if any) are rated as such is something you'll need to research.

On the other hand, if nothing is currently installed in your trailer, and if you're installing a "free standing solar system" (not one relying on existing installed stuff with questionable ratings) then you can purchase and install a system rated much higher than 200 watts, just by purchasing a system designed to work together with any rating you're willing to "pay enough for"... The higher the rating, the more expensive the system gets, so it's more "pocketbook limited" than "wattage limited"....
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2021, 10:54 AM   #18
MarkEHansen
Senior Member
 
MarkEHansen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 1,005
I think John means Watts where he was typing Amps. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek Champagne 38EL - "Big Bertha"
2019 GMC Sierra 3500 Denali HD 6.6L Duramax TD, CC, 4WD, DRW - "Mr. Beefy"
MarkEHansen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2021, 11:05 AM   #19
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,846
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkEHansen View Post
I think John means Watts where he was typing Amps. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
You're right. I corrected my post.... Amps, watts I know they aren't the same, not even in a apple and orange salad.... Thanks for catching it.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2021, 11:33 AM   #20
MarkEHansen
Senior Member
 
MarkEHansen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 1,005
So many people cross those terms, I wondered if it was even worth pointing it out
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek Champagne 38EL - "Big Bertha"
2019 GMC Sierra 3500 Denali HD 6.6L Duramax TD, CC, 4WD, DRW - "Mr. Beefy"
MarkEHansen is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
solar

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:49 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.