Featured solar panels: where to buy

#41
Forgot about those connectors. You could splice the bare wire to where ever you are hooking up (charge controller).

Those MC connectors are a PITA, I would rather not have to deal with putting them on anything, but it makes it easier to replace panels.
 
#44
If you do it, get the ones with waterproof heat shrink, or run the panel cable inside the vehicle and have the splice inside.

There are on amazon:
View attachment 36030

You can also get heavy duty heat shrink

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NI3LQ4/

3/16 or 3/8 should be fine for what you are doing.

The stuff that is double wall/marine grade is pretty awesome.
 

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#49
Sorry, I'm tired and my words are failing.

Yes, you will have to splice in fuses somewhere, but they can go anywhere between the panel and the charge controller, so for the sake of upgrades later, you might as well use the MC connectors.
 
#51
DrewSTNY said:
Forgot about those connectors. You could splice the bare wire to where ever you are hooking up (charge controller).

Those MC connectors are a PITA, I would rather not have to deal with putting them on anything, but it makes it easier to replace panels.
Click to expand...

They are a big pain in the ass. Today I remounted 400watts from the RV to the power shed and had the Wi-Power dish mounted to it so it would have its own constant power.

I picked up a little 1.7 cubic foot superconductor fridge, I was thinking of putting it in there too and heavily insulating the shed, but I don't think 400 watts of panels and 100 amp hour battery will keep the fridge going. I might move another array on top of it.
 
#54
freegander said:
hey Drew, if i get those butt connectors that you posted an image of from amazon, do i need a special crimping tool? or can i use a wire stripping tool? i watched a video on youtube and he used a special tool and i'm so tired of buying new tooooooooools.
Click to expand...


You can use the crimps on the wire stripper. The MC connectors almost require a special crimper, which sucks when you are in a country that doesn't have it and you are trying to solder them with an iron that doesn't work. O_o
 
#59
You can see what the battery voltage is and it will give you an idea, but the best way is to check the specific gravity of the water with a hydrometer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JFHMRU/

I don't really like the type with a floating piece of plastic. I would rather have one more like a Brewer's hydrometer, but they are hard to find.

Your batteries should have a specification for what they like to see for voltage and where the specific gravity runs in them.
 
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