A Forum run by Enthusiasts of MidNite Solar

Charge Controllers and Clippers => The "Classic" charge controller => Topic started by: ryan.fletcher on October 22, 2018, 09:47:56 AM

Title: Remote mount of classic 150 display
Post by: ryan.fletcher on October 22, 2018, 09:47:56 AM
Hi all,

I am new to the forum and this is my first post, so I apologize if this has been discussed in the past.

I am having a super hard time getting a cable that will work to remote mount my classic 150 display.  I want to mount it about 10' away from where the charge controller is set up, so it is far from a long run.

I have purchased three different RJ12 6p6c (straight wired) cables from three different manufacturers and none of them work when I plug them into the display.  I have inspected them and by all appearances seem identical to the factory supplied 12" cable that comes with the classic.  I also checked the wiring positioning compared to the classic manual and they also appear the same.

I tried to seat the cables deep in the sockets in case the connection wasnt quite being made, but no luck with that. 

When I plug the display back into the short cable that was supplied with the classic - no issues what so ever.

Am I missing something here?

Its a bit disappointing because this should be a super simple task, but is the one thing that I am hung up on.

Am I the only one who thinks midnite should just ship an extension cable with the unit - maybe a basic 12' cable.  I also got a xantrex inverter and it came with an extension cable.  Simply plug it in and your good to go.

Would really appreciate peoples insights here cause I am tired of crawling into my solar box just to see how things are doing and would really like my display in my cabin.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Remote mount of classic 150 display
Post by: FNG on October 22, 2018, 10:41:20 AM
My finding is that off the shelf phone cables greater than 5 feet don't work, if you make a phone cable out of a cat5 style cable you can go over 100ft easy but the cheap quality of the wire in the premade phone cables has to much voltage drop

Title: Re: Remote mount of classic 150 display
Post by: ClassicCrazy on October 22, 2018, 12:12:59 PM
I don't remember if regular phone cable crosses over or not - but did  you check to make sure the wires on original cable are on the same pins as your replacement cable ?

Not sure what gauge wire I have in mine but it is telephone cable type with the 6 pin connector - probably 25 feet or so - and it work just fine with the MNGP.

But I agree , making one out of cat 5 cable will probably work better. You can get crimpers and connectors for making those pretty cheap or just get the connectors and have a local computer place put the ends on for you .

Larry
Title: Re: Remote mount of classic 150 display
Post by: ryan.fletcher on October 22, 2018, 03:13:39 PM
Thanks for the reply's guys.
Title: Re: Remote mount of classic 150 display
Post by: WillEert on November 12, 2018, 09:35:24 AM
I positioned a second MNGP about 20' from my Classic 150.  I bought a 25' data cable for the install and had no problems. Hope this helps.

Will