Replaced the JayCommand display with a controller

[TomC_AZ]

Im sure your getting to it, I feel the build up, but does the JayCommand just see it once plugged in?

[NoFly]

Originally Posted by gobdeep

Greetings from the king's moat.

Well, I have good news and great news! The GoPower 30 amp MPPT solar controller arrived AND my TE connections arrived AND they fit without issue. Never been luckier - time to buy a lottery ticket.

Alright, for the RVC/CAMBUS cable on the GoPower controller you will need:

• 1x TE 1969603-4 "4P RCPT VAL-U-LOK GW" connector https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-1969603-4.html

• 4x TE 770988-3 "CONN SOCKET 18-22 AWG GOLD CRIMP" plug https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-770988-3.html

For the RVC/CAMBUS cable on the JayCommand/BMPro device, you will need:

• 1x TE 794805-1 "CONN PLUG 4POS SEALED MINI UMNL" connector https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-79...e=header-match

• 4x TE 770988-3 "CONN SOCKET 18-22 AWG GOLD CRIMP" plug https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-770988-3.html (same as above)

Note that the GoPower RVC connector uses vertically-aligned holes (1969603-4) whereas the JayCommand/BMPro RVC connector uses horizontally-aligned holes (794805-1).

High-res photos attached below due to post maximums. No resizing - zoom away my friends.

Awesome news Gobdeep! So, after all of that, your now able to see the solar panel info on the Jaycommand display, right?

Last week I managed to drag my ass up to the roof to seal the cap finally... While I was up there, I noticed I actually have the 190 watt panel, instead of the 100 that was advertised on it.... Total bonus!...

[gobdeep]

Originally Posted by NoFly

Awesome news Gobdeep! So, after all of that, your now able to see the solar panel info on the Jaycommand display, right?

Last week I managed to drag my ass up to the roof to seal the cap finally... While I was up there, I noticed I actually have the 190 watt panel, instead of the 100 that was advertised on it.... Total bonus!...

Nice! Yeah mine was advertised as 100 watt and I too have a 190 watt panel. Good find! I wonder if it has to do with supply chain shortages.

[gobdeep]

Tom and NoFly - I have to make a CANBUS cable. Need to find some downtime to do it. Busy with work at the moment and some family activities. Maybe on Friday or Sunday I will make cable and give it a shot.

If something opens up this week, I'll jump on it. Sorry to keep y'all waiting.

[NoFly]

Originally Posted by gobdeep

Tom and NoFly - I have to make a CANBUS cable. Need to find some downtime to do it. Busy with work at the moment and some family activities. Maybe on Friday or Sunday I will make cable and give it a shot.

If something opens up this week, I'll jump on it. Sorry to keep y'all waiting.

Gobdeep, do you need to make the Canbus cable with the part numbers that you listed in your first post? How long does it need to be?

[gobdeep]

I have all the parts, just need to get out to the workshop and make it. I need to find a place for this controller because it is bigger than my existing unit. Maybe 15 feet (5 feet up the wall, 5 feet across the roof, 5 feet of spare/extra).

[gobdeep]

Three hurdles that I have to overcome:

I'm struggling with the cable. I tried CAT6 ethernet but the solid wire keeps snapping on the socket pins. I am going to switch to stranded alarm wire but the other issue is that I only planned for two pin failures... and I had four. So I have to order some more pins.

The pins, when I did have them on, are pushing out of the mating end of the socket. These aren't like MOLEX where they snap in place and they can't push or pull out. I can push these in but then they keep pushing. The pin shoots out the mating end. Am I doing something wrong? How do I keep the pin from pushing all the way through?

Lastly, I'm committed. I paid for the damn thing so she is going to live in the camper for all to see and enjoy. I need to trim this out with modern farmhouse white. Is there a place to get modern farmhouse white trim?

Obviously, it wasn't designed to be a "customer facing" unit. It was designed to be tucked away in a hole somewhere... but speaking of holes... since the factory unit already cut out the wall for the old GoPower controller, and since they wiring for the battery is awfully tight, the new unit is going to live where the old unit lived.

Was hoping to have some more success today but it is what it is. Ordering more pins now.

[TomC_AZ]

That was some serious surgery! Sorry I can't be of more help. I would think that the company you ordered the plugs from would be able to point you to the best pins to use for the plug/connector. I agree they should snap or at least be held in somehow, have never seen any plug where they didn't.

Was it a pain getting that panel off? As for the molding I haven't seen anything like it in any stores, might be able to get a part number from Jayco to be able to order from a dealer. I would think that molding like that is replaced a lot and a dealer might actually stock it as well. You could always use some standard pine molding (painted) from HD and actually frame it! :-)

I was trying to figure out what to do with that hole as well and was thinking of using some MC4 connectors to connect both ends of the wire. Then tap into it closer to the front of the trailer or wherever they actually run that wire, need to trace that out... Then was going to mount the inverter controls in the hole using a custom 3d printed filler plate.

