ouR escaPOD mods |
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geewizard
Senior Member Joined: 16 Apr 2017 Location: Spokane Online Status: Offline Posts: 347 |
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Topic: ouR escaPOD mods Posted: 02 Mar 2020 at 8:13am |
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Glad you find the Anderson connector info useful. Regarding using cable ties, what I did to avoid them was to lay out my two conductors on the lawn then twist them together. Not tightly but about one twist per foot. They work for me that way WITH MY CABLE. |
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2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2017 R-Pod 177 (Blue) HRE SOLD 2004 Outfitter Apex 8 camper 2014 Toyota Tundra DC |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 02 Mar 2020 at 7:55am | |||
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 02 Mar 2020 at 6:05am | |||
Anderson makes good stuff, it handles high currents, can be booted, is polarized so you can’t reverse polarity accidentally, and can’t be confused with other ac or dc connectors on the trailer. What more can you ask for?
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2020 at 9:37pm | |||
I decided to go with the same connectors and boots. I will replace some of the other connectors so that I can have a reliable quick-disconnect for the wiring. Thank you for the information.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2020 at 8:01pm | |||
I would not want to use the AC connectors and since I am using my 120V cords, would not want to use one for that purpose either. As I wrote earlier, it is moot since I purchased the 20' extension set. I just need to tie them together. I just bought a bag of zip-ties from Harbor Freight. They should work for the purpose. I will get some connectors that can handle the repeated plugging and unplugging to use in place of at least some of the ones that are not meant for repeated use.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Pod People
Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2020 at 4:22pm | |||
I used a standard 30amp Rv female receptacle and waterproof cover on the trailer end that is wired to the controller. I attached a standard 30amp male end to the solar panels with mc-4 connectors. There is a 30 amp fuse between the controller and the batteries. here is a picture of the 25' power cord with the entire system. you can see the 30 amp female receptacle located on the pod frame at the front next to the A frame-the male end of the 25' power cord is plugged here here is a picture of the spliced 30 amp male plug end using mc 4 connectors to the solar panels-the female end of the 25' cord is plugged into the collectors here is a picture of all of the materials used As others have noted, I have used 120v AC connectors mixed in with 12vdc connections which is NOT standard practice.Also note that different from these pictures, my current installation is on our newer 179 and not the older 173 as shon and also the fuse has been moved to inside the cargo area to be waterproof. I hope this helps Vann
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2020 at 1:47pm | |||
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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lostagain
Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2020 at 1:39pm | |||
Remember a spark from a 12v battery gets hot enough to melt metal. So you need to be careful to make sure all your connections are well secured.
Pod People, how are you using your 25' power cord for your 12v dc system? Did you make up some kind of a pigtail to use at the male/female ends of the power cord that you connect to your 12v system? Have you calculated the voltage drop for that cable length and size?
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2020 at 10:16am | |||
As a professional system designer I of course have to follow the electric code and put safety first. But I've found that the rules are there for good reason, I've seen too many things go wrong. Generally when there are electrical fires its because someone took a shortcut or bent a rule, the argument being that a bad outcome wouldn't happen to them.
Of course for your own use you can do whatever you want, but if you ever sell your trailer I'd suggest that you remove the capability to use that cord on the 12V system.
The tendency to take shortcuts is especially true for 12 or 24 Vdc systems which folks often seem to think aren't dangerous because there isn't a shock hazard risk. One of the things I often see is lack of proper fuse protection on 12Vdc circuits. That I just don't get, there is the same or higher fire hazard risk from faults and shorts as there is in 120Vac circuits. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Pod People
Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 01 Mar 2020 at 8:55am | |||
I chose to use the existing 25' power cord because I did not want another extension long and heavy cord to carry.It seemed that if we were not hooked to shore power, there was no need for that cord and it would be perfect gauge and length for the solar set up.Use what you have and don't take a lot of extra "stuff" was the idea. As no one except myself or wife will be using or attaching it, I felt there was no issues using 120v cord for 12v application in this case. Granted, for most other, general uses this would not be a good idea. Vann |
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