Solar Advice For a Novice (1 Viewer)

BravoTwoZero

Free Member
Feb 20, 2016
25
4
Herts
Funster No
41,722
MH
C Class
Exp
Since 2015
Hello Everyone,

My wife and I bought our first motorhome in September and have been on a steep learning curve ever since ! We took the plunge and got an new Elddis Autoquest 115.

Our leisure battery is being replaced under warranty and I wondered whether a solar panel would be a good investment. The Elddis is parked in a secure compound 10 minutes from home with no ehu. We plan to stay mainly at Caravan Club sites but also do some wild camping in the highlands. The main reason though for thinking solar is for battery care when stored.

I would be very grateful for any advice.

David
 

Kool Kroozer

Free Member
Apr 19, 2014
1,361
2,228
Cannock Staffordshire
Funster No
31,031
MH
Low Profile Hobby Premium
Exp
Always learning
Yes solar and a battery master is the way to go, an if your a bit of a DIYer have a go at fitting them yourself - there is nothing hard or complicated about it at all, i have just fit x2 140w panels and cant fathem why people pay dealerships to supply and fit a 100w panel with solar charger £500 - my quote for x2 140 panels with a solar charger was £700, I paid £285 for everything (apart from sikaflex which was £10) and fit them myself in a couple of hours - the hardest part i found was figuring out the cable run to the leisure batteries. gives you a sense of satisfaction and knowing whats been done.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0

DBK

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 9, 2013
17,968
47,804
Plympton, Devon
Funster No
24,219
MH
PVC, Murvi Morocco
Exp
2013
As above, solar on its own won't normally charge the vehicle battery. For that you need a battery master.

Go for at least 100W of solar, twice that if you can would be my suggestion. You can then begin to think about the wonderful world of inverters!

However, you can get little panels which just top up the vehicle battery but ideally for these you need a cigar lighter socket which is live with the ignition turned off, which are rare and some wiring will be required instead.
 
Upvote 0
OP
OP
BravoTwoZero

BravoTwoZero

Free Member
Feb 20, 2016
25
4
Herts
Funster No
41,722
MH
C Class
Exp
Since 2015
Many thanks for the replies. I would struggle to install myself so will get some quotes.
 
Upvote 0

funflair

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 11, 2013
19,196
29,880
Guisborough
Funster No
29,351
MH
MORELO palace
Exp
since 2012
You can get a solar regulator that had two outputs, the main one goes to the habitation batteries and the other sends a small current to the starter battery.

Make sure you get a MPPT regulator, they are more expensive but will give you more amps from your panel especially when the weather is a bit iffy.

Martin

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
?

****

Deleted User
Dont know how good they are but you can get little solar panels that sit on your dash and trickle charge the battery while sitting in the street. This plugs into the fag lighter socket. Now they may be crap i dont know as the alarm may take more juice out than the panel puts in but worth a look just in case.
 
Upvote 0

DanielFord

Free Member
Jun 1, 2013
3,020
3,086
Funster No
26,287
Dont know how good they are but you can get little solar panels that sit on your dash and trickle charge the battery while sitting in the street. This plugs into the fag lighter socket. Now they may be crap i dont know as the alarm may take more juice out than the panel puts in but worth a look just in case.
Unless you flip the wiring behind the dash, the cig lighter is disabled with no ignition on the Ducato, so that won't work.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
?

****

Deleted User
Unless you flip the wiring behind the dash, the cig lighter is disabled with no ignition on the Ducato, so that won't work.
That part i was not to sure about. I have one in the boot on my car that is not on the ignition. My car uses a lot of juice on the alarm and can sit unused for two weeks. Thats enough to drain my battery. Not 100% but down to 12v what will not start the car. Kind if thinking this may be my answer as well.
 
