New Solar Panel Report (1 Viewer)

Munchie

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Jul 28, 2007
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Hi, just back from a week away at a non hook up site with our new solar panels. Rather than report how many amps I was getting I have kept a log of our usage and weather conditions. Hope it is of use. ::bigsmile:

Day 1

Weather:- 1/2 and 1/2 sun and cloud.
Battery:- condition at 0900 100% on regulator and fully charged on van panel.
Usage
Tele:- 4 hours
Lights:- 2 hours.

Day 2

Weather:- Rain all day
Battery:- condition at 0900 100% on regulator and fully charged on van panel.
Usage
Tele:- 5 hours
Lights:- 4 hours.
Laptop:- 1 hour
Tom Tom recharged:- 2 hours

Day 3

Weather:- Rain all day
Battery:- condition at 0900 100% on regulator and fully charged on van panel.
Usage
Tele:- 4 hours
Lights:- 2 hours.
Laptop:- 1 hour.
Phone charged:- 3 hours

Day 4


Weather:- Rained till 1400 then sunny.
Battery:- condition at 0900 100% on regulator and fully charged on van panel.
Usage
Tele:- 5 hours
Lights:- 2 hours.
Laptop:- 2 hour.

Day 5


Weather:- Sun and cloud
Battery:- condition at 0900 100% on regulator and fully charged on van panel.
Usage
Tele:- 5 hours
Lights:- 3 hours.
Laptop:- 1 hour.


Day 6


Weather:- Rain all day
Battery:- condition at 0900 100% on regulator and fully charged on van panel.
Usage
Tele:- 5 hours
Lights:- 2 hours.
Laptop:- 1 hour.
Phone charged:- 3 hours
Phone charged:- 2 hours


Givens.
Water pump as required for two people sowers washing up etc
Electronics for fridge and gas alarm etc

Setup.
Two x 120 batteries
Two x 80 solar panels.

As you can see the weather was the pits yet batteries remained fully charged.

Am I chuffed? You betcha, best money we've spent on the motorhome. Be interesting to see how they do when the days are much shorter.

Many thanks to Mark of C.L.S. :thumb:

BTW all equipment is 12v no invertors were used.
 
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bobandjanie

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Apr 28, 2008
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Hi Ken, it will be nice to park next door now, without that gennie running.:winky:::bigsmile:

I must say we are happy with ours, we have not had electric since it was fitted.::bigsmile: But we still take the Kiper with us, I should say it will be out in the winter.:Doh: Short dark wet days and the Heating and TV ON.:Smile:

I was going to say, you two watch too much TV, but as you had. :rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain::rain: That's OK.:winky::roflmto::roflmto:

You should have come to :sin: Sunny Sufolk. Bob :thumb:
 
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Forestboy

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Jul 31, 2007
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Hi Ken & Steph
Wow that's pretty amazing what size solar panel did you have fitted?

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Munchie

Munchie

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Jul 28, 2007
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Hi Ken & Steph
Wow that's pretty amazing what size solar panel did you have fitted?

2 x 80's Yep I couldn't believe it considering the weather was the pits. But both regulator for the panels and the motorhome panel showed batteries fully charged each morning. :Eeek:
 
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Munchie

Munchie

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Good to see the panels worked out well for you Ken.

Graham

In no small part due to advice from yourself, Bryan and Mark at Stratford George. :thumb:

I think the LED lights played a big part as well. ::bigsmile:

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Road Runner

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Jul 26, 2007
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Impressive report Ken:thumb:

I am going to get one 80 watt hopefully this year.
 

Geo

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Jul 29, 2007
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In no small part due to advice from yourself, Bryan and Mark at Stratford George. :thumb:

I think the LED lights played a big part as well. ::bigsmile:
Glad it worked out for you Ken
I have got Mark looking into some rain panels for us:Doh:
Geo
 

markymark

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Mar 21, 2009
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Hi Ken

how many lesiure batteries is your set up charging and what size are they?
Did you install yourself and where did you get set up from.

