Connecting Renogy Suitcase Solar Using Zamp Plug

[affreeman]

I have a 200w Renogy Solar Suitcase that we use to help keep the batteries charged up when dry camping. It came with alligator clips on the end of the cable for attaching to the batteries. It works pretty well but I find it a bit of a pain fishing the wires up underneath the stairs into the battery compartment every time I set it up.

So I thought I'd get one of those Zamp wall ports and install it. It's my understanding that the Zamp port accepts an SAE connector, and Renogy offers an MC4 to SAE cable.

I have also heard that Zamp reverses the polarity on their systems -- no idea why they would do that! -- but I could just swap the wires on the port when I connect to the battery, right?

I've also noticed that the Zamp port is wired with 12awg wire. The cables, and the 20' extension, I bought from Renogy are 10awg. I'd really like to keep it all 10awg all the way to the batteries. Am I worrying about nothing? Anybody see anything wrong in my thinking here?

[baphenatem]

As long as the 12 AWG conductors from the Zamp port are short there shouldn't be any issues. You could also just buy a short 10AWG cable with MC4 connectors on it, cut it in half and crimp some ring lugs on to connect to the battery. Dead-ended MC4's or MC4 blanking caps could be used to cover the MC4 cable ends when not in use. PowerWerx also has Andersen PowerPole weatherproof bulkhead assemblies that can be equipped with 10 AWG conductors.