Solar panel size recommendations sought. (1 Viewer)

[SueBaz]

DIY solar panel fitment

I fitted a 120 watt panel to charge my battery bank with the same amperage as yours, works well so far.

As far as suppliers are concerned you won't get better advice or products than from http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk. Speak to Alan and he will give you all the advice you need.

Fitted mine myself, it was quite easy.

Mike

Hi Kev

I fitted a 100 watt panel from a local supplier which with fitting brackets cables etc came to £165 or there abouts. Important is to shop around - there are 100 watt panels and there are '' 100 watt '' panels.

The other important bit is control. I have Schaudt Electrobloch 99 control unit fitted to my van which works very well and and also has a solar connection already on it. A and N are Electrobloch specialists and Alan there convinced me to buy a Schaudt solar regulator that matches the main control unit. I did (it was costly at £75) but haven't regretted it. The system works as it should. ( oh and being German it came with alternative harnesses ready made for splicing in the solar regulator - literal plug and play!)

The only additional things I have done are to put an isolator switch on the solar panel supply to the regulator and an additional line fuse. The switch is located in the habitation area so that the solar panel can be isolated when either driving or on hook up (so that the solar supply on a sunny day won't fool the regulator into thinking the batteries are charged if they aren't). The line fuse is coz ever since we had a wiring fire on the van I am just super cautious.

Our van has three 110Ah leisure batteries and with the panel we can run indefinitely without hook-up. Test run involved Sue's nephew and myself going to Silverstone for the MotoGP this year. We arrived Wednesday night and left the following Monday. Weather was good (for the bike Grand Prix) ie mixed sun and cloud but no rain. We were on the 'lively' car park so late nights, all the lights on, music etc etc - both leisure batteries and the vehicle battery were showing an indicated 13 volts when we left on Monday morning. (But we had gone to bed earlyish on Sunday night!!!!!)

Sue and I left home on this trip in early October and have had hook up only during a five week stop at Chickenrun in the Algarve, mainly so we could use an electric heater in the mornings, and for a total of 3 other nights whilst travelling (because it was included in the site cost)

Aside from the convenience we think the purchase cost will be well and truly paid for by the time we get home from this trip

Hope that helps

Barry

 

[Addie]

I've just installed 2x 100w panels on our Burstner - little write up here:
http://www.europebycamper.com/2013/12/200w-solar-panel-install.html

 

[Larby]

I use 165w set up which I installed myself.

http://www.bimblesolar.com/offgrid/12v USE THE MPPT controller, dearer but better

[HI]
Stuck to roof sitting on 4 corner mounts.
[/HI]
Kept battery topped up for 2 weeks with inverter powering 240v TV and Freesat box. As well as laptops, phones, ipads etc for others.

It is currently sitting there passing a 1 amp trickle to the vehicle battery (see pic) as leisure battery is full. Nothing wasted and no maintenance.
The little box is from Van Bitz and is called a battery master

You will see from picture that it is quite busy on the roof. Ensure whatever you choose there is a enough room. As stated, mine sits on corner mounts held by putting stainless steel self tappers into the frame.
The mounts are held onto the roof by Sikaflex. By luck, the crossbar is just right to hold the front down although not really necessary.
Cables pass through box which is also stuck to roof. I ensured cables appeared within cupboard and not in cavity or wrong side of cupboard dividers. Cables down to MPPT controller and a few inches of FUSED cable to leisure battery.

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[Minxy]

One thing to consider when choosing the size of solar panel is not only will it fit on the roof but also will it be SHADED. There's no point in putting a panel up that's as large as it can be if you then get some shading on it as this can reduce the energy production by up to 50% I believe!

 

[Trikeman]

Hi All,
many, many thanks for all the input everyone has put forward - brilliant and so in-depth too. My confidence is growing in solar and have now picked up enough info on panels and controllers to start shopping around. I will get the Xmas period over and start my shopping spree taking into account all the advice from the kind folk on this thread and the numerous PM's received.

I'm looking forward to getting our van completely EHU free.

Again, many thanks to all that contributed.

Trikeman.