Thinking about equipping your vehicle camper rig by having a portable cell, but shortage physical access to the batteries mounted within your camper? You then’ll wish to have a look at this modification providing you with this access using a 12 volt electrical cost slot.

Aided by the installing of a DC compressor ice box within my vehicle camper rig, I quickly found that my existing 240 watt roof-top power that is solar had been not able to keep my camper’s batteries charged throughout the cold weather when operating the furnace was necessary. A more substantial power that is solar ended up being needed. Regrettably, my rig lacked the roof space had a need to include another 100 watt panel that is solar. Theoretically, I experienced the area, but mounting another panel on top would’ve kept me personally with zero space to walk on top to perform topside maintenance. Due to this, we opted getting Zamp Solar’s 160 watt solar energy suitcase to obtain the extra wattage we required. This top-quality product not just includes two 80 watt, high-efficiency monocrystalline solar panel systems, but inaddition it features its own 15 amp PWM fee controller and a padded case that is carrying.

Even though the lack of topside room played a essential part in my concluding decision, just what actually solidified my choice had been the huge benefits that the portable solar product like Zamp Solar’s solar suitcase offered. Not only can a portable array be aimed straight at the sunlight, however it could be tilted to optimize power production. It is particularly of good use during the cold winter months if the sun peaks at a lower life expectancy point in the southern sky. an array that is portable additionally be relocated out from the color to optimize production while your rig is kept parked where it really is.

With this specific essential decision behind me personally, I’d to develop a method to access my batteries electrically. Unlike truck campers that are most, that have the batteries mounted in a external compartment, the batteries in my own Northstar Laredo are mounted inside the camper, under the dinette chair. We shortly considered installing a 12 volt station that is charging the only made available from Palomino, but i desired one thing smaller with only an easy socket or slot to connect into, therefore I went with Zamp Solar’s 2-prong sidewall socket rather. This 12 volt socket is little, polarized, and is sold with its weatherproof that is own address. There are several RV organizations that utilize this socket as OEM. In reality, my old Wolf Creek 850 truck camper utilized this socket as an element of its rooftop “solar prepared” choice.

Determining the best place to install the sidewall socket proved effortless. The batteries are observed towards the straight straight back of this camper and a void that is small the damp bath is conveniently positioned involving the battery pack compartment while the back wall of this camper. The size of this void is just 2 foot, a wiring distance that afforded practically zero line loss for 16/2 AWG wire. In case of an update at some point in the long run, I made a decision to update this wiring utilizing 12/2 AWG cable alternatively. synthetic conduit was utilized to safeguard the wiring run from the brand new socket to battery pack compartment.

A 3/4-inch opening saw was utilized to drill the opening when it comes to sidewall socket that is 2-prong. The 12/2 AWG wiring had been run within the damp shower through this void. The battery pack compartment is located under the dinette seat. Closeup for the sidewall that is new with cell cables plugged in. My Zamp 160 watt array that is portable action.

Unfortuitously, to set up the socket I needed seriously to drill a 3/4-inch opening in the rear of the camper. I hated carrying this out, however it needed to be done. In retrospect, drilling the opening wasn’t that bad and just took a couple of seconds to accomplish. I recently needed to make sure I didn’t harm any associated with the PEX plumbing work nearby the hole. A large piece of Butyl tape was used for waterproofing the socket. Ebony wood screws had been utilized to install the socket. Considering that the 12/2 AWG cable that was included with the socket is just 12 inches very long, I experienced to solder yet another 2 foot of cable to attain the batteries. Shrink tubing had been utilized to protect the soldered connections.

As you care able to see through the pictures, the newest socket is in an inconspicuous location and appears great. It allows us to connect and unplug my suitcase that is solar into batteries easily and quickly. In addition it provides me personally an approach to link my Windwalker 250 wind generator to my batteries aswell (though maybe not in addition as my portable solar suitcase). Also i’d have to give this project a difficulty rating of 2 because of the drilling that’s involved though I would consider this modification fairly easy, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest.