Renogy 100w Panel with GoWesty Solar Box

[Silverghost500]

This may be one of those that should go in the silly questions category, but is anyone connecting a Renogy 100w panel with MC4 connectors to the GoWesty Solar connection box? If so, what adapter are you using to connect the two?

I've got the GoWesty solar box wired up to a Renogy Adventurer controller ready to go.
_________________
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

[Sodo]

My general plan (which I have not yet done).

100w Renogy panel, just below "visible" in the Westy cargo area.
I have this 100W panel now, and I'm working on the mounting.
I have an "MC4 to SAE" adapter.
In the cargo area, an SAE pigtail from the charge controller connects to the 100W panel.

The panel will be remove-able (remoteable) and I will make a couple 25 foot extension cords with SAE ends.

The next step is to buy a 50w flat/flex panel that is stored in the upstairs mattress. It will plug into the GoWesty box (for 150w).
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[E1]

Good plan on the portable option, Sodo — and in hiding the panel. Might want a cover, too, if charging via alternator just to save excess baking.

I'd recommend a 15-footer, and a 35-footer. We only need our 30-ish-foot extension about 10% of the time.

Our standard cord is maybe ten but would prefer 15 maybe half the time we don't use the extension — so you might go 20 in coming from the roof.
_________________
‘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

[Silverghost500]

Sodo, do you have a part number for the MC4 to SAE adapter? I ordered an adapter off Amazon, but realized the MC4 connections on it are male, as are the MC4 connections on the solar panel wires.
_________________
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

[dobryan]

Check the owners manual on your solar controller. Or call tech support. Mine accounts for any external charging source (like an alternator or shore power charger) and adjusts accordingly. Should be no need to cover to shut down solar. YMMV.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[E1]

Oops, Sorry Dave, I just meant when getting alternator charge, there's no need having the panel exposed and baking in the sun, getting hailed on, whatever.
_________________
‘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

[dobryan]

[E1]

I've probably just driven through it once (or a hundred times) too often.

We just spent about a month in and near Cheyenne last year. It's positively mind-blowing how routine hail is in that stretch from there to the east, all the way to Iowa.

But Yeah, where Sodo is, not so much.
_________________
‘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

[Silverghost500]

Here's photos of what I have so far, including photo of the MC4 to SAE adapter. The question is do I need a polarity adapter?

_________________
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

[Sodo]

[Silverghost500]

The adapter will fit the GoWesty solar connector box. The issue is that the polarity of the adapter appears to be backward.

_________________
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

[Sodo]

[dobryan]

I reversed the wiring on the backside of the SAE connector on my bus so I did not need the polarity connector. I did not want to lose that piece or have someone else plug in without knowing it was needed. So I basically connected black to red and red to black on the backside... YMMV.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[Silverghost500]

I wound up buying 20ft extension cables and a 5-pack of polarity adapters. I'll keep them in the Westy drawer and glove box. Planning on getting everything hooked up this weekend to test.
_________________
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

[Sodo]

I have to clean up my solar wiring too.

I would choose the battery side as the ‘gender decider’ because there’s more amps on the battery side. Perhaps 100s, but fused to a finite amount, perhaps 10A for the panel. Or maybe 15A to run some 12v accessory or to accommodate an additional remote panel.
Where the positive in the GoWesty (van side) outlet is the “more protected” = “more recessed” = the female receptacle of the SAE pair.
Any outlet bolted to the van (=battery) has the ”12v +“ battery side as female/recessed/protected.

The solar panel wire terminal would then have its positive terminal “exposed”.
Which is limited to the amps of the 100w panel (100w/20v=5A).

Then tape-wrap the gender-changer sorta permanently onto the extension wire, if reversal is req’d.
Problem is, the reverser taped onto the “plug” gets to be over 3” long sticking out there to get knocked off. So try to do the reversing under the panel (if necessary).

I couldn’t have five reversers floating around, they would quickly dwindle to zero. I’d have a better chance monitoring “one”.

Kinda strange how the “red and the black” in the past was always helpful, but conspire to confuse in this case.

Well that’s how I have it worked out in my mind, hope something here is useful and if not then I’ll learn something for my project.
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb