100w solar panel kit. CHEAP !!

[Jaws]

Just found this kit.. Under £40 for a complete 100w solar panel kit

Broken Link Removed

 

[Minxy]

Great find Jaws, it looks like it's meant to be a portable panel and being semi-flexible will be light and easier to store - I have a 50w semi-flexible panel which I use as a portable one.

 

[mitzimad]

definitely a flexible panel you can tell by the eyelets but still cheap

 

[phil1946]

Cheers for the heads up John. Have just ordered one to keep the 'van battery charged whilst in storage away from home this winter (not well enough to tow it home before the site closes but will be better when the chemo is over and the surgeons reckon that they got it all when they removed my Pancreas so onwards and upwards, each week shows an improvement).

 

[Jev88]

Very similar (if not the same) as on WISH.COM...... Might take a chance on one as I want to add to my existing 90W mono panel.

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[Fontie]

Where would you place this, it would have to be inside on the windscreen as the junction box is only rated ip65 light rain.

 

[Minxy]

Where would you place this, it would have to be inside on the windscreen as the junction box is only rated ip65 light rain.

You could cover it to make it watertight ... it really depends on how you want to use it.

 

[peterc10]

Be careful. The connectors are not waterproof - see 2nd picture down. So no good for leaving outside unattended.

 

[Two on Tour]

They are doing bloody well to get 100 watts out of a panel that's only 660mm x 280mm.

 

[Dazzler1969]

Probably a daft question........
By plugging in the cig lighter socket would this keep my vehicle battery topped up when in storage and could it go on my overcab skylight inside?
Any form of ridicule and abuse for stupid question’s will be well received ?
Darren

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[Jimbohorlicks]

You need to check that the cig lighter socket is live when the ignition is off, many only operate when the ignition is on.

 

[peterc10]

You need to check that the cig lighter socket is live when the ignition is off, many only operate when the ignition is on.

Agreed. And make sure it is connected to the battery that you want to charge, cab or habitation.

 

[pappajohn]

I wouldn't risk it, the seller seems to know nothing about it, the pictures show the Croc clips and cig lighter socket plugged directly into the panel with no regulator.... Your battery is going to love 18v+....
As for flexible..... From the spec...

3.Don`t bend it over 10° though it`s flexible coz it`s small size!

 

[Minxy]

I wouldn't risk it, the seller seems to know nothing about it, the pictures show the Croc clips and cig lighter socket plugged directly into the panel with no regulator.... Your battery is going to love 18v+....
As for flexible..... From the spec...

3.Don`t bend it over 10° though it`s flexible coz it`s small size!

It is still a semi-flexible one as that's all that you can realistically do with them, ie for small curves, I think the seller is making sure you realise it's not a fully flexible one that you can do all sorts with and are more akin to being able to be rolled up and just used as a portable means of getting some power.

 

[Minxy]

Probably a daft question........
By plugging in the cig lighter socket would this keep my vehicle battery topped up when in storage and could it go on my overcab skylight inside?
Any form of ridicule and abuse for stupid question’s will be well received ?
Darren

You won't get much input from your skylight as it will block a lot of the rays, but you could lay it on the roof (out of sight) with the cable coming in the skylight and down to wherever you decide to put the controller.

I'd hard-wire the controller to whichever batteries you want to keep topped up, that way you won't have to worry about whether the cig lighter is live or not which it probably isn't anyway, however you MUST use the controller, do not under any circumstances put the lead from the panel straight into the cig ligher as it won't like it and you could end up with a crispy camper!

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[Dazzler1969]

Probably easier to have a B2B charger installed at vanbits?

 

[Langtoftlad]

Probably easier to have a B2B charger installed at vanbits?

...but a bit more expensive ... and not fulfil the same purpose.

 

[pappajohn]

There's something odd with this.
It appears the box on the back is a regulator. It has 3 outlets, 2 x USB and a 5.5mm x 2.1mm phono flying lead.
Again, from the spec...

Max DC5.5x2.1 Regulator Output: 12V 2000ma

This would explain why the Croc and lighter plug are plugged directly
The standalone reg serves no purpose.

 

[addoaddo]

The small box is the solar regulator. It outputs wither regulated 5V or 12V for either USB or battery charging. The 18V panel voltage is immaterial as the user only has access to 5V or 12V.
In theory IP65 is full waterproof with the exception of insertion in to water so OK for all rain situation. However I think this only applies to the panel and not the control box as all the connections are not IP65.

I think this panel has a use especially for camping and temporary power but no good to keep the battery topped up.

 

[pappajohn]

The small box is the solar regulator. It outputs wither regulated 5V or 12V for either USB or battery charging. The 18V panel voltage is immaterial as the user only has access to 5V or 12V.

