Solar Panel Cable Pass Through

[Marly0118]

Obviously I'm a newby here.  I've searched this forum & the WEB but haven't found an answer to my question but maybe I'm too inexperienced to recognize a simple solution when I see it :huh: 

I'm in the process of setting up a van for solar & will be using free standing portable solar panels.  I had planned to run the cables (8AWG) to a weatherproof connector mounted to the wall of the van (I do not want to run cables through the van wall) but I haven't found a MC4 bulkhead connector, just panel mount MC4 connectors which seems like a poor approach since they would stick out pretty far & require weatherproof boots when not in use.  Maybe I just need to pass the cables through a door but worry that closing the door on them would damage them after a while.

How are other folks running the cables from portable panels into a van?  Thanks -

 

[Trebor English]

I have a roof mounted panel and the 2 wires go through the top edge of the door.  The soft rubber door gasket is nice to the cables.  I have tape and zip ties to hold the wires in the same place every time.  The wires have several bends that are constant.  There is enough gap between the steel door edge and the adjacent steel.  

If none of your doors have enough gap between steel parts to comfortably pass the wire through you will need to drill. There may be a convenient place to drill through inside the gas fill door.  That would normally be closed so the hole would be invisible.  A hole in an upward direction would not funnel rain inside.  

Going through the firewall into the engine compartment might get the wires out through the front under the edge of the hood or through the grill.

 

[Almost There]

My MC4 cables are wired to connect to standard heavy duty extension cords (only 2 wires in it are in use).

I used a Marinco Inlet Charger 'outlet' and mounted it on my back bumper so I didn't have to drill holes in the body of the van. It's wired under the van, in through a hole in the floor (grommeted and sealed) up in to my 'electrical room' to the controller.

I set up the extension cords so that I have a 25' cord and an additional cord if I needed it.

Here's the inlet port that I used:

http://www.marinco.com/en/150bbi

 

[Weight]

On those portable panels. It is best to have the controller close to the battery so you don't lose much on long runs. Bring the solar panel wire to the van. Almost here has a good idea. Drilling a hole in a upward direction will not work in sheet metal.

 

[tx2sturgis]

I drilled in the sliding door step/channel of my van, toward the very rear of the 'tray', (not in the track of course!)...its just one sheet of metal to go thru to the outside. This was for connecting a frame mount battery but would work just as well for a cable to a portable panel. With the carpeting over it, no one knows its there except me!

Or, you could drill and mount a weatherproof Anderson port, and use MC4 to Anderson adapters:

https://powerwerx.com/panelpole-panel-mount-powerpole-housing

https://powerwerx.com/solar-mc4-anderson-powerpole-adapter-cable

 

[highdesertranger]

I love Powerwerx stuff but that panel mount is only weather resistant and that is only when nothing is plugged in it with the cover on it. once you plug into it it's not weather proof at all. highdesertranger

 

[tx2sturgis]

Yep...I stated 'weatherproof' and it says right on the page, 'weather resistant'....

My bad.

I'm guessing that operation in really wet or bad weather would mean little or no solar output anyway, so then its time to unplug the panels and go inside!

 

[John61CT]

I don't usually put my panels out in the rain, but suppose some might.

There are more waterproof APP boot setups, but haven't seen a neat panel.

Google

trolling motor socket plug

There are 2- and 4-wire ones

 

[John61CT]

Also ​Amphenol-Deutsch makes good stuff
https://laddinc.com/products/connector-selector/

 

[John61CT]

Also Blue Sea's 12V twist-lock version of a (compatible with) 12V ciggie plug.

But I would only do that for the output side of a SC, tilted downward, and not carrying more than 10A.

 

[John61CT]

Another way to go, if the portable panels are carried on the roof rack, is just use cable glands to seal the wire pass-through, long enough to open the panels on the roof or say within twenty feet, and then just carry extension cords for when you need to locate the panels far away.

 

[Marly0118]

Thanks to each of you for your input - it's always good to hear what people are actually doing & any experience based ideas.  I really like the Powerwerx idea because I think I can mount it someplace where it shouldn't be too exposed to the weather (I don't "plan" to have the panels out in bad weather anyway) & it can handle higher current.  I realize that being a beginner, anything I try will be subject to revision, revision, revision...