Community Forums

tpaul · 02-20-2021, 07:12 PM

I'll be interested to see what you find out. I can not find anywhere in my manual or on the Zamp site that says there is a 100W limitation on an external panel. If so, why would they sell higher wattage models to plug into their external plug? I hope there is no limit since I bought a 140W model, although I have not been able to use it yet.

And as to having two separate controlled panels on one battery set here's from Zamp's site - "Yes, two independent charge controllers can be connected directly to the battery as long as both controllers are set to the same battery type."

Russ Olin · 02-21-2021, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tpaul

I'll be interested to see what you find out. I can not find anywhere in my manual or on the Zamp site that says there is a 100W limitation on an external panel. If so, why would they sell higher wattage models to plug into their external plug? I hope there is no limit since I bought a 140W model, although I have not been able to use it yet.

And as to having two separate controlled panels on one battery set here's from Zamp's site - "Yes, two independent charge controllers can be connected directly to the battery as long as both controllers are set to the same battery type."

Actually I think that you will be fine with your 140 watt panels. I have watched several walk through videos at different dealerships on the new ORV's. And they said you can put 200 watts on the side port. So you should be good to go. I don't know why they limit to 200 watts though. I'll find out if I need a regulated or unregulated panel. I may just go with a unregulated panel on the roof, there are two open ports on the roof. Because we have 3 camping dogs & sometimes if they are tied up I can see it being a real pain with a solar panel on the ground. Just a thought. I already have enough problems keeping them out of the satellite cable. lol

rc1991 · 02-21-2021, 07:08 PM

Check out the link below from the Zamp site which us their "sizing chart" based on how long you plan to be off-grid, etc. I have 2 170 watt roof panels and 1 180 watt portable to use in the side port. I just added the second roof panel but used the 1 roof panel and the portable last summer and with the portable also used the attached controller while the roof mount was using the 30 amp controller. I would think if Zamp is advertising this set-up that it would work OK. I remember searching to see about having 2 controllers and read somewhere at the time that it would work alright.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UBz..._3IizFFPL/view

Russ Olin · 02-23-2021, 11:20 AM

Okay everbody, I talked to the service dept over at Holiday RV in Poncha Springs where we bought our ORV. Here is the low down on the "side" port for the Zamp Solar; it is NOT wired through the controler installed in the RV. Too bad, thats the way that I would have done it. So; if you are going to use a side port you must have a controller for the solar panel. If you are using the roof ports you do NOT want a controller cause they all go through the controller in the RV. That would be 2 controllers on one line. Thats why if you add another Zamp panel on the roof you do not need a controller for each panel.
Simple as that. Hope that this helps,
Russ
by the way great people to deal with over at Holiday RV. People come far & wide to buy Outdoor RV's there. They have a pretty good selection of RV's there. Check them out if you are looking for one.

spogdog · 02-23-2021, 10:33 PM

With the side port wired the way it is you can plug a 12V device into that port and use it as an electrical outlet. For instance, I use it to power a dometic ice chest that we bring along camping. I also use it as a source to power my Viair pump. I'm not sure that you could do this if it were going through the solar controller before it went to the batteries.