"Solar on the Side"

[ScottyLast]

My 2017 Jay Flight 28RLS has the Go Power brand - solar on the side, port on the front of the A-frame near the hitch. Can anyone comment on this option? What the capabilities are, its good or bad points etc? On my old Aljo trailer I installed a 100 W Renogy panel a controller, two 6v golf cart batteries and 2,000 W inverter for boondocking. I at least want a solar panel for battery maintenance and some 3-4 day camping. Any suggestions on use of the "go power" hook-up and a appropriately sized panel, would be appreciated. The companies website refers to certain dealers for purchase but lists no prices or other info. since RV dealer parts tend to be overpriced I'm just looking at all options.

[Seann45]

You don't need to use go power to use that side plug.. just search for the best price

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by ScottyLast

My 2017 Jay Flight 28RLS has the Go Power brand - solar on the side, port on the front of the A-frame near the hitch. Can anyone comment on this option? What the capabilities are, its good or bad points etc?..... I'm just looking at all options.

As Seann45 said....

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Go Power products... other than the fact of their cost per watt. Since you are familiar with Renogy, you already know about their products. I know that there is a Go Power port on the frame, but you can make an adapter to convert to a standard SOLAR MC4 connector. You can find that post in the RVing with SOLAR Social Group (link below).

One other item to watch for is that I believe Go Power switches their positive and negative outputs, so I would tone out the Go Pro port to the battery. Just to be safe.

As for the size cable they used on the Go Power port, you can measure the diameter of the copper wire and look at a chart to determine the AWG. Based on what I have heard, it is probably an 8 or 10AWG cable. So, measure the cable diameter and look at the cross-reference chart to get the AWG. You can then measure how much cable between the port and the battery, and look at a cross-reference chart for feet to amps.

Hopes this helps.

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[sennister]

If it is anything like the "feature" on our Jay Feather, it is just a 2 pin SAE port on the A Frame that is wired to the battery. Nothing else. There is no charge controller or any brains to it.

Just $5 in parts to add another Feature on the list to compare with other campers.

[Cdash]

^^He is right. Just a port with wires to the battery.

I bought a 200w Renogy starter kit and use that as portable panels. The controller is mounted in my front compartment behind the batteries. I cut the solar on the side wires to go to my controller. I made an adapter to connect MC-4 to the port on the camper. So when I put my 2 panels out, I connect them to the cord and connect that to my "solar on the side" connector.

I love being in a campground with no hookups and not having to worry about getting back to the rig to charge batteries during "generator hours".