• We’re Back – Thanks for Your Patience! We’re thrilled to welcome you back! After some time offline, our site is up and running again, though you may experience occasional instability as we work through the final steps of restoring full functionality. Your understanding and support mean the world to us – thank you for sticking with us through this!
  • Email notifications are being sent but may be blocked by spam filters. If you don’t receive an expected email, please check your spam folder.

Meaning Of "solar Connection" On The Camp-inn Invoice

Lane and Michael

Lane and Michael

Junior Ranger
Donating Member
I was looking at some solar panels today that come in rolls. They all included cigarette lighter plug-ins and very little in the way of instruction. Apparently I ordered the "solar connection" when I ordered the camper. I did find an odd little three-prong plug and the socket on the trailer where it would fit. Does that mean I need to buy a controller, or is that what the "connection" is? Can I simply buy a solar panel and attach the plug and call it good? I like that idea. The Camp-Inn website is completely shut down or I'd have asked there first.
 
Lane and Michael said:
I was looking at some solar panels today that come in rolls. They all included cigarette lighter plug-ins and very little in the way of instruction. Apparently I ordered the "solar connection" when I ordered the camper. I did find an odd little three-prong plug and the socket on the trailer where it would fit. Does that mean I need to buy a controller, or is that what the "connection" is? Can I simply buy a solar panel and attach the plug and call it good? I like that idea. The Camp-Inn website is completely shut down or I'd have asked there first.
Click to expand...
The instructions in the manual tell you that you need to wire the male plug one way if you have a panel with controller and another way if you have a panel without controller. The male twist lock plug that fits into the female port on the side of the camper came in a box that was in the drawer above the sink in the galley.
 
Oh dear. I'm sorry that I never thought to look at the manual. I guess the reason for that inattention to detail is I am not certain what I have actually purchased according to the invoice. A bit numb today not to think of the manual. Thanks for your patient reply. I will see if I can find a controller.

When I was muddling around with the wiring for the inverter, I was extremely impressed with the care that went into making the battery compartment and the slide-out circuit board. All those wooden pieces, probably rarely seen by most customers, were nicely finished, just like the interior of the cabin. It's fun to own something as carefully planned and built as these little campers.
 
Now that I have scrutinized the owner's manual, I am still unable to tell if my trailer has the solar controller. The fuse is there, but so is a fuse for the furnace which my camper does not have, so that isn't especially helpful. I was also unable to find the information about the three prong plug. I did find a Sunsaver installation and operation manual but it doesn't seem to reference anything I can find in the Raindrop. It's not especially important as I wasn't going to rush out and buy a solar panel, but I am puzzled.
 
Finally found the controller, but not the instructions about wiring the plug. The back of the plug has two openings, and the third is blocked, so I suppose it is self-evident how to proceed.
 
The plug comes apart to access the connections. The outer boot is a pliable material and you have to bend and pry it off the plug center section to access it. It is not super obvious so does make most people scratch their head a bit at first.

On a side note, can you explain what you mean when you said this?
"The Camp-Inn website is completely shut down or I'd have asked there first."
Our website and email has not been down, can you share what issues you ran into contacting us?

Cary
 
What I meant is that instead of the usual informative site, all I can find is the "we are on vacation and not taking orders" page. Not a direct quote, but it isn't even possible to see a picture of the camper. No news as to when the vacation will be over. I wish that even though they aren't taking orders that the rest of the site would be visible so that I could read about the accessories that are available and so on.
 
There is no "vacation" message function on our website. What is the link you are using to get to our website? If there is some weird internet issue getting to our page it would be helpful to hear about so we can track it down.

Cary
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top