Sounds really good and would love to do the same
 

Ambilkate

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Jul 15, 2009
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solar panels

We have got to look at an alternative to electric hook up its such a bind, We were very restricted in france we had to keep finding sites for hook up. We would have rather tried out the aires but the electric is only for an hour and its just not long enough. Our disabled daughter has a lot of items that have to be charged plus a mobility scooter not sure if pannels could do that, are they very expensive.
 

Jim

Ringleader
Jul 19, 2007
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Hi Ken, I can almost see the smile you wore when you wrote that:Smile: I know the feeling, our battery/panel combination allows us to be off hookup almost indefinitely in the summer months. Its a nice checking the batteries at midday to see they are back up to 100%:thumb:

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Mrs Munchie

Funster
Jan 3, 2008
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Hi Ken

how many lesiure batteries is your set up charging and what size are they?
Did you install yourself and where did you get set up from.

Sounds really good and would love to do the same

Hi 2 x 120 batteries. All lights are LED which I think is a big factor. Mark from C.L.S. fitted them for us and gave us a good price in comparison to what was on offer at the shows. :thumb:
 

Tony Lee

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Sep 28, 2008
274
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Does your panel have just the three lights (could be in trouble/not sure where you're at/could be some charge in it) - or do you have an accurate state of charge meter that shows how many Ah remaining.

Solar certainly beats generators any day.
 
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Munchie

Munchie

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Does your panel have just the three lights (could be in trouble/not sure where you're at/could be some charge in it) - or do you have an accurate state of charge meter that shows how many Ah remaining.

Solar certainly beats generators any day.

100% was the battery condition reading from the solar panel regulator. Van panel gives 4 lights 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and fully charged.

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bashers

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Mar 21, 2009
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Not meaning to upset the apple cart here, but are you sure those figures are right?
100% battery power at 9am in the morning after an evening of lights and TV?

There can't possibly have been enough light to charge your batteries back up by 9am in the UK surely
 

Tony Lee

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Sep 28, 2008
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Not meaning to upset the apple cart here, but are you sure those figures are right?
100% battery power at 9am in the morning after an evening of lights and TV?

There can't possibly have been enough light to charge your batteries back up by 9am in the UK surely
That's why I asked about State of Charge meters. Anything that makes assumptions based on battery voltage is always going to be wildly optimistic when charging and pessimistic when discharging.

Still, can't knock the system even if that is true because it has done the job the owner asked of it.
 
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Munchie

Munchie

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Not meaning to upset the apple cart here, but are you sure those figures are right?
100% battery power at 9am in the morning after an evening of lights and TV?

There can't possibly have been enough light to charge your batteries back up by 9am in the UK surely

I can only say that I took the readings each day as said, bear in mind all lights are LED so having the main cieling light on and a couple to read by for an hour in bed is next to nothing. I also think the fact that I don't use any invertor is a major factor. :Smile:

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Road Runner

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I can only say that I took the readings each day as said, bear in mind all lights are LED so having the main cieling light on and a couple to read by for an hour in bed is next to nothing. I also think the fact that I don't use any invertor is a major factor. :Smile:

I bet your reading the instruction on how the solar panel works and LED Bulb.:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

**************************************************************

Had saved the money for a panel but been hit by surprise with a new fuel pump £345, 3 new batteries (the were renewed under a year ago from Phoenix but the worshop insist their DEAD??) and my bike broke down at speed so wrecked a rear tyre and now in bits and needing a new tie bars (but the labour):shout::Doh::cry:

If a sell a car maybe I might still have enough for a panel?:RollEyes:


*************************************************************

Glad yours are a great success:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:
 
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davejen

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Aug 21, 2008
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We have got to look at an alternative to electric hook up its such a bind, We were very restricted in france we had to keep finding sites for hook up. We would have rather tried out the aires but the electric is only for an hour and its just not long enough. Our disabled daughter has a lot of items that have to be charged plus a mobility scooter not sure if pannels could do that, are they very expensive.

