I bought a nice folding panel

[ToBoldlyGo]

Thanks to people on there mentioning photonic universe, I bought a folding panel from them, 2 panels 40w each with an MPPT controller (I don't know what an MPPT controller is yet but from browsing in here it seemed the one to go for).

It has the look and feel of a quality product and it comes in a nice padded zipped bag. The instructions are in native English and easy to understand.

When it came to deploying the panel the instructions warn to put it outside as otherwise its output is much reduced but then having the vehicle battery in the cab I couldn't see how to get the cable in there (anyone?) so I've deployed inside the cab, Even inside the cab I've multimeter checked the voltage has gone from 12v to 12.4 over about 3-4 weeks.

 

[Off da Grid]

You could put the croc clips on the connections used to jump start your van under the bonnet.
The windscreen glass will block a lot of the solar radiation your trying to capture, put the panel outside and you will gain a lot more usable power.

A solar controller converts the power from the solar panel which needs to be more than 12v to charge the battery.

A PWM controller drops the voltage down to charge the battery, but can waste any excess voltage.

An MPPT controller will drop the voltage but can convert the spare voltage to amps giving more available power.
They can also get you more power on a cloudy day from your panels.
Take a look at the Alt E store or RV with Tito YouTube channels both explain a lot about solar.

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

Ah yes, thanks! So, I guess I can thread the cable from the panel from up the bottom of the engine bay?

Thanks for the links too.

I'm so pleased with this my first panel I've been thinking of other reasons to buy extra solar (I take it from your username that you're really into solar?) - it occurred to me to put a panel on the shed and then use an inverter to get mains power but I'm too old for that to be cost efficient, it would never pay for itself.

You could put