Looking for bulkhead connector for solar hookup into trailer tongue box

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  • Lesabret
    Junior Member
    • Jul 2015
    • 2

    #1

    Looking for bulkhead connector for solar hookup into trailer tongue box

    I have a teardrop trailer with the electrical system mounted in the tongue box.
    The batteries are (2) Interstate AGM Group 31 at 100 Ah each.
    There is a Magnum Energy 1000 Watt Inverter/Charger.
    I have a Morningstar Prostar-30 solar controller (not yet installed).

    My intention is to obtain (2) 100 Watt panels and hinge them together suitcase style and connect them in parallel with a single 8 AWG cable (single cable with 2 conductors) running to the tongue box and connected to the controller, which will be mounted close to the batteries. This portable setup will be able to be placed in the sun away from the trailer if the trailer is parked in the shade.

    My quest is to find a suitable connector to mount on the tongue box wall which will accept whatever plug(s) is(are) on the end of the extension cable and will accept crimped terminals on the backside (inside the box) to run short sections of 8 AWG to a circuit breaker and the controller. I'd really like to find something similar to the "port" connectors which folks use to bring AC shore power into a box or boat or whatever with a weatherproof cover.

    So far, all I have found are smaller bulkhead connectors with 14 AWG wire molded to the backside. (Zamp is one example). I know that some folks get by with 12 or 14 AWG wire, but I am locked into wanting to use 8 AWG for my setup (I actually started out thinking I wanted to use 6 AWG wire for the cable, but was persuaded to accept 8 AWG).

    If anyone knows of a source for the type of receptacle I am looking for, any tips would be much appreciated.

    Thanks in advance for any info offered.
  • sensij
    Solar Fanatic
    • Sep 2014
    • 5074

    #2
    I think a bulkhead MC4 connector would work, take a look and see.... never mind, they only go to 10 AWG.

    Here is another option that goes to 8 AWG
    CS6P-260P/SE3000 - http://tiny.cc/ed5ozx

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    • SunEagle
      Super Moderator
      • Oct 2012
      • 15166

      #3
      You may want to check out something made by Pico or Allstar battery connectors. They range in amp rating from low to very high so finding one that takes the #8 AWG wire would probably be in the 50amp range,

      I use them to allow me to quickly disconnect my inverter from the battery.

      I do not think they make a "bulkhead" receptacle but they do make water proof end caps so you could have a "pig tail" cable coming out of the trailer to connect the panels..

      Just something else to look at.

      How about looking at something used on Golf carts. They have a receptacle that a charger can plug into.

      There is also something from PERKO that make watertight plugs and receptacle for boats.
      Last edited by SunEagle; 07-23-2015, 03:37 PM. Reason: added last sentence.

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