Solar Power!! *Installing BougeRV's MPPT Solar Charge Controller and 100w Solar Array*

[@ThePinoyAggie]

I have the Victron set up to trickle charge the dual battery on the Jeep. This is a nice set-up and very helpful to those considering putting a solar charging system on their rig. The circuit breaker tip is a very good safety tip.

[@BaptismOverland]

Yeah I put circuit breakers wherever I can now lol

[@marceld6061]

For my solar I have a hood mounted solar panel from Cascadia 4x4. They have different models for Jeeps and Toyotas (and maybe more). They aren't cheap but they come with the MPPT controller, and wiring for the battery and a port for aux outlet. It fits directly to your hood. I ran an outlet to the cargo area for plugging in my power bank. The fridge runs off the power bank and the PB is recharged by sunlight. As long as there is a moon at night it still gets 10 to 11 watts from the solar panel. Max output varies by model (mine is 83W) The fridge needs about 25 to 35W. I can always add a rooftop panel if I need more power. Regarding the circuit breakers in your diagram- they should go closer to the source of power so it protects the wire between components. Solar panel- breaker- wire- MPPT- breaker- wire- battery. It is an INPUT source. Any wiring leading off the battery to accessories would have a breaker (or fuse) closest to the battery to protect any length of wire that may have a short.

[@BaptismOverland]

I had considered the cascadia one a long time ago. You've liked it I'm assuming?

[@BaptismOverland]

I am looking to upgrade to redarc BCDC because their solar controller will pull from solar to charge your secondary battery even with vehicle moving to reduce the load on your alternator. Love that feature cuz now I can take advantage of solar while we are on the trail

[@marceld6061]

@@BaptismOverland Other than the initial price it has been great. I just set my power banks in the Jeep to charge them back up after I have used them elsewhere (beach or whatever). Cheaper than plugging it into the wall, I guess.

[@marceld6061]

@@BaptismOverland The Cascade shuts off while alternator is running so RedArc sounds like a great idea. RedArc is top notch equipment. I'll be looking forward to that video.

[@BaptismOverland]

@@marceld6061 yeah most solar will shut off when alternator runs so that's what makes the redarc one different and piqued my interest. Because let's be real...solar is sometimes pointless when trailing because by the time you actually get to camp, it's already dark and then you are heading out again in the morning. So solar has never benefitted me unless I'm in one location for a full day.

[@newlifeoverland226]

What we ended up doing in our JT is we have everything wired to an outlet in the floor of the jeep. That outlet plugs into our jackery 1500. Which means our fridge plugs into the bed that runs into the cab into the jackery. The jackery continues to charge via the JT 400w inverter and generally over night with scene lights, bed, lights, shower, and fridge we use about 20% battery. In about an hour of driving maybe 1.5 hours the jackery is topped back up. For solar when we are stationary we did folding panels that plug directly into the jackery. Now if we use a heated blanket or something else then of course it will take longer to re charge. We had a lithium dual battery in the black 4Runner with red arc and all that jazz and it was just overkill and not to mention super super expensive. With us having two adventure vehicles the jackery on the second go was just the smarter choice for us.

[@BaptismOverland]

That's an awesome setup. I'm also jealous that the JT has dual battery already lol.

[@BaptismOverland]

But what you said about redarc system etc that's EXACTLY what I was saying. It becomes overkill for many of us

[@michaelgee7509]

Early Sunday morning!

[@BaptismOverland]

😂 the lords day!!

[@michaelgee7509]

@@BaptismOverland indeed it is!

[@mattflorence4674]

Asia, I love your content, approach, and style. Keep it up! I've been learning a lot ramping up the fridge/battery/solar setup on my rig. I planned to build a very similar system to this. I'm curious to see how happy you are long term with wiring solar directly to the start battery via a charge controller. I was ready to start installing mine when I realized the under hood temperatures would be too high for the charge controller. Now I'm reevaluating my approach since the charge controller will need to be mounted in the passenger compartment. Also, now I'm entertaining the idea of a DIY LiFePO4 battery! One question - maybe I misunderstand something. I completely get how you need a charge controller between the solar and the start battery to manage the voltage/amperage going to the battery. But I also thought when the vehicle is on, the amperage on the battery circuit from the alternator would cause the controller to stop charging the battery. Essentially the controller would see the battery as full and open the circuit from the solar panel cutting off the flow of current. Anyway - If I understand this right, you can leave both your circuit breakers switched on, and it would just charge the battery, when the vehicle was off, and there was sun, and the battery needed topping off.

