Can the Portable Solar Kit be used without a controller?Updated 6 days ago
The AIR GEAR Portable Solar Kit has an external MPPT-type charge controller. When connecting the solar panels to your RV, this controller must be used, and it must be connected directly to the batteries (either through the factory-installed solar port, or through the 7-way plug).
When connecting to a portable power station, you may be able to skip the charge controller. Check the documentation for your power station to be sure. For more information, see this article.
Beware of the re-wired solar port
Sometimes service techs will modify the wiring of the factory-installed solar port so that it connects directly to the onboard charge controller for the rooftop panels. They'll then recommend that you only use "unregulated" panels – panels that don't have a charge controller. This set-up creates a problem and we strongly recommend that you don't allow your solar port to be re-wired this way.
The problem is that the output specs for the portable solar panels may not match the rooftop panels. When you are connecting multiple panels through a single charge controller, all of the panels need to have matching output specifications (volts, amps, watts). If they don't match, the system won't work efficiently. This will limit your ability to add/use other solar products in the future. That's because the specs of the rooftop panels are likely to be different from other solar products, such as portable panels.
The best practice is not to modify the exterior solar port
Leave the solar port as it was originally designed by Airstream: connected directly to the battery. This way you can use any regulated portable panels you want, with their own charge controller. The two charge controllers (one for the rooftop and one for the portable panels) will each work cooperatively to maintain the batteries.
What if your solar port has already been re-wired?
If your solar port no longer connects directly to the battery, you have three options:
- Have the wiring for the solar port reinstated Airstream's original arrangement (directly to the battery, with an in-line 20 amp fuse).
- Purchase our Portable Solar Kit with the optional 7-way connector, thus bypassing the solar port. This option will work on all travel trailers except 2023 and later Trade Wind models.
- Connect the solar panels to a portable power station, and use the power station to supply power to the Airstream.