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About those solar generators

Well I have another 400 to spend

Just clicked on my link to the Anker on Amazon up 400 from what I paid a few days ago! It was at over 50 per cent discount now at 36….

So if I don’t spend 400 my wallet would really like to thank this thread
 
Randy said:
The Goal Zero Sogens have Anderson Powerpole connectors.
Click to expand...
I see that. Goal Zero makes good stuff. A little more pricey and falling behind a bit on all the fancy features per a couple reviews. I'm less interested in blue tooth apps to control things as that adds another layer of complexity, things to go wrong. The Victron ios app for ac charger and shunt is great when it works on the Precision 110 bat/tree but often requires cellular to update software...
Murphys Law of Technology ...
while boondocking...in-op when you need it most.
 
TheSongDogHouse said:
I see that. Goal Zero makes good stuff. A little more pricey and falling behind a bit on all the fancy features per a couple reviews. I'm less interested in blue tooth apps to control things as that adds another layer of complexity, things to go wrong. The Victron ios app for ac charger and shunt is great when it works on the Precision 110 bat/tree but often requires cellular to update software...
Murphys Law of Technology ...
while boondocking...in-op when you need it most.
Click to expand...
My Victron built in solar charger requires cellular for app firmware updates but it works on Bluetooth anywhere. And firmware updates can be delayed without interfering with its usage.
 
Received both in great shape the panels were double boxed great condition The Anker battery looks like it will fit perfectly under the back seat. We should be able to run the fridge and not worry if we’re parked somewhere.

Question I have…. Between the XT60 connector to the baterry / charging unit and the MC4 connectors on the solar panels which would be better for an extension cord?

Reading up on this there doesn’t seem to be a big difference in drop of charge. I am thinking of getting a 50 ft. XT60 extension cord to the pigtail MC4 connectors, the supplied cord is about 10 feet. Not only would barely make it to the other side of the camper it would probably come up short of moving it out of the shade into the sun!
 
Carl U said:
Received both in great shape the panels were double boxed great condition The Anker battery looks like it will fit perfectly under the back seat. We should be able to run the fridge and not worry if we’re parked somewhere.

Question I have…. Between the XT60 connector to the baterry / charging unit and the MC4 connectors on the solar panels which would be better for an extension cord?

Reading up on this there doesn’t seem to be a big difference in drop of charge. I am thinking of getting a 50 ft. XT60 extension cord to the pigtail MC4 connectors, the supplied cord is about 10 feet. Not only would barely make it to the other side of the camper it would probably come up short of moving it out of the shade into the sun!
Click to expand...
I've fooled with running one or two 100w panels in parallel, with 100ah sogen in car, cables routed out a window....you're right, you want enough cable to be able to move panels 2-3 times a day to make them perpendicular to sun.

I've tried bungee-cording a 100w folding soft brief case type panel to the roof rack hanging off side of car, so all I had to do was move the car, but it was awkward and ran the risk of scratching car.

And I needed 200w of panels to fully recharge the sogen in 8-10 hrs of sun, probly as mine are a mix of a soft briefcase and a harder 100w folder, plus the extra cables and connectors to run in parallel. The more connectors, and the more cable, the more resistance and time to charge. And these are older panels, not as efficient as some newer.

From what I read MC4 are preferred for outdoor use. A short xt60 to mc4 for the cable inside the vehicle, connected by a long mc4 to mc4 cable run out to the panels would be most weather proof.
 
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Carl U said:
I wear big with the c2000 and 400w panels
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Nice! I think you'll be all set, with an mc4 on the panel end of your extension cable.

Very interested on how long the Anker 2000 runs the CI AC...that's the killer app: nothing beats sleeping in a cool cave after hiking all sweaty in desert or being out in muggy swamp weather...

Looking forward to field report with pics!
 
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