Help Selecting Solar Panel Required

[Neil H]

Hi Guys, new to the forum and looking for a bit of advice regarding buying a solar panel. Seen these on ebay and wondered if there any good or a waste of money. Guess something about 150w would be OK, with a MPPT controller.
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=122255018332 Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance Neil

 

[Richard n Ann]

Some controllers also trickle charge the engine battery. Would that be useful for you?

 

[Phill D]

hi, similar to what i have fitted, but i fitted a controller that was comparable with my existing EBL unit so it charges cab battery and hab battery.

also i would have a look for a slightly better roof gland.

 

[Neil H]

Hi, not all that bothered about charging the engine battery. In winter its covered up so dont know if it would be much of an advantage. Phill, I'm not sure what a EBL is but guess its some body control unit, my motor homes a 10 year old chasson Flash 04, so i dont think I will have the facility to do that, thanks for the advise.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Looks to be a comprehensive kit, just make sure you have the space to fit it on your roof with the brackets in place
You just need a tube of sixaflex and you should be ready to install.

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[Lenny HB]

At that price I doubt if it is a true MPPT controller I paid that much just for my controller.
Better to buy the parts separately.

 

[Richard n Ann]

At that price I doubt if it is a true MPPT controller I paid that much just for my controller.
Better to buy the parts separately.

Me too, nearly ?

 

[Jev88]

Personally I wanted a Branded panel - even if not a top flight brand. Went for Eco-Worthy from fleabay. Waiting for a consecutive period of 12 hours without rain to fit it!

 

[Neil H]

Hi guys, thanks for the great advise. Good luck Jev88 with the 12 hours of no rain, maybe next week . Seems like maybe I'm better buying separate components, probably spend a bit more money that way but I will only need to do it once. Can anybody suggest a good MPPT for a 150w panel, thanks again Neil

 

[Richard n Ann]

Can anybody suggest a good MPPT for a 150w panel, thanks again Neil

We've got a 150w panel and I fitted a mppt Votronic duo 250 so the engine battery gets maintained. The other good make is Victron.

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[Neil H]

Cheers , Richard and Ann, I have noticed that a lot of the MPPTs are just a plastic box with wire inputs and outputs, would I be better get one with a digital display then I can monitor whats happening or should i get a seperate LED display, cheers Neil

 

[Richard n Ann]

Cheers , Richard and Ann, I have noticed that a lot of the MPPTs are just a plastic box with wire inputs and outputs, would I be better get one with a digital display then I can monitor whats happening or should i get a seperate LED display, cheers Neil

If you get a separate battery monitor it shows you the total battery data and not just what the solar is doing. I fitted a NASA BM1 monitor with amps charging, amps discharging, time to charged, time left to discharge, bar graph, percentage, voltage, starter battery voltage and an amp hour 'trip' meter. Best gadget in the van ?

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Can anybody suggest a good MPPT for a 150w panel, thanks again Neil

+1 for the Votronic

 

[acropolis22]

Richard and Ann Would that battery monitor do all 3 batteries, (2+1), or would you need 3 battery monitors?

 

[Lenny HB]

Richard and Ann Would that battery monitor do all 3 batteries, (2+1), or would you need 3 battery monitors?

The leisure batteries are in parallel so act as a single battery. If you want to read the starter battery as well you need a Victron BMV 702.

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-BMV-700-series-EN.pdf

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[Richard n Ann]

It would do a bank of batteries which would be the leisure batteries and would read just voltage on the starter battery, that's all you need really because you don't discharge that (hopefully) ?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Starter battery. Just press the V&A button...

Van's in the garage now so it's dark ?

 

[acropolis22]

It would do a bank of batteries which would be the leisure batteries and would read just voltage on the starter battery, that's all you need really because you don't discharge that (hopefully) ?

Great, thanks a lot. I'm pretty hazy about all these bits of kit. As you will have gathered....

 

[acropolis22]

The leisure batteries are in parallel so act as a single battery. If you want to read the starter battery as well you need a Victron BMV 702.

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-BMV-700-series-EN.pdf

Cheers.

 

[Neil H]

Thanks for the advise, sorted now, got a renogy 160w panel and a 20amp MPPT controller. From what I can gather I need a fuse somewhere and if so what amperage. Still waiting for all the bits to turn up so not desperate, hope your all keeping well, Neil

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