Solar panel install

Added new update from oven torture test to first post. Record tying high temp on one day.

 

Added another update from my latest trip. Text in first post is Blue.

 

I have a quick question. I have an ARB 50Qt fridge that I just installed, and I bought an Optima Yellow-top battery that I had planned to drop in a box and just wire up a 12v plug to it as a temporary measure while I wait for the rest of the parts to get this really wired in for good. Basically, what I did was get a 12V plug kit, install a 15 fuseholder in line and then just wire the thing directly to the posts on the battery. I've got a spotlight that works just fine when plugged in to the plug, so I know there's juice. I've got the Optima digital charger that shows the battery is fully charged. But the fridge refuses to turn on when plugged into this plug. If I plug the fridge into the plug in the dash of the truck, it starts up and runs just fine. Am I missing something simple? I swapped the leads from the plug to see if it was a polarity issue, but no joy.

 

Try plugging into truck, letting fridge run for a few minutes then turn the fridge off. Let it sit turned off for a minute. Pull plug and hook up to your AUX battery and power on. I know my ARB is finicky sometimes. There is a low voltage cutoff switch that won't let you turn on unless you surpass a certain voltage. Perhaps pulling power while the fridge is on, is simulating a low voltage episode.

 

Maybe the primary wire to the 12v socket is a small gauge and creating excess resistance? The ARB fridge's circuitry will mistakenly interpret this as a sub-11.8v (or whatever voltage you set it to) battery and cut off the fridge. I believe the ARB 12v plug kit is supplied with a 20', 10 AWG primary/ground harness which connects the 12v plug to the battery to prevent this from happening. If the 12v socket is poorly made, it could be creating the resistance as well.

 

Good thread OP.

 

Solved it: It was the plug. I bought a $5 unit from Pep Boys that had two clips and a plug, clipped that to the battery and the fridge started right up. Thanks for helping me with this!

 

Wow this is awesome!

 

sub for later

 

I see in the first post you mention a fuse holder. Where in the system did you install the fuse?

 

At the battery. The charge controller has one as well. I have an RTMR now so I use one of the Fuse-only circuits for solar input.

 

Brilliant

 

Very impressive install and I appreciate everyone's input to clarify and fine tune the process. Looking forward to completing my own build.

 

Subbed, thia is awesome!!

I live in Vegas as well and considering this for camping purposes. Thank you!

 

Tape is still holding strong. No lifting. Still get up to 14.3v in good conditions.

Not much else to say. Setup is working good. Every now and then i forget to turn the fridge off or i charge my tablet or handheld radio and it drains the battery but the Optima recovers with a jump pack. I park in my garage, so no sunlight in there.

 

I am root

 

subd cus this is sick

 

clean install - I've been trying to decide where to mount my semi-flex panel for a while now.

 

That's awesome

 

Thanks guys. I'll actually be adding a second panel to try and boost the average voltage. I recently discovered that AGM batteries should be charged at 14.0+volts and my average is typically mid-high 13.

I have a second 100W panel from a different manufacturer that is larger and different design, that will go on the camper. Output in full sun should be upwards of 10amps combined.