[@BaptismOverland]

Correct. Your alternator is charging your battery. When you get to camp and your vehicle is turned off but you got fridges and such running, your battery won't stay full forever. This solar charger will just keep it topped off. It's only 100w so you'll also have to calculate if the fridge and other items are drawing fr the battery faster than the controller can charge if that makes sense. Being that it's only 100w and WITHOUT the solar I can run the fridge for about 16 hrs (that's the longest I've tried...I'm sure I could push it but we weren't hanging out at one spot longer than that) then having the solar is just an extra piece of mind to push it even further. I'm happy with it! But I also found I'm not able to take full advantage because when we DO park somewhere I'm always setting up camp in the shade haha

[@mattflorence4674]

Makes sense. My point was I don't think you need to flip the circuit breakers off while you're driving. I think you can just leave them on, and it will do the right thing.

[@Babybuddha831]

Question… I have a kickass battery box with dcdc 25amp charger already wired. I just got a bouge rv 200w solar. When I plug it in to the dcdc I get over voltage and its reading some where in 27v from solar. Will this mppt help regular the amount of energy solar panel is pushing to my dcdc. Btw great content! We are also a Toyota and jeep house hold. My wife has a 4runner and I have my gladiator

[@BaptismOverland]

That's actually an AWESOME question because, guess what, I had the same issue and question. Haha. The problem I ran into with the BougeRV one is the panel works great but the app was so confusing and I found it to not give me accurate readings. I didn't like it. Plus, at the time, I didn't have a dual battery setup and what I didn't want was overloading my starter battery and before you know it I'm having issues. I've since gone to a dual battery setup and switched to REDARC's BCDC1225D battery charger and it's been AMAZING. I have a video on that as well. And it's so friggin accurate. And you only need the one controller to do it all. It regulates solar and regulates charge coming from the starter and alternator to charge up my second battery I DID keep the BougeRV solar panel though.

[@Babybuddha831]

Good to know, I just ordered the mppt and ill give it a shot. I do have a redarc50amp sitting around, so if the mppt doesn't work out. I'll just rewire in my redarc. I appriacte your time brother 🤙

[@jgpyne]

I’m thinking about adding one of these panels to my JK, what brackets did you use to attach to the FrontRunner rack?

[@BaptismOverland]

Actually not attached to the front runner rack. It's attached to the rails on my RTT and I just used regular nuts and bolts

[@stephenjackson1536]

How did you run the wire through the cowl area? My Jeep is solid there.

[@BaptismOverland]

If it's a JK it's not solid. There's foam. I used a long screwdriver to break through it. Look inside you'll see a hole in the sheet metal and there's a block of foam behind it

[@stephaniecurlee6936]

Wow this is kinda funny I was just asking a friend if he was solar savvy. Then I turn the TV on and bam here's your video. Too cool, again another great video my dude. I was shopping on Amazon trying to figure if I wanted to go DC to DC charger and house battery with solar. Now I might go the route you did. What deep cycle battery did you go with?

[@BaptismOverland]

Oh I only have one deep cycle battery and it's a die hard from Advance Auto (I needed a battery immediately and no yellow tops were in stock). It's been a champ.

[@stephaniecurlee6936]

@@BaptismOverland thanks!

[@182007chris]

Hey quick question I’m interested in this running on my jk do you think there is a way that I could add quick disconnects so I still can take my roof off?

[@BaptismOverland]

Mine is easily disconnected :) So yes def

[@brianwaymire7495]

grate content

[@jhayt4r]

Why not just run goal zero? Buy the panel and battery and call it good. Plug and play. I use goal zero panel and dometic plb40 battery. Going 2yrs strong now

[@BaptismOverland]

We do. Have the Bluetti. I'm looking more for solar to charge vehicle battery then I can turn on scene lights and keep fridge plugged in without having to unplug from 12v then plug to power bank. This is just another way to get that extra power that the sun is providing. Free energy!