Advice Wanted on solar power (1 Viewer)

motorhomemania

Free Member
Apr 16, 2009
5
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South Wales
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6,316
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a year and a bit!!
Hi could anyone give advice on the following please:
My motorhome is stored approx 3 miles away from my home with no access to electricity. The battery is constantly losing .03 amps.
After 3 wks I need to bring Motorhome to home to charge batteries because of loss of charge. Any tips on what type of 12v panel would be suitable for trickle charge to keep batteries topped up?? Or any other tips appreciated.
Thanks
 

haganap

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 5, 2007
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planet earth
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I'm an oldbie MH number 9
Hi could anyone give advice on the following please:
My motorhome is stored approx 3 miles away from my home with no access to electricity. The battery is constantly losing .03 amps.
After 3 wks I need to bring Motorhome to home to charge batteries because of loss of charge. Any tips on what type of 12v panel would be suitable for trickle charge to keep batteries topped up?? Or any other tips appreciated.
Thanks

Hi why not try sending Mark C.L.S a pm, he fits and sells them.
 

cater_racer

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Oct 15, 2008
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Hi could anyone give advice on the following please:
My motorhome is stored approx 3 miles away from my home with no access to electricity. The battery is constantly losing .03 amps.
After 3 wks I need to bring Motorhome to home to charge batteries because of loss of charge. Any tips on what type of 12v panel would be suitable for trickle charge to keep batteries topped up?? Or any other tips appreciated.
Thanks

A simple 12 Watt one from Maplin will do the trick, I leave one on the dashboard top plugged into the cigar lighter (Check your cigar lighter is still live when the ignition is off, if not then you will need to clip it to the battery)

That will put in at least as much as you're loosing even when overcast.

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scotjimland

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Jul 25, 2007
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Suffolk Coastal District, UK
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Presumably the power drain is from an alarm system ? If so and your not worried about it another option is to disconnect the neg lead on the battery .. a fully charged battery will stay healthy for several months.

jim
 

RichardnGill

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Sep 22, 2007
183
1
Durham
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323
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3
We had the same problem and we went for a 85 w solar pannel which always has the batterys fully charged even after 3/4 weeks of not useing the van.

We can also do 4 nights away without EHU even with the kids watching the TV alot now, before the Solar we would be out of power after 2 nights even with 2* 110 AH batts.

Mark at CLS to fits ours and he did a good job for a reasonable price.


Richard...
 

GEOFFs125

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Sep 14, 2007
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A simple and cheap solution I use to overcome a similar problem was to fit this easy to use battery isolater switch:

battdisconnect.jpg


This connects to the negative terminal on your battery, can be used on the vehicle or house batteries. Got it from ebay for around £4.

Geoff

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smifee

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Jun 18, 2008
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Hi motorhomemania

If you always use campsites and have hookup the get a small panel.

If you use aires and/or wildcamp why not fit larger panel/s?

I wild camp because I prefer it. The money I save is coincidental but if you reckon on a saving of £10 a night you can work out how long before the panels pay for themselves.
 

vwalan

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Sep 23, 2008
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small wattage panels arent really worth buying .divide the wattage by 12 very roughly gives the max amp unput in the middle of summer on the brightest day at mid day. they put nothing in at night . i would say work on 8 hrs at half power input in summer ,in winter a tenth of the max is doing ok. then work out what you take out . this time of year its really hard to get free leccy. i use three 80wt but if stay parked for a week will definately run out of power. i do charge through a 24 to 12 volt charger at 20 amp max with float facility. so i cope. mostly use power to work compressor fridge.
 

Jethro Smythe

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Nov 15, 2009
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A simple 12 Watt one from Maplin will do the trick, I leave one on the dashboard top plugged into the cigar lighter (Check your cigar lighter is still live when the ignition is off, if not then you will need to clip it to the battery)

That will put in at least as much as you're loosing even when overcast.

A friend of mine uses one of the Maplin panels you mentioned to keep his battery topped up when the vehicle is not in use, and has found it to work really well.

Even on an overcast day he still finds that the panel produces more than enough charge current to keep the battery in good shape.

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pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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Since 2005
A simple 12 Watt one from Maplin will do the trick, I leave one on the dashboard top plugged into the cigar lighter (Check your cigar lighter is still live when the ignition is off, if not then you will need to clip it to the battery)

That will put in at least as much as you're loosing even when overcast.

these may work fine to keep your fully charged battery topped up but a few days without good sun and it hasnt a chance.....on a good day it will only put out less than 1 amp...probably nearer to 1/3amp.... so will never recharge a battery that has a constant 30Ma drain on it.
 

Wildman

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May 30, 2008
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at this time of the year the output from my 50W can be as low as 100milliAmp. My van has no constant loads apart from the Solar controller. 50W keeps the batteries in good order.
 
Last edited:
Oct 29, 2008
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West Yorkshire
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With solar I think you should spend as much as you can afford and as big as will fit.
I have 2x110w panels and do not need EHU in summer and in winter my battery is kept topped up.

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Planetgen

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Apr 29, 2009
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Taunton
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RV
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wait until January and you could win a fully fitted 90 watt system. Planet Solar are doing the main comp in MMM.
 

Blisters

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Apr 2, 2008
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Stoke on Trent
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March 2006
We have a 30 watt roof mounted solar panel, and 2 x 110amp leisure batteries and of course a battery for the engine

We find this keeps our batteries topped up nicely
 

clwyd

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Jul 21, 2009
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Ruthin, N. Wales
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Van Conversion
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13
Solar chargers

There are some very useful posts here, from a portable to large units all being viable. I suggest 45w minimum for a fixed one (note that a regulator is also needed).

The main battery should not run down even with a normal security system - mine lasts months (and has done so for years), but should really be charged every month. After 9 years I finally replaced it because I was offered one at a good price. It still works as an extra "second" one. Running down suggests a fault to me, but may be tricky to find!
Derek

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clwyd

Free Member
Jul 21, 2009
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Ruthin, N. Wales
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Large Solar Panels - source & cost - jezport

How much would 2 x 110W cost? I have been unable to see any 50w for less than a few hundred before installation - my current one was a mere £130 or so but can't find any like this now.
NuVenture at Wigan were talking to me about new flexible stick on ones - only OK if you have a large flat surface.
Derek
 

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