I’ve searched previous threads, but haven’t seen this anywhere yet. Can anyone point me in the direction to where I might possibly find the part number(s) for the Male/Female connectors used on the Gen 3 Solar Panel? I’m referring to the actual panel connectors, not after the hardware that follows (noise filters, maybe? It seems to be converted to just a positive wire, and maybe negative is grounded to the chassis). This is my first post to Prius Chat. I’ve been lurking for way too long, always intended on creating a sign-in, but put it off far too long. So, I will attempt my first upload; a picture of the connector I found on eBay. I have been traveling part time in a Prius Camper Van conversion for 6 years now. All of my mods to date can easily be reverted to stock. I’d like to get connectors to run two 12 AWG twin-lead copper marine grade wires down to the cargo area, and wire in two dual connection DC rated circuit breakers and a Y cable. Essentially, my circuit would allow me to disconnect the solar panel + and - from the Prius completely, and then connect them to a separate floating house battery bank via MPPT charge controller. I’ve had the wire and breakers for years, but dread taking out the headliner, and don’t want to start until I can find the connectors. This would mostly be used for travel and cold sunny days, when the panel is not being used for ventilation. -FN
I could cut them out of another solar roof car. I'm not sure what you're going to do to find the connectors having them unplugged and looking at them like you would be offering up the male and female pieces together would give you a better chance of success the plug pieces are mated I'm assuming there's a channel that runs down the mail and female piece that have to match up that's what you need to see to find the connector Alibaba in places like that would probably be a good start I don't think this is an uncommon connector doesn't seem to be anything real specialized that kind of thing I don't think the connector will come up in a parts diagram because the connector is part of another piece like the solar panel and then the piece coming from the car would be on a wiring harness for the car and the wiring of the solar panel to individual pieces that make together via the plug you want to make something to connect to the car vice versa using the same plug so that you can quickly switch between the solar panel and the battery bank or what have you. Maybe you'll just wind up with some similar plugs that you can splice in and then use those I'm sure you will work it out.
Tombukt2, Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I wouldn’t want you to cut the connectors out of a Solar Prius, unless the solar panel is no longer functional, I would think it would decrease the sunroof/panel resale value. Now that I’m looking at those photos from 2 different eBay listings, I can tell the connectors appear to be different, and the panel junction boxes are certainly different. I’m guessing they have most likely changed throughout the years, and my car built June of 2010 probably would be different from later model years. I’m now thinking I might have to buy a male/female pair of crimp connectors to cut and add to the Blue/Black part of the harness and a second par for my twin-lead runs. Most likely impossible to tell from the picture, but it looks like it could be 14 AWG wire, but could be 16 or even 18. I’m wondering if any of those harnesses are in any Toyota documentation. I only wanted to use 12 AWG to minimize the added length resistance, and the circuit breaker that would be inline when using the panel for ventilation. it appears I will have to get used to taking the headliner out multiple times in order to do this project, which is why I never did it, even during the pandemic. -FN
I just attached after the noise filter, and was able to find those connector part numbers with little trouble. The wiring diagram doesn't show what happens between the noise filter and the panel; as far as it's concerned, the car's wiring harness connects to the noise filter and that's that. i'm not sure I'd want to go around the noise filter anyway.
Somewhere in this thread a guy just made a loop connector or something right there where that noise filter connector or whatever is in the other thread that Chapman was posting in with some other guy where they've done whatever with this business He made a bypass or a way to tap into that line without even having to use or mess with that connector it's still plugs up like it does and then he plugs into his I think he added a red wire or something I'm so there's always that way to do it too He has pictures and everything they both do
Yeah that thing Just do that and you don't have to touch the connector seems to make much more sense than trying to round up connectors cut them out of other cars figure out which connector is who and trying to find it and I wouldn't have time for all that this is what would have to be done so the car is back on the road etc I guess this is all to I don't know Is it run the solar ventilation fan? Our solar roof car I don't think that's ever been used The cars never been parked long enough to worry about ventilation in a parking lot That's why it made 396,000 miles because it stayed on the road. Once these cars start being treated like an old lady's car driven every so often we have bicycles other things and all of that and then things start happening at least that's been our experience.
