help with solar panel choice please

[kingoftheroad]

Hi
Can anyone help please.
I just have room to accommodate a 150w solar panel 1252 x 670 and was wondering if it will suffice our requirements.
1/ We would only ever need to rely on solar whilst touring France/Spain in the months May to June or September to November, (never in the UK or at home)
2/ Longest time not on EHU, would be no more than a four day period

We have two 150ah leisure batteries and a 1500w inverter

Average power usage per day:
800w small camping kettle, maybe used 4 to 5 times
30w cooling fan only used occasionally, if its really warm
LED spot lights 2 maybe 4 in use, late evening for a couple of hours or so

(and if possible in an emergency only, would it cope charging a mobility scooter battery)
Thanks Mike

 

[kingoftheroad]

My preferred area for a panel would be area 1 @ (1200 x 700) a 150w will just about fit

 

[jollyrodger]

For you requirements 150w would be ample imo.

One of my vans not so long back
With 2x 110 numax aux batts
120w monocrystaline solar
1500w modified s. Wave
Inverter
Travel kettle low watt toaster (not at the same time)
Samsung junior microwave
Tv, firestick, film box and off grid for a month or so. No problems touring every couple of days maybe a 4 day stop-over at times.

 

[grasscutter]

There’s probably a reason but if you did away with the electric kettle and used gas you would easily last 4 days.
if you are fitting solar I would say go for as much as you can, weight allowing, however 150w will definitely help in Spain/France.

 

[Tombola]

150 w is fine, but just think about when you park up where that sat dish shadow is going to cast.
poss even here of there is room

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[kingoftheroad]

Hi Jollyrodger
Thanks for reply, that sounds promising then, just want it to keep topping the batteries up obviously and was hoping 150w would be enough.
Made a mistake as well, my leisure batteries are both 115ah, not 150ah
Thanks for info

 

[kingoftheroad]

There’s probably a reason but if you did away with the electric kettle and used gas you would easily last 4 days.
if you are fitting solar I would say go for as much as you can, weight allowing, however 150w will definitely help in Spain/France.

Yes, I hate the taste of tea made using kettle on gas, everyone to there own

 

[kingoftheroad]

150 w is fine, but just think about when you park up where that sat dish shadow is going to cast.
poss even here of there is room
View attachment 598318

Yes take your point, but this area is long and quite narrow, less than 500mm and I have quite a bit of weight on that side already, fridge/freezer and gas bottles, hence my choice for the other side

 

[jollyrodger]

The van I have just aquired came a bit ott, with 320w already on the roof, polycrystalline,
30A mppt regulator 2x110 batts, sergeant charge/monitor system. 700w pure sign wave inverter. But one of the previous owners 2018/9
Did a huge tour of Europe with that set up how many times on hook up I don't know.

I have just added a 3rd 110 batt to accommodate the diesel heater I've just fitted.
All being well I'll be off for a 6 week tour Sp, Pt, F
Beginning of June. Mostly off grid.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Yes, I hate the taste of tea made using kettle on gas, everyone to there own

I think you need a new gas kettle

The electric kettle will take 66 amps that's a lot but you'll probably be ok if it's sunny.

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[kingoftheroad]

The van I have just aquired came a bit ott, with 320w already on the roof, polycrystalline,
30A mppt regulator 2x110 batts, sergeant charge/monitor system. 700w pure sign wave inverter. But one of the previous owners 2018/9
Did a huge tour of Europe with that set up how many times on hook up I don't know.

I have just added a 3rd 110 batt to accommodate the diesel heater I've just fitted.
All being well I'll be off for a 6 week tour Sp, Pt, F
Beginning of June. Mostly off grid.

Wow, that's more than double I'm looking at, we've managed ok up to now, so 150w is better than nothing at all, think I'll have to stick to charging the scooter while on the move, or when on hook up though

 

[kingoftheroad]

I think you need a new gas kettle

The electric kettle will take 66 amps that's a lot but you'll probably be ok if it's sunny.

Yes, only use it first thing, maybe a couple of times on the night, where out and about during the day, the UK's different of course, probably more like 10 brews, whilst watching the rain from inside the van, but on EHU anyway, so what the hell

 

[kingoftheroad]

Will I need to purchase a solar remote meter in the kit, if I have this in the van anyway

 

[jollyrodger]

Can ask the audience on that one

Personally I have always fitted the system as a stand alone. And not tied into ebl.

These guys are pretty helpful and on prices
www.newenergycoop.co.uk
info@newenergyco-op.co.uk

Based at Dunkeswell Devon

 

[grasscutter]

Just fitted an extra 200w to my existing 150w along with a new Voltronic controller and bypassed the EBL

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[Lenny HB]

150 watts will be fine for your use if you ditch the electric kettle, no point in putting that much strain on your batteries.
If you wire via the EBL you will be able to see what's happening on the panel but if you go for more solar it's best to bypass the EBL.
Unless you are a nerd like me you don't really need to know what's going on with the solar.

 

[kingoftheroad]

150 watts will be fine for your use if you ditch the electric kettle, no point in putting that much strain on your batteries.
If you wire via the EBL you will be able to see what's happening on the panel but if you go for more solar it's best to bypass the EBL.
Unless you are a nerd like me you don't really need to know what's going on with the solar.

Hi Lenny
Thanks for info and yes I want it as simple as possible, dont want to monitor anything I dont need to.
Been looking at the kits and it states choose one of the following:
1/ Victron smart solar mppt
Or
2/ EP solar mppt extra 1206n
And if fitted in awkward to see position an
EP solar mt-50 remote meter is recommended
So if I ditch the EP remote meter (because dont need to know status)
Which would you say is best choice of control bixes 1/ the Victron or the 2/ the EP, cost wise, there nothing much in it.

 

[kingoftheroad]

And I'll ditch the kettle and just drink wine

 

[Lenny HB]

Out of those two I would go for the Victron, another very good controller are the Votronic MPP range, they have dual output for charging the starter battery.

 

[kingoftheroad]

Out of those two I would go for the Victron, another very good controller are the Votronic MPP range, they have dual output for charging the starter battery.

Victron it is then, thankyou