Upvote 0

DanielFord

Free Member
Jun 1, 2013
3,020
3,086
Funster No
26,287
That part i was not to sure about. I have one in the boot on my car that is not on the ignition. My car uses a lot of juice on the alarm and can sit unused for two weeks. Thats enough to drain my battery. Not 100% but down to 12v what will not start the car. Kind if thinking this may be my answer as well.
We have a car that sits unused for months at a time, the solution is simple, and I think it cost us £5.25 from halfrauds. A battery isolator terminal, when you leave the car, pop the bonnet and switch off the battery. The battery will still be good to go months later when you return :D
Modern cars drain so much power even when they are in 'off' mode!
 
Upvote 0

pappajohn

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 26, 2007
43,202
48,793
Dark side of the moon
Funster No
172
Exp
Since 2005
We have a car that sits unused for months at a time, the solution is simple, and I think it cost us £5.25 from halfrauds. A battery isolator terminal, when you leave the car, pop the bonnet and switch off the battery. The battery will still be good to go months later when you return :D
Modern cars drain so much power even when they are in 'off' mode!
Your insurers will love you....any excuse not to pay out.
Isolating the battery also isolates the alarm and not all stolen cars are driven away.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0

DanielFord

Free Member
Jun 1, 2013
3,020
3,086
Funster No
26,287
I'd just love to see it if it happened, window smashed, hot wire done......
"Oi! Kevin, it ain't startin'"
"Fak it, let's nick a soobaarooo"
LOL!
 
Upvote 0
OP
OP
BravoTwoZero

BravoTwoZero

Free Member
Feb 20, 2016
25
4
Herts
Funster No
41,722
MH
C Class
Exp
Since 2015
Thanks again everyone. Just got a quote for a panel from a very local servicing company, £599 for 100w and £699 for 120w both including vat. Does this sound reasonable.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
Jan 8, 2013
8,478
11,516
Dronfield - Derbyshire
Funster No
24,202
MH
Burstner Lyseo 690G
Exp
Happy FLT since 2011
Upvote 0
Sep 2, 2014
1,023
5,392
Gloucester
Funster No
33,146
MH
Self-converted Van
Exp
Since 2014
Thanks again everyone. Just got a quote for a panel from a very local servicing company, £599 for 100w and £699 for 120w both including vat. Does this sound reasonable.
I would get a quote from @Vanbitz, with the funsters discount, we paid about that amount for our solar panel, battery master, mppt controller and second leisure battery, all fitted and including a free night at their campsite. Plus you have the reassurance of getting the work done by a highly respected company:)

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0

DanielFord

Free Member
Jun 1, 2013
3,020
3,086
Funster No
26,287
I would get a quote from @Vanbitz, with the funsters discount, we paid about that amount for our solar panel, battery master, mppt controller and second leisure battery, all fitted and including a free night at their campsite. Plus you have the reassurance of getting the work done by a highly respected company:)
As it happens I have my paperwork from VanBitz handy, 150w solar fully fitted with battery master and MPPT £699 - 10% funster discount!
 
Upvote 0
?

****

Deleted User
Your insurers will love you....any excuse not to pay out.
Isolating the battery also isolates the alarm and not all stolen cars are driven away.

I drive an 2002 car and not worth claiming on and i see no mention of having to have the alarm set or my policy would be void.
 
Upvote 0
Jan 28, 2008
10,104
18,259
Dovercourt, Harwich, UK
Funster No
1,353
MH
Renalt burstner
Exp
7 years campers before that
We have a car that sits unused for months at a time, the solution is simple, and I think it cost us £5.25 from halfrauds. A battery isolator terminal, when you leave the car, pop the bonnet and switch off the battery. The battery will still be good to go months later when you return :D
Modern cars drain so much power even when they are in 'off' mode!
ours loses the radio code if we do that

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Upvote 0
?

****

Deleted User
ours loses the radio code if we do that

Most do mate. They have a constant live wire for the sake if the stereos memory. Clock, Channels etc. They tend to be a yellow wire on after market stereos. This is where i go if i need a live for something.
 
Upvote 0

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top