Anybody know "Go Power"?

[Daxbuddy]

When we purchased our used (2021) trailer last year, the documents envelope included a brochure from "Go Power" indicating the unit was wired for a battery-charging solar panel. The website is Solarontheside.com. We verified the trailer has the special plug (which presumably provides a trickle charge to the RV battery), and have been trying to contact the vendor for months now. Emails and Contact-Us options on their website are returning crickets.
Anybody know if these folks are out of business, and maybe know of an alternate vendor where we can purchase solar panels and use the same charging wiring and plug? The brochure claims we can connect "any portable solar kit" to their plug. We assume this means any kit from them, as the plug looks proprietary.

Cheers

[Mr. Dan]

Did you try https://gopowersolar.com/contact-go-power/?

[NJKris]

Dax, use the search window on this site, there are probably a million threads to read to get you on the right track. GoPower is a longtime OEM solar company for FR, but it is an American company and really expensive compared to alternatives.


The solar on the side is not for trickle charging, it's for real charging via solar. It's called an SAE connection, easy to modifiy it to use with other systems, just make sure polarity it correct, these companies like GoPower like to try to make to 'proprietary' by reversing the polarity from standard SAE connections.



Read up on it.

[Justauser]

Go Power is a brand owned by Dometic. They're definitely not out of business. But their solar equipment is really not the best in the industry.

[Aussieguy]

I cheaped out and bought a MPPT from amazon
it still works after 3000 miles


LOOK on your roof to see if there are solar connectors up there too.
you might get lucky and it may be prewired for rooftop solar

IF it is NOT there are several easy ways to run wiring from roof and add some permanent panels...
My solar + good batteries takes care of ALL my 12v power needs

I bought my panels through facebook market place (no shipping)
Amazon for the bulk of the brackets wire etc

[Daxbuddy]

Thanks NJKris and other respondents. Will do some reading up for sure. I was mainly surprised that a solar company would not respond to contact attempts. That bumps them down in my list when shopping.

We don't plan extended off grid camping in the near future, just looking for a portable panel option that would keep our single standard battery topped up when parked for a couple of days. Will see what works for other folks here.
Cheers

[jlankford]

Originally Posted by Daxbuddy

Thanks NJKris and other respondents. Will do some reading up for sure. I was mainly surprised that a solar company would not respond to contact attempts. That bumps them down in my list when shopping.

We don't plan extended off grid camping in the near future, just looking for a portable panel option that would keep our single standard battery topped up when parked for a couple of days. Will see what works for other folks here.
Cheers

Go Power has been very responsive and helpful with technical customer service inquiries. I don't know what's up with that other website you tried to use.

But I'm not a loyal fan due to their high prices. I've expanded my initial factory-installed GoPower system using Renogy components. Same specs at less than half the price in some cases.

[Daxbuddy]

Originally Posted by NJKris

Dax, use the search window on this site, there are probably a million threads to read to get you on the right track. GoPower is a longtime OEM solar company for FR, but it is an American company and really expensive compared to alternatives.


The solar on the side is not for trickle charging, it's for real charging via solar. It's called an SAE connection, easy to modifiy it to use with other systems, just make sure polarity it correct, these companies like GoPower like to try to make to 'proprietary' by reversing the polarity from standard SAE connections.



Read up on it.

After some research, it looks like we will go with one of the Renogy small kits to start with. This will include the panel, charge controller, stand, and a cable of undisclosed length with alligator clips for battery connection. I also intend to get a cable to replace the kit option that has SAE connector.
As for your comment regarding polarity at the trailer connector, can you describe how I would test that? I am handly in just about everything except electrical...
Thanks

[jlankford]

Originally Posted by Daxbuddy

After some research, it looks like we will go with one of the Renogy small kits to start with. This will include the panel, charge controller, stand, and a cable of undisclosed length with alligator clips for battery connection. I also intend to get a cable to replace the kit option that has SAE connector.
As for your comment regarding polarity at the trailer connector, can you describe how I would test that? I am handly in just about everything except electrical...
Thanks

The simplest way is with a voltmeter. Probing the connector contacts will make it immediately obvious which contact is positive and which is negative. The other end of the wires from that connector run, most likely, straight to the battery terminals. If you find that the connector is the wrong polarity it should be simple to swap the connections at the battery.

[JakeThe]

Originally Posted by NJKris

Dax, use the search window on this site, there are probably a million threads to read to get you on the right track. GoPower is a longtime OEM solar company for FR, but it is an American company and really expensive compared to alternatives.


The solar on the side is not for trickle charging, it's for real charging via solar. It's called an SAE connection, easy to modifiy it to use with other systems, just make sure polarity it correct, these companies like GoPower like to try to make to 'proprietary' by reversing the polarity from standard SAE connections.



Read up on it.

Hey Kris. Your response is very helpful. How do I check the polarity? How do I know the right terminology for that connection? I am new to this and I cant find the proper source for such knowledge. Thx.

[NJKris]

I believe JLankford already answered that. But to me more specific, a digital multimeter set to DC (direct current) voltage will give you a voltage display when applied to solar on the side terminals. The red wire is positive, black is negative. If you get a negative reading, your red wire is on the negative and black on the positive, which is opposite of conventional reading, and will indicate which terminal is positive, and which is negative.



I bought a Renogy SAE adapator that allows you to plug into standard MC4 solar cable connections. When I checked the voltage coming off this adapter, I concluded the voltage was opposite of what is should be when connecting the MC4 connectors to my Renogy suitcase charge controller. So I simply reversed the cables at the charge controller. If you do that, just remember to include a note that red is negative, and black is positive, or if you die, somebody knows you reversed it!

[Daxbuddy]

Originally Posted by NJKris

I believe JLankford already answered that. But to me more specific, a digital multimeter set to DC (direct current) voltage will give you a voltage display when applied to solar on the side terminals. The red wire is positive, black is negative. If you get a negative reading, your red wire is on the negative and black on the positive, which is opposite of conventional reading, and will indicate which terminal is positive, and which is negative.

At the risk of further demonstrating my electrical challenges, I reinstalled my charged battery and tested the sae plug. Sadly, I get a good voltage reading when I apply my probes red to +, and black to -, but also when I reverse both probes. So I don't understand how this illustrates polarity in the plug. Am I supposed to try finding a bare metal ground for the black probe and then use red probe in each side of the plug? I would need to grind off some frame paint to do that...
Thanks for pointers...

[NJKris]

On a digital meter, look for the MINUS sign on display, that would show the polarity is reversed.

[Daxbuddy]

Dang, you're quick! Yes, I viewed another couple of videos on checking polarity, and realized I was interpretting the minus sign on my multimeter as my battery level indicator. When you mentioned negative, I read negative side of plug.
In my defence, I am a programmer, so I need precise specs ;-)
Thanks much, got it figured now.

[NJKris]

Hah! just happened to look at my laptop in between grilling chicken for dinner.

[fishingfool]

Originally Posted by Daxbuddy

Dang, you're quick! Yes, I viewed another couple of videos on checking polarity, and realized I was interpretting the minus sign on my multimeter as my battery level indicator. When you mentioned negative, I read negative side of plug.
In my defence, I am a programmer, so I need precise specs ;-)
Thanks much, got it figured now.

As a fellow programmer (well x-programmer since I retired last year) I am on the same page about needing precise specs especially when trying to figure out things outside my comfort zone - like electricity