Hi, Bill &Kath, would it not be possible to charge the equipment whilst you are driving? I'm sure someone on here can advise- any suggestions? Iwould think an inverter run off your vehicle battery maybe?
Hope this helps a bit, regards, Dave:thumb:
 

GJH

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(snip)Our disabled daughter has a lot of items that have to be charged plus a mobility scooter not sure if pannels could do that, are they very expensive.

At the Lincoln Show last weekend we noticed that a couple of people had small solar panels attached to the front of their mobility scooters. No idea of the capacity but, going from the size, they weren't very high capacity ones. Maybe the manufacturer or retailer of the scooter will be able to give you advice on what is appropriate.

Graham

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Losos

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100% battery power at 9am in the morning after an evening of lights and TV?
There can't possibly have been enough light to charge your batteries back up by 9am in the UK surely

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. With his controller having just four lights the indicator must be approximate i.e. It might be saying 100% when in fact it's 90%
meaning the next light (down) will only come on when 75% capacity.

Doesn't really matter 'tho because as mentioned it has done the job, provided all the power they wanted so happiness all round::bigsmile:
 

nahnotme

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Sep 23, 2007
239
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336
Im a bit disapointed with my 120w solar panel. I have 3x110ah and 1x 85ah leisure battery and after being hooked up for over a week we went wild camping for 1 night, we used the following appliances
2x laptops for 5 hours each
radio for 7 hours
3X led lights for 3 hours
mobile phones charged 2 hours
blown air heating for 1 hour
electric step 5 mins total
water pump 20 mins
then the inverter started screaming !!
surely somethings not right ?
I used to notice when hooked up that the lights used to dip when something ( i presume the battery charger) clicked into action, but ive not noticed this for a while.
A mechanic tested the alternator and thats ok, how do I test the leisure batteries and charging system ?
Im planning on wintering in spain mainly wild camping but this is making me think again.

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scotjimland

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Jul 25, 2007
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Im a bit disapointed with my 120w solar panel. I have 3x110ah and 1x 85ah leisure battery and after being hooked up for over a week we went wild camping for 1 night, we used the following appliances
2x laptops for 5 hours each
radio for 7 hours
3X led lights for 3 hours
mobile phones charged 2 hours
blown air heating for 1 hour
electric step 5 mins total
water pump 20 mins
then the inverter started screaming !!
surely somethings not right ?
I used to notice when hooked up that the lights used to dip when something ( i presume the battery charger) clicked into action, but ive not noticed this for a while.
A mechanic tested the alternator and thats ok, how do I test the leisure batteries and charging system ?
Im planning on wintering in spain mainly wild camping but this is making me think again.
Hi


Lets tot it up, in watt hrs (wh)

Lappys 5 x 2 x 100 = 1000
Forget LEDs
Phone 2 x ? = ?? guess 20
Blown air 50
Forget step
Pump about 30

Total = lets say ( for easy calculating) aprox 1200 wh .. div by 12v = 100 ah

that's just a rough calculation but it points to either a duff battery(s) or not fully charged. Have them tested along with your solar charging rate.

Re Solar panel,
120 watt is not enough for your demands if you plan on wild camping, you need to think of at least doubling that ..

and invest in a small suitcase genny for rainy / dull days..

hth

jim
 

pappajohn

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Hi


Lets tot it up, in watt hrs (wh)

Lappys 5 x 2 x 100 = 1000
Forget LEDs
Phone 2 x ? = ?? guess 20
Blown air 50
Forget step
Pump about 30

Total = lets say ( for easy calculating) aprox 1200 wh .. div by 12v = 100 ah

jim

plus whatever is plugged into the invertor.

must have something plugged in to make it low volt alarm.
 

Wildman

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May 30, 2008
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Im a bit disapointed with my 120w solar panel. I have 3x110ah and 1x 85ah leisure battery.

I do see a problem there. the four batteries will only charge to the capacity of the lowest battery so you have in effect 4 x 85 amp/hr batteries. All of the batteries in a bank should all be the same and in similar condition or they will all default to the lowest one.
 
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nahnotme

Free Member
Sep 23, 2007
239
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336
2 of the 110ah batteries are new....how do I check if the charger is working correctly, bearing in mind any test have to be done with me staying in it ?

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