Connectors and portable solar panels

[maco70]

Hi to all,

I wonder to know if one of these three types of connectors might be your preferred for often plug / unplug to a solar panel without broken :

Also, I look for a good quality of 150 to 180 watts of a portable solar panel

Many thanks in advance
_________________
Martin from Montréal

1986 Vanagon GL full camper westfalia
(brown/tan interior)

[Silverghost500]

The second pic connector is what I have. My cables are able to plug into my GoWesty solar connector port on the side of my Westy with that style of connector. From the GoWesty connector it goes to my solar charger, then to my battery.
_________________
1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A converversion-Road Testing Phase
3-Speed Automatic

Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA

[dublife13]

I run MC4 connectors on all my solar cables with inline fuses. I will be replacing my city water hookup with a solar plug form Gowesty and that will be using the middle picture you have.

[Mateo83]

I used the Renogy type

https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-20FT-10AWG-Extension...E&th=1
_________________
83 Air-cooled 2.0 Tin Top

[E1]

Anderson connectors (top) were the standard a decade ago, are repairable, but clumsy and needing regular attention.

The bottom ones are mostly for roof panels and not really for daily attach/detach.

The middle are SAE connectors and a new standard. They can fail easier, but if a portable panel is hit with wind they’ll pull apart before wire or connectors get damaged. Like them much better than Andersons.

Connectors that lock together or can’t easily separate on their own are a breakage waiting to happen.

Carry spare connectors no matter what.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[kamzcab86]

Your first photo is a 50A Anderson connector. I use a smaller 30A version:

Parents' van uses the SAE connector in your second photo.

SAE has been around for decades; Anderson is newer. SAE is what GoWesty assembles their solar hookup box with. If you want a plug-and-play method, SAE. If you don't mind a bit of DIY, Anderson is an option.

Portable panels come primarily with SAE, Anderson, or MC4 (not as common these days).
_________________
~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子

[10degnorth]

Use an ATP connector and you're already compatible with Zamp Solar panels. The connector mounted in this port can be sourced on its own.

https://www.zampsolar.com/collections/roof-entry-c...t-roof-cap
_________________
1984 Wolfsburg Vanagon (Current Project): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=773912&highlight=

1988 Microsquirted, Wolfsburg Vanagon (Sold): https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708000&highlight=

Microsquirt Conversion Guide (Work now Discontinued): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1laXykNPbRYS8MT...2imqd2pnx7

[fxr]

Just be careful with SAE connectors - there's no 'official' polarity. So as long as the same bit of wire with an SAE on it is only used for the same function (either supply or demand) you're OK - get it the wrong way round or borrow a mate's bit of gear wired the other way and you'll be looking for a new fuse at best.

The Anderson pole connectors cannot be muddled up, there is no inherent positional polarity.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[Timwhy]

[E1]

I just make sure the wires go red to red.

But almost had an accident before noticing!
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[ThinkingD]

I use #2 pic, I have a small 50w panel that I tether and a 140w panel on the roof. I just close the pigtail in the drivers door door. I though of having the hookup more formal but the door works fine as the pigtail is very short to the connector with the longer tether wire to the panel.
_________________
87 Titian Red Westfalia 2.0 VW I4 SOHC manual Ottawa, Ontario

[kamzcab86]

[E1]

Thanks for that, I’ve never seen them in any other configuration beyond the first post photo.

Even that post 1 photo is confusing. When we buy a pair of the SAE wires/ends, one red goes to a male end and one to a female end, so after connecting together the wire colors continue on.

Advertising clarity is so 1900s.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Californio]

I used the #2 connectors with red and black wires and put in a simple port near the license plate to charge directly to the alternator post. I soldered the same connectors on my tire inflator so can use the same port "backwards," quite handy. Easy to come by and cheap.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westy/2.0L Tiico

[maco70]

There is two others styles of connectors,
SUNCLIX and Phoenix connectors, quite similar, but it seems that they are easier to unplug / plug than the MC4 connector

_________________
Martin from Montréal

1986 Vanagon GL full camper westfalia
(brown/tan interior)

[mathieux46]

Hi,

While on the topic, anyone have recommendation on solar panel wire pass through gland?

I need to pass the cable from the solar panel through my Getaway High Top, Currently it's only a hole through the top with silicone and it's leaking.

Thanks

Mathieu

[Timwhy]

[dhaavers]

^^^ Indeed. The part you seek is called a “cable gland”…waterproof, must be sized appropriately.

https://www.ferrulesdirect.com/collections/cable-glands

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[maco70]

Hi Tim,

What brand of solar panel and wattage do you have, then how did you installed it on the roof, with screw ?
_________________
Martin from Montréal

1986 Vanagon GL full camper westfalia
(brown/tan interior)

[Timwhy]