Twin solar panels - different sizes/makes (1 Viewer)

[Minxy]

Hi guys

I've currently got an Alden 75W solar panel which I'm having moved to our new motorhome along with the cabling and regulator. Today I've just picked up a 50W Sunline Solarmodul MAP 50 panel (very reasonably priced at a car boot sale) and was wondering if I can use it alongside my existing panel/regulator etc?

Has anyone done this please?

 

[Snowbird]

Yes you can couple them up,I had 3 all different on my old Rockwood,bought them in Marroc,never had a problem with them.

 

[scotjimland]

Agreed ,

just check that the regulator is man enough to handle the extra current..

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[Douglas]

The more the merrier, save the world.

Doug...

 

[markymark]

Wish my local car booty had hidden loot like that
I will now watch the mrs every Sunday bringing back crap that we dont need. Ha

 

[gazz]

you ned to match the specs as best as you can,

most 12 volt panels have an open voltage of 21 volts, and a max load voltage of 17, current output isnt importiant,

if the voltages are too far out the higher voltage one will just be providing the power and the lower voltage one will drop out, cant remember if it drops out all together or reduces output,
when i got some more panels to add to my first one i matched the voltages exactly,

and of course as others have said, make sure the regulator can handle the combined current, i had to go from a 10 to 30 amp regulator when i added 2 more 125 watt panels.

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[barnybg]

Solar panels

Just purchased a ' 100 w kit ' from Ebay for £340 ....plus £35 to post to Bulgaria,brill !!Now lets see if thats enough to let me 'wildcamp' for a couple of weeks at a time,here in sunny Bulgaria/greece.
Tried everywhere here to find some,they have a hot water type kit here and in Greece,but one for 12v electrics seems to be rare in these parts ??!!Can anyone tell me different,it seems nuts i have to have it posted 2000 miles (and glass too )so reading this post,i can add a 50w or another 100w ? if this is not enough....Any wise guy out there can give s a photo or a wiring type diagram to go along with saying,just YES ! It would be a great help for others contenplating trying and fitting Solar Panels to a van/motorhome.

 

[Minxy]

Wish my local car booty had hidden loot like that
I will now watch the mrs every Sunday bringing back crap that we dont need. Ha

Finding 'goodies' at car boot sales is our hobby and can be quite a nice little earner, but you need to know what you're looking at and what it's worth. We pick up a variety of stuff including small dog travel cages/pet cages, mobility walkers (3 and 4 wheel variety), 12v cool boxes, portable washing machine for £6 (sold for £30), magnetic cat flap (for £1 - sold on ebay for £20), broadband dongles, dehumidifiers, porta potties, gas cylinders, and last year a brand new Fiamma bike rack, still in it's box for £25!!!! Charity shops can occasionally be a good source of goodies too.

I've just bought an exercise walker machine called 'Leg Magic' for £3 which I intend to use to get myself a bit fitter, hubby had a look on ebay and found out it's worth at least £40 so is trying to get me to sell it!!! No way ... it's mine, all mine!!! Thunder thighs no more!:thumb:

 

[Geo]

Just purchased a ' 100 w kit ' from Ebay for £340 ....plus £35 to post to Bulgaria,brill !!Now lets see if thats enough to let me 'wildcamp' for a couple of weeks at a time,here in sunny Bulgaria/greece.
Tried everywhere here to find some,they have a hot water type kit here and in Greece,but one for 12v electrics seems to be rare in these parts ??!!Can anyone tell me different,it seems nuts i have to have it posted 2000 miles (and glass too )so reading this post,i can add a 50w or another 100w ? if this is not enough....Any wise guy out there can give s a photo or a wiring type diagram to go along with saying,just YES ! It would be a great help for others contenplating trying and fitting Solar Panels to a van/motorhome.

Simple basic instalation
The control panel will be clearly marked
Batt + - cables from these conect to the Battery

Load + - if it has these terminals (not all have) they can be used to charge small items like phone etc when main batts are full, spare power is transferd to these load terminals
Panel = - Cables from the panel go into these

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[johnsandywhite]

Hi guys

I've currently got an Alden 75W solar panel which I'm having moved to our new motorhome along with the cabling and regulator. Today I've just picked up a 50W Sunline Solarmodul MAP 50 panel (very reasonably priced at a car boot sale) and was wondering if I can use it alongside my existing panel/regulator etc?

Has anyone done this please?

:Cool: On my first RV I had fitted a 120 watt then added a 120 of the same type plus another of 50 watt. The later 120w + 50w were run from a different controller to the first one with no problems at all. :thumb:

 

[gazz]

that's one way to do it, you can paralell up as many controllers as you like, i still havre my 10 amp controller, so if i ever have a spare 300 quid i can get another panel and not need to upgrade my existing 30 amp controller,

btw i paid just under 300 each for my 2 x 125 watt panels from germany, found them on ebay but went to them as i was in the country a month later, so no shipping charges,
my first panel i got off a bloke who had a palet load of them shipped from america, that one cost me around 325, which was pretty cheap for a shar 123 wat panel, see the same ones at motorhome shows for 700 squids!!

 

[GregM]

How easy are Solar Panels to fit?

I have been looking at a Link Removed and I asked them if they would fit it. Its not something they normally do but they said it would cost about £450 all in. I am wondering if it's easy enough to do myself and save the £250 fitting plus fuel.

If not straight forwarded tempted to get one and not fit to roof and just have it free standing against the van.

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[Geo]

If you can use a drill and a screw driver its very simple, take you about 1 hr or two at the most
Ive put a wiring diagram on here somewhere:thumb:
Geo

 

[Geo]

Just took a look at that kit
You will need a controler too:thumb:
Geo

 

[robnchris]

You will also want a water proof box where you go through the roof.
Also better if you run the cable on the roof through a channel box, stops the cable thrashing about.

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[GregM]

Thanks Geo, found this Link Removed which I thought looked suitable.

Thanks robnchris, I've ordered Link Removed for where the cable enters the van, had thought I would use some trunking that have for cable across the roof.

 

[Geo]

Do you intend to charge two seperate batteries
ie hab battery and starter battery
If not I would go with the one sold from the panel supplier

 

[GregM]

No, I only plan to intend the habitation batteries.

I was just looking at higher max load

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[Geo]

The 80W panels will only kick out about 4 amp max maybe 4.5 in the Saharaoh:
I supose over kill aint a bad thing