Possibly. But the controller needs to be at the other end of the cable closer to the battery, so bypass this controller for a start. Cable looks a bit on the light side as best as one can tell, replace the cable while at it.

I have 12awg on the back of my 20 watt panels & 6awg to the battery, for up to 3.9amps in series.

DeBe wrote:

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Those type of regulators you connect the battery first, then connect the Solar panel. & disconnect in reverse order. If you don't you run the risk of damaging the regulator (read the instructions)

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 I have also been advised on a previous post to cover my panels or turn them face down  so they are producing no charge before first connecting to the battery 

David 

Hi Tony, if the solar regulators are the PWM type, no problems, if they are both the MPPT type, I wish you the best of luck.
You haven't mentioned the portable solar capacity, if 100w or less, 6mm auto cable (4.35mmsq) will be ok, 200w you need 8 gauge cable (8.5mm sq) and anything more than that you need 6 B&S cable (13.5mm sq) This is for the run from the solar panels to the regulator, so both sides of the Anderson plug. I'd recommend 6 B&S cable from the controller to the battery, it should be a short run and the bigger the cable the better.

T1 Terry

PS These cable sizes are for a PWM controller where the panels are connected in parallel. If you are using an MPPT controller, I'm sure someone from that camp will be along soon to try and help you.

Hi Tony, cable size is very hard to estimate from the outside of insulation, it is the conductor size that is important. I have see the Rich Solar 60w panels with 4mm sq conductor cables and I've also seen them with 2.5mm sq conductor cables. To be sure to be sure, replace the cable from each connector box on the back of the panel with 6mm auto cable (4.35mm sq) and run the lengths to an Anderson plug, crimp the 2 positives into one lug and the 2 negatives into the other. If you hold your mouth right, you can get 4 lots of 6mm auto cable into the 50 amp Anderson plug lug, I have fitted 5 cables in each but I did need to flare out the lug to get them in.
If you haven't got access to a hydraulic crimper to make a good crimp on the lug, stand it on its end between two bits of wood or bricks, heat the lug and fill it with solder, then push the cables in. Trying to do it the out way round will result in the insulation pulling back or even burning exposing a lot of cable conductor outside the Anderson plug when you assemble it. Never try to solder a lug on with the cable laying flat, the solder will wick up inside the insulation making the cable rigid at the point of connection. This will result in the cable snapping inside the conductor after a while and you'll be left scratching your head as to why it doesn't work any more.

The cable between the panels and the vehicle having an Anderson plug each end makes it much easier to deploy and put away each night. We use 6 B&S cable, because we already carry it on bulk drums and there is no such thing as have the cables too big as long as you can still carry them and roll them up :lol:
We have added 4mm stainless cables with crimped eye fittings each end and attached to the cable using pieces on heat shrink. We can then add a padlock to the panels that also have a length of the same stainless cable fitted and we have an anchor point where the Anderson plug into the RV is mounted where we can padlock that end to the vehicle. It won't stop a determined thief with an angle grinder, but it will stop the opportunity thief and they are the most common.

T1 Terry

PS: If you have a look through this listing https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=10+mtr+6+B%26S+cable+with+Anderson+plugs&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=Magnetic+LED+Flash+Emergency+Safety+Road+Flare+Warning+Light+Safety+%2B+Battery. you can find different lengths with the ends already fitted. We bought the 4mm stainless cable and ends etc from Bunnings.

Ron-D wrote:

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Pwm is the only regulator to use mppt should not be used , your the expert Terry but most people do use mppt ,when you make comments like that you would lose a lot of respect if you made them on a tecko site, here you can get away with it I guess.your in the business Terry of fitting solar systems maybe the old pwm suit your build ,just about everyone I know have mppt fitted and ditched there pwm no probs excellent results charging the batteries ,That statement would have you look foolish if you stated it elsewhere theres no one here Except poor old mate that can argue with you and your wore him down 

-- Edited by Ron-D on Monday 27th of May 2019 09:50:01 AM

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Not the case at all Ron, we use MPPT controllers on the bigger house off grid systems, just ones that can work together in parallel. On a big system the added cost can be factored over the whole system and off set slightly by the reduced cabling costs.

In the case the OP was asking about, this is a very small capacity system installed on the van and a second very small portable system he wants to run in parallel. This would gain nothing by spending the $$ required for two MPPT controllers that will work in parallel so there was no value in suggesting the system be changed to one with high $$ MPPT controllers.

Try reading the whole post I put up Ron https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t65556653/portable-solar-panel-connection/?page=1#comment-65568812 If he did have MPPT controllers there was a perfect opening for you to put forward your knowledge regarding multiple MPPT controllers in parallel. 

Why this continual attack thing, why can't assistance be offered to someone who asks for help without having to weather yet another attack.

T1 Terry

T1 Terry wrote:

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Ron-D wrote:

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Pwm is the only regulator to use mppt should not be used , your the expert Terry but most people do use mppt ,when you make comments like that you would lose a lot of respect if you made them on a tecko site, here you can get away with it I guess.your in the business Terry of fitting solar systems maybe the old pwm suit your build ,just about everyone I know have mppt fitted and ditched there pwm no probs excellent results charging the batteries ,That statement would have you look foolish if you stated it elsewhere theres no one here Except poor old mate that can argue with you and your wore him down 

-- Edited by Ron-D on Monday 27th of May 2019 09:50:01 AM

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Not the case at all Ron, we use MPPT controllers on the bigger house off grid systems, just ones that can work together in parallel. On a big system the added cost can be factored over the whole system and off set slightly by the reduced cabling costs.

In the case the OP was asking about, this is a very small capacity system installed on the van and a second very small portable system he wants to run in parallel. This would gain nothing by spending the $$ required for two MPPT controllers that will work in parallel so there was no value in suggesting the system be changed to one with high $$ MPPT controllers.

Try reading the whole post I put up Ron https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t65556653/portable-solar-panel-connection/?page=1#comment-65568812 If he did have MPPT controllers there was a perfect opening for you to put forward your knowledge regarding multiple MPPT controllers in parallel. 

Why this continual attack thing, why can't assistance be offered to someone who asks for help without having to weather yet another attack.

 

T1 Terry

 

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 Iam not attacking Terry you obviously think you own this segment of the forum ,I should be entitled to my views if they differ from yours so be it ,although Iam not the so called expert ,some of your stuff on mppt gets up my nose they work great on small solar panels ,and on most sites they would be preferred ,but I cant compete with huge pages of text so why bother if you want to educate people to support your way of thinking Terry and fit the useless thing I threw in garbage good luck to them This my last post on this subject dealing with you and your never ending posts is not worth it.we seem to have lost a lot of good info from oldtrack because of your over the top posts and rants.