wingman
Free Member
SOLAR-SORTED! And I never moved from the armchair!
Some swear by solar; others say get a genny, others link-up half a ton of batteries, whilst some say don't bother! So whilst I was at Detling, I took the opportunity to suck the brains of Eddievanbitz on the subject.
Although I'd never met Ed' before, he spent time chatting about various power and solar options - costs, fitting, merits and de-merits. I came away a little more enlightened. For a start, I learned that a 'Gland' has nothing to do with a sore throat and that MPPT bears no relationship to an angry woman!
So, I decide to go solar. Not because I've suddenly turned eco-warrior, but because it suited my needs. (Gonna spend a bit of time off hook-up on next Hol). Next decision? Who will fit it and how much do I want to pay. I learned in life that the price is what you pay, the value is what you get! Quality is remembered a long time after price is forgotten. As my van' is only 6 months old, the last thing I wanted was an economy job. I've heard horror stories of cheap Chinese panels glued directly to the roof, 'thin'and lossy wiring, controllers that aren't up to the task and installers that are here today - gone tomorrow.
Apart from the above and the company reputation, other factors swung me Vanbitz's way. (I have no connection with them BTW).
Firstly a really generous Funster discount, plus a new mobile service called 'Vanbitz Lite'. Even if I stayed on the campsite offered by Vanbitz, Essex to Somerset is a schlep when busy doing other things, so the mobile service was well worth it (in my case, 30p/mile and return journey from Brighton).
So; their technician turns up in a van you could eat your dinner off, I was told to put my feet up and a few hours later..... all done! A quality panel, a controller that harvests more from the sun in dull conditions, neat cabling and little lights blinking away to announce that all was well. Also included with the deal came a small battery master unit that in addition to the leisure battery, keeps the vehicle batt' topped- up too. James (the mobile technician) even hoovered the MH after him!
As the yanks would say, "Great job!"
Some swear by solar; others say get a genny, others link-up half a ton of batteries, whilst some say don't bother! So whilst I was at Detling, I took the opportunity to suck the brains of Eddievanbitz on the subject.
Although I'd never met Ed' before, he spent time chatting about various power and solar options - costs, fitting, merits and de-merits. I came away a little more enlightened. For a start, I learned that a 'Gland' has nothing to do with a sore throat and that MPPT bears no relationship to an angry woman!
So, I decide to go solar. Not because I've suddenly turned eco-warrior, but because it suited my needs. (Gonna spend a bit of time off hook-up on next Hol). Next decision? Who will fit it and how much do I want to pay. I learned in life that the price is what you pay, the value is what you get! Quality is remembered a long time after price is forgotten. As my van' is only 6 months old, the last thing I wanted was an economy job. I've heard horror stories of cheap Chinese panels glued directly to the roof, 'thin'and lossy wiring, controllers that aren't up to the task and installers that are here today - gone tomorrow.
Apart from the above and the company reputation, other factors swung me Vanbitz's way. (I have no connection with them BTW).
Firstly a really generous Funster discount, plus a new mobile service called 'Vanbitz Lite'. Even if I stayed on the campsite offered by Vanbitz, Essex to Somerset is a schlep when busy doing other things, so the mobile service was well worth it (in my case, 30p/mile and return journey from Brighton).
So; their technician turns up in a van you could eat your dinner off, I was told to put my feet up and a few hours later..... all done! A quality panel, a controller that harvests more from the sun in dull conditions, neat cabling and little lights blinking away to announce that all was well. Also included with the deal came a small battery master unit that in addition to the leisure battery, keeps the vehicle batt' topped- up too. James (the mobile technician) even hoovered the MH after him!
As the yanks would say, "Great job!"
