Help!!! (1 Viewer)

[Watto150850]

I have been given a Maplin Topray solar panel 3kw and as a newbie have no idea what I need to connect it to my battery. Please can anyone help this duffer.

 

[tonka]

3kw !!!!!
3kw !!!!! ( In the voice of doc brown)

Are you sure ? That's like house version.

 

[hilldweller]

Your size is wrong. 13W more like. Does it have two big clips on the cables, if so it's semi-useless and connects direct to the battery because it outs so little electricity it does not need a regulator.

A picture would help.

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[jollyrodger]

You need a flux capacitor

 

[autorouter]

Your size is wrong. 13W more like.

It could even be 3 watts. This type of panel has its uses. For example, if you have a vehicle that you don't use for several weeks, it will keep the battery topped up.

The self-discharge of a big battery is about 100 to 200 milliamps, and a tiny solar panel like this will just about put that back in. It's useful for a situation where you can't get a mains lead to the vehicle to run a trickle charger. If you live in a block of flats, for example.

Unfortunately many vehicles have an alarm that drains more than this from a battery, so a small panel like this often can't keep the battery charged for that reason.

It's useful to keep batteries topped up during storage, but is no use at all for charging a habitation battery while you're living in the motorhome.

 

[ambulancekidd]

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[Bobby22]

I have been given a Maplin Topray solar panel 3kw and as a newbie have no idea what I need to connect it to my battery. Please can anyone help this duffer.

It looks like you have a 13w folding cassette solar panel. These things are usually sat on the ground facing the sun. You need to keep turning them to follow the sunshine. To be honest, in a motorhome world they are minuscule in their output. They will give you 1 amp per hour at maximum output, and more like 0.1 or 0.2 amps.

If you really want to use it put the + wire on your + terminal and the- wire on your - terminal.

If you ever get a decent solar system it will need a solar controller between the panel an the battery.

Your 13w panel just might be enough to charge a phone at full output.

 

[Watto150850]

No wonder I was given it

So it's pretty useless? Any suggestions please.

And thanks for all your comments.

Newbie Watto

 

[treetops1]

Tip

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[autorouter]

It's ideal for keeping a battery topped up during storage, if there's no access to mains. Also useful if you leave your car at home when you go on your motorhome travels.

I successfully used a 2.5 watt panel to keep my motorhome starter battery charged up over the winter.

 

[Watto150850]

What would be the best type of solar panel to purchase to keep my leisure battery topped up please

 

[Neckender]

What would be the best type of solar panel to purchase to keep my leisure battery topped up please

A minimum of 100 watts, I have 200 watts of solar on our van and just managed 4 days last week end without hook up.
We have a compressor fridge 12 volt, and my CPAP machine to run off 12 volts too.
During the summer months I managed without hook up at all with my set up.
John.

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[two]

Welcome.
What you already have would keep the battery topped up whilst stored.
You may not need anything more, depending on how you use your van.

 

[Watto150850]

Thank both ...i will give it a go ...Paul

 

[tonyidle]

3kw !!!!!
3kw !!!!! ( In the voice of doc brown)

Are you sure ? That's like house version.

House version (I have them) is 250W / panel.

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