Exactly my point.
It's also regulated to 2000ma...2amps at 12v so the extra regulator is neither needed or usable and is there as a selling point only.
It will be useful in winter laid on the dash to put a little power in the battery to help prevent parasitic discharge but that's about its limit.
Of course, with a little electronic knowledge the reg could be bypassed allowing full panel voltage to the supplied reg giving a better charge rate.

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[peterc10]

Look at the photos. The solar controller is not the same as the box on the back, which only seems to put 5A. You appear to have 2 standard USBs on the box on the box on the back which clearly are not even splash proof. And the other wired in connector looks to be no more waterproof, it is shown as 2 amps only and, from the last photo, it is used to connect the solar controller.

Too many inconsistencies to make it worth the risk.

 

[Misterg]

It's definitely not a 100W panel!

More like mid 20's.

 

[pappajohn]

This is a bit of a giveaway..... Read the spec.
The controller probably won't work if it IS connected.

 

[Minxy]

Shame it's not 'right', I just trusted that what Jaws posted was as he had said.

I shall severely chastise myself for not reading the spec and deprive myself of some chocolate tonight ... hmmmm ... maybe that's a bit too harsh ... should I chastise myself OR miss the chocolate? Decisions, decisions ...

 

[Jaws]

Shame it's not 'right', I just trusted that what Jaws posted was as he had said.

I shall severely chastise myself for not reading the spec and deprive myself of some chocolate tonight ... hmmmm ... maybe that's a bit too harsh ... should I chastise myself OR miss the chocolate? Decisions, decisions ...

Yup.. After I posted it ( some time after ! ) I read the full spec. classic rip off advertising
BUT
It would make a very decent cab battery maintainer for a van stuck in storage

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[Misterg]

They're not 60W, either....

 

[Jev88]

Right then peeps.... due to a slight error on my part I received today what looks to be exactly the same kit from WISH.com, amazed it on ly took 7 days! I did not receive the jack plug to bare wire option. I thought I had specified a 100watt panel but have received 2x smaller panels, 2x cable sets, 2x voltage regulators rated up to 30amp.

There is a usb output and small LED on the small black box mounted on rear of panel but I havent tested that.
Output to supplied regulator and a spare 12volt battery plumbed in.
In daylight this evening was supplying 12.7volts to 12v battery measured at regulator.
Temporarily disconnected 12v battery and voltage supplied jumped to 17.8 volts measured at solar panel connection to regulator. Reattached battery and dropped back to 12.4 and steadily climbed to 12.7.
Plugged in a usb to android phone lead to regulator usb sockets and phone reported it was being charged.

I want to measure amps but not sure how to do it on my basic meter?

Initial testing says this little kit is pretty good for the money. Need to arrange water proofing and cable connections to link the two supplied panels together - might attach to roof box as slightly flexible. OR more likely will install one of the regulators under the dash with a switch and wire to battery/12v supply so panels can be left on dash in storage.

Any other tests required - guide me and ask.

 

[pappajohn]

Yup.. After I posted it ( some time after ! ) I read the full spec. classic rip off advertising
BUT
It would make a very decent cab battery maintainer for a van stuck in storage

I agree.
A 60watt panel should, theoretically, provide 5amps but as its regulated to 2amps it should be a pretty stable 2amps even if the panel isn't at 100%.
If its only producing 3amps it will still output a steady 2amps anyway.
But there's some unnecessary crap comes with this one.... most of all a useless controller.

 

[pappajohn]

Right then peeps.... due to a slight error on my part I received today what looks to be exactly the same kit from WISH.com, amazed it on ly took 7 days! I did not receive the jack plug to bare wire option. I thought I had specified a 100watt panel but have received 2x smaller panels, 2x cable sets, 2x voltage regulators rated up to 30amp.

There is a usb output and small LED on the small black box mounted on rear of panel but I havent tested that.
Output to supplied regulator and a spare 12volt battery plumbed in.
In daylight this evening was supplying 12.7volts to 12v battery measured at regulator.
Temporarily disconnected 12v battery and voltage supplied jumped to 17.8 volts measured at solar panel connection to regulator. Reattached battery and dropped back to 12.4 and steadily climbed to 12.7.
Plugged in a usb to android phone lead to regulator usb sockets and phone reported it was being charged.

I want to measure amps but not sure how to do it on my basic meter?

Initial testing says this little kit is pretty good for the money. Need to arrange water proofing and cable connections to link the two supplied panels together - might attach to roof box as slightly flexible. OR more likely will install one of the regulators under the dash with a switch and wire to battery/12v supply so panels can be left on dash in storage.

Any other tests required - guide me and ask.

Is that the £28 one?
Can't enter the site to study spec without registering

It shows a normal price of £230.

 

[Jev88]

I paid £28 plus some delivery.... NOt sure if you can see this link?



Signing up is easy - I login via a facebook account.

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