[gobdeep]

Nah, I've taken that panel off a few times. It is easy now. :-)
Just carefully pry the edges until the nails came loose.

I think I may go get some pine, bevel the edge, 45 cut the corners, paint it gray and slap it up there. I'm in the process of building a picture frame in the workshop and already have all the tools out for framing.

[Learjet]

black trim would work for me

[gobdeep]

Originally Posted by Learjet

black trim would work for me

Just out of wood or something else?

[Learjet]

Originally Posted by gobdeep

Just out of wood or something else?

either...wood would be the easiest.

[gobdeep]

Ladies and gentlemen, after two months, please welcome to the stage....

*drum roll*

GP-RCV-MPPT-30 fully integrated with the JayCommand/BMPro system. BAM!

It works without issue. Even kept a data log so when I got the RVC-C CANBUS cable built, it says that it has been up and running for four days. Gave me the historical information which tells me it is storing the data on the GowerPower MPPT device. Nice!

Even better, it comes with a battery temperature sensor. When I ran the cable for the battery monitor, I ran a few extra pairs. I'll use one of the unused pairs and extend the temperature sensor to my battery bank. The other end of the run comes out in the grey box behind the batteries.

You can see my temp cable being run. My wife told me to have the trailer put back together by tomorrow night so it was now or never. So me, Busch, and Lynyrd Skynyrd got it wired up.

It's open mic night, so ask away!

[TomC_AZ]

That is VERY cool!

Did you end up using stranded CAT wire? Assuming you have run that white wire through the roof? Was that pretty easy or a PIA? Other than fish tape any advice on how to accomplish that?

[Yooper906]

Excellent work. Probably been a few "head scratchers" along the way.

[gobdeep]

Originally Posted by TomC_AZ

That is VERY cool!

Did you end up using stranded CAT wire? Assuming you have run that white wire through the roof? Was that pretty easy or a PIA? Other than fish tape any advice on how to accomplish that?

I used CCTV control cable. Stranded, not solid, shielded control cable. Same cable pairs I ran for my battery monitor. Keeps a lot of the RF noise out.

I ran my ICOM 2730 head unit control cable through the roof in the same spot. It is also mounted on the same wall. I did that with a fish tape and it was a PITA. It is super tight in the space right above this wall. However, I will run this cable the same way.

I need to tidy up the cable a little bit. I'll end up putting some epoxy, super glue, or silicon in the back ends of the 4-pin plugs to keep the wire nice and snug. That one connector has loose pins, not sure why. The other connector is like my old school MOLEX days - it is locked solid.

[TomC_AZ]

Very cool, I was wondering what those other mounts were for on the wall by the temp sensor.

As for the hole in the wall put a pic of the family over it or mount a small mirror. Every time you look at the mirror you will know what is behind it and the work involved!

I know this is a little late but I found these part numbers and some pricing from local dealers. Would have saved some time for the cable creation.
0340943 20' four pin cable - none available - $64.28
0343203 35' four pin cable - none available - $82.74

[gobdeep]

Originally Posted by TomC_AZ

Very cool, I was wondering what those other mounts were for on the wall by the temp sensor.

As for the hole in the wall put a pic of the family over it or mount a small mirror. Every time you look at the mirror you will know what is behind it and the work involved!

I know this is a little late but I found these part numbers and some pricing from local dealers. Would have saved some time for the cable creation.
0340943 20' four pin cable - none available - $64.28
0343203 35' four pin cable - none available - $82.74

Good find! I pinged my dealer but he is showing back ordered only. I guess like everything else in today's economy... data cables are no exception. At least the folks here have some choices. Factory cable or DIY from TE.

Good collaboration on this thread. It is like the projects at work except management isn't "helping".

[gobdeep]

Nothing new to add here. Just posting some wire run pictures as request from the DMs.

Finished up the paneling today. Fish tape ran from the wall, through an existing hole in the frame, and across the ceiling.

[gobdeep]

Update on this: I have an orange ! warning symbol on the JayCommand side of the solar page.

It appears that "Total power generation" is saying 0KWh generated, however the system is functioning properly. I disconnected from shore power and ran on battery and solar. I was able to see real-time my battery monitor detecting and compensating for solar power generation and the JayCommand app was showing real-time solar stats. Both systems matched what I expected.

I believe the warning is a misreading or error related to the fact that it is showing 0KWh generated although it is generating based on the 2 day and 7 day histories.