Are solar panel monitors worth buying?

[Kups]

As the winter drags on I'm tempted to buy a monitoring device for my two year old factory fitted NDS Sun MPPT 300 controller. These are on sale for a very reasonable £69 inc. P&P from those nice people at RoadPro. At present all I can see if I access a seat locker are two flashing LEDs on the casing but no other information is available. The monitor has a 6m lead so can be mounted anywhere in the vehicle. Looks a reasonable purchase but will it be another gadget in the cupboard or a useful tool to keep an eye on solar panel performance?
<Broken link removed>

 

[Brains]

We have one, it's an app on the phone, not a display panel.
The main thing it shows me is that when I clean the solar panels I can triple the imput from the sun !

I now give the panels a wipe down every time we take out the van

 

[Kups]

We have one, it's an app on the phone, not a panel.
The main thing it shows me is that when I clean the panels I can triple the imput from the sun !

I now give the panels a wipe down every time we take out the van

Yes, would prefer an app but that would mean changing a perfectly good MPPT controller for something like a Victron.

 

[Brains]

Yes, would prefer an app but that would mean changing a perfectly good MPPT controller for something like a Victron.

Frankly I'd not bother, as long as you can see they are working, then a display panel is not going to tell you much that you don't already know

But I would spend £69.95 on a [Broken Link Removed] if you have not already got one, as that way both engine battery and leisure battery will be changed from the solar panel

 

[Kups]

Frankly I'd not bother, as long as you can see they are working, then a display panel is not going to tell you much that you don't already know

But I would spend £69.95 on a [Broken Link Removed] if you have not already got one, as that way both engine battery and leisure battery will be changed from the solar panel

Thanks. I'm already a happy Van Bitz customer!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Outdoors Dad]

We have one, it's an app on the phone, not a display panel.
The main thing it shows me is that when I clean the solar panels I can triple the imput from the sun !

I now give the panels a wipe down every time we take out the van

Out of interest do you use cleaning solution or anything like that or just water

 

[Lenny HB]

Not much point what you need to know is the state of your batteries put your money towards a Smart Shunt. Victron Amazon shop have them for £107 at the moment.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Out of interest do you use cleaning solution or anything like that or just water

I wash ours and then polish with a wax polish ,they are then easier to clean and the rain washes stuff off more easily.

 

[Lenny HB]

I was ours and then polish with a wax polish ,they are then easier to clean and the rain washes stiff off more easily.

Waxing them will reduce the output, just keep them clean.

 

[sonar]

Waxing them will reduce the output, just keep them clean.

I am not sure if there is any wax that would be suitable

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sonar]

I wash ours and then polish with a wax polish ,they are then easier to clean and the rain washes stuff off more easily.

Most waxes are made to block UV . Any reduction in light is not good. BUT

 

[Brains]

Out of interest do you use cleaning solution or anything like that or just water

Just a wipe down with a damp J cloth.
It's only a sheet of glass.
I find even after a couple of weeks it comes out black.

Just wiping off the film of dust makes a radical difference to the amount of solar power going into the batteries, it really can triple the input !

I would not recommend using anything like wax, unless it was also suitable for your windscreen.
Maybe something like Windo-Lean would be OK.

 

[Kups]

Checked mine at the weekend and found a layer of green algae growing out from underneath the stuck on panel!
Gave it a blast with the hose and washed a lot out and then used Fenwicks Overwintering to (hopefully) stop it coming back. Problem with these flexi surface mounted panels is that you cannot see underneath. Hopefully just a winter problem.

 

[the1andonly]

back to the original question

Are solar panel monitors worth buying?​

No
different question
is a Battery monitor worth buying ?
Yes
cheap version for Lead acid

Battery Monitor Tr16 for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Battery Monitor Tr16. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

for Lithium or if you want BT app then as reccomended by Lenny HB a Victron Smartshunt
or a display and app BMV712 gives additional functionality that you don't need now.(probably never will).

 

[almichie]

Is there such a thing as a battery Monitor with remote monitoring via an app or otherwise? I’d like to see battery voltage remotely and if voltage was dropping take a trip to charge the battery…

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[GMLS]

White vinegar or similar worked well on our panel

 

[Lenny HB]

Is there such a thing as a battery Monitor with remote monitoring via an app or otherwise? I’d like to see battery voltage remotely and if voltage was dropping take a trip to charge the battery…

Have a look at this thread.

Victron Venus OS and a Rasberry

Victron Venus OS setup on a Rasberry Pi. This a simple summary of the setup procedure for Victron Energy products that contain a V.E Direct port. Victron has a device called the Color Control GX (£500) that provides monitoring, control and remote management via their VRM portal of many...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[almichie]

Have a look at this thread.

Victron Venus OS and a Rasberry

Victron Venus OS setup on a Rasberry Pi. This a simple summary of the setup procedure for Victron Energy products that contain a V.E Direct port. Victron has a device called the Color Control GX (£500) that provides monitoring, control and remote management via their VRM portal of many...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Excellent…. Off to eBay

 

[Figaro]

I am not sure if there is any wax that would be suitable

Bees wax ?

 

[jumar]

Smartshunt by Victron, 100% works for me...I am totally off grid, elevating 200w panel fitted here in Spain too......must dust the panel this morning.....

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}