Solar battery charger

[Rgpracer]

Just had my 18x40x12 carport built and it is awesome. I don't have power there yet, that will be a summer project. I am going to go with Battle Born Lithium soon, but, for now, I don't want to remove the battery for the winter, but instead, put a trickle charger on it. Since I don't have AC there, I want to put a small solar panel on the roof of the carport, and do a solar trickle charger......first, can I plug directly into the solar wiring since mine is wired for solar, or do I just put my pigtails on the battery like the Battery Tenders are done........has anyone put a solar trickle charger on their rig/carport and if so.....what brand did you go with?

Thanks
Ray

[Hoopy Frood]

Our 351M has a connection for a solar powered battery charger that is wired directly to the battery, just plug the charger into the port. I bought a Sunapex 10 watt charger to use. It got decent reviews on Amazon and was about $30. I've been out to check it a couple times, and it seems to be doing the job.

[Rgpracer]

Our 351M has a connection for a solar powered battery charger that is wired directly to the battery, just plug the charger into the port. I bought a Sunapex 10 watt charger to use. It got decent reviews on Amazon and was about $30. I've been out to check it a couple times, and it seems to be doing the job.

Thanks Howard, mine is 2022 303rls, it has several solar connectors in by the battery. If not too much trouble, can you show me a picture of which connector it is and maybe how you plumbed it?

Thanks Sir

[Hoopy Frood]

This is what mine looks like. I soldered the wire from the solar panel to the male plug. The female panel/plug was already installed and wired up. It is located just to the left of the front opening for the generator/electrical. Mine is strictly for a solar battery charger, nothing else.

[Rgpracer]

This is what mine looks like. I soldered the wire from the solar panel to the male plug. The female panel/plug was already installed and wired up. It is located just to the left of the front opening for the generator/electrical. Mine is strictly for a solar battery charger, nothing else.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Howard, you are awesome.

[Redapple63]

This is what mine looks like. I soldered the wire from the solar panel to the male plug. The female panel/plug was already installed and wired up. It is located just to the left of the front opening for the generator/electrical. Mine is strictly for a solar battery charger, nothing else.

I plumbed one for a friend last summer, same way except I added a 10 amp fuse between connector and battery.

The connection in this picture is what I changed her trailer to. The previous one allowed it to be connected backwards.

She did in fact plug it in backwards and fried the controller. New controller, heavier gauge wire, fuse and a connection that only allows installation one way.

[Hoopy Frood]

The one that was wired up in our 351M did have a inline fuse, and could only be plugged in one way. And it is wired directly to the battery.

[Rgpracer]

It doesn't take a charge controller of some kind?
Just hooks direct?

This is what mine looks like. I soldered the wire from the solar panel to the male plug. The female panel/plug was already installed and wired up. It is located just to the left of the front opening for the generator/electrical. Mine is strictly for a solar battery charger, nothing else.

It doesn't take a controller of some kind?
Hooks direct?

[Redapple63]

It doesn't take a controller of some kind?
Hooks direct?

With these types of portable setups, the controller is part of the solar panel.

[Hoopy Frood]

With these types of portable setups, the controller is part of the solar panel.

That's the way the one I bought was set up. Although I have read that ones under 10 W may not need a controller because the current is so low.