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02-03-2018, 07:48 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Lake Zurich
Posts: 38
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Solar Plug
I have a 2018 Keystone 2400bh and it has a place to plug in a solar panel on the front of the unit. It’s a vertical adapter with two connectors. This is the same as you would see with a trickle charger or a solar panel. (Not the Furrion adapter).
I called Keystone and asked if I could plug in an electric trickle charger and was told it would work. I then hooked up the trickle charger and it flashed for a long time indicating it wasn’t working. I then spoke to two people at the dealer and one said it only works with solar and the other said it should work.
Therefore I thought I would ask the experts in the community. I read about Zamp plugs and that is what it looks like. I read that the positive and negative are reversed in Zamp for some reason.
I am wishing to use a solar panel to keep the battery charged. I am familiar with panels and controllers, etc. just hoping I could simply plug it in versus direct connect to the battery.
I did see another thread on the topic but didn’t see a conclusion. Hoping someone was able get a good answer to the question.
Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks.
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02-04-2018, 01:06 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern Shore of MD
Posts: 133
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Have you tried using a multimeter on the connector to figure which pin is positive and which one is negative?
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02-04-2018, 07:01 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Lake Zurich
Posts: 38
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No, I haven’t tried that yet. When the weather clears I’ll try to trace the line to the battery and play with it. Thanks.
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02-04-2018, 06:11 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 438
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If it's a Zamp connector it's polarity is backwards from the trickle charger and other branded solar panels. Either change the wiring or buy a polarity reverser
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Bill
2015 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel
2015 Cougar 26RBI
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02-04-2018, 07:58 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Lake Zurich
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bill-e
If it's a Zamp connector it's polarity is backwards from the trickle charger and other branded solar panels. Either change the wiring or buy a polarity reverser
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I have heard that about the Zamp. Trying to find a way to determine if it is a Zamp or not. Will see what Keystone Customer service can tell me Monday. Thanks.
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02-04-2018, 08:07 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,223
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I have a Zamp solar panel and our prewired "SAE" plug on the Cougar works fine. I did trace the two wires from the plug to the wiring block in the battery compartment and did not notice any reversal. Red+ Black-. Did not try trickle charging with my "Battery-Tender" but the plug is the same SAE standard
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2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
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02-05-2018, 03:08 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Lafayette
Posts: 1,068
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Not trying to hijack the OPs thread, but that brings up something I was wondering about on that supposedly solar ready plug. Is a Zamp solar panel the only brand that will work on those and does a person need controllers also, or does the panel just plug in by itself?
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2015 Ram,3500,Dually,B&W,4.10s,Aisin,Limited,Silver
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2012 Harley, Ultra Limited
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02-05-2018, 05:05 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 438
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Any brand will work but you may need a polarity reverser mentioned above. Most suitcase portable panels come with controller so it is plug and play.
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Bill
2015 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel
2015 Cougar 26RBI
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02-05-2018, 05:14 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Jordan, Utah
Posts: 2,223
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As Bill said, the portable suitcase "systems" are equipped with the controller attached to the panel. Ours was plug and play as far as charging the battery goes. I did have to wire from the main battery distribution block to our entertainment center where I installed the "inverter" to run the TV and have a charge center for our cell phones and laptop etc. when off grid.
__________________
2017 Cougar 279RKSWE
2007.5 Dodge Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Retirement Training Completed
I think the little voices in my head have started a chat group.
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02-05-2018, 10:18 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Newburyport
Posts: 7
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Solar Panel
Has anyone purchased the portable solar panels from Go Power? They say it includes an adapter that works with the Zamp pre-installed connection that is on the Keystone products.
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02-24-2018, 02:13 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Lake Zurich
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bill-e
If it's a Zamp connector it's polarity is backwards from the trickle charger and other branded solar panels. Either change the wiring or buy a polarity reverser
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Update: The connector did have polarity reversed versus my trickle charger and non Zamp solar panel. Bought the polarity reverse adaptor as suggested and it works fine. Keystone doesn't label it as Zamp but that's what they used. Thanks to everyone.
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02-24-2018, 06:10 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikef
Update: The connector did have polarity reversed versus my trickle charger and non Zamp solar panel. Bought the polarity reverse adaptor as suggested and it works fine. Keystone doesn't label it as Zamp but that's what they used. Thanks to everyone.
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Can you post a picture of the connector on your trailer? Maybe a close up of it. I've got a Fuzion Impact 303 and have a solar connector on the front also, but have no idea how, what, or why.
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02-24-2018, 06:22 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Lake Zurich
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xrated
Can you post a picture of the connector on your trailer? Maybe a close up of it. I've got a Fuzion Impact 303 and have a solar connector on the front also, but have no idea how, what, or why.
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https://goo.gl/images/cZ4Fnq
Here is a picture of the connector off a web site.
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02-24-2018, 08:19 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: "Murvil, TN
Posts: 2,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikef
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Thank you, I'll check mine out tomorrow and see what type it is.
__________________
2016 F350 King Ranch Crew Cab Dually Diesel 4x4
2018 Grand Design Momentum 394M
2023 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Excessive payload capacity is a wonderful thing
"If it ain't Fast....It ain't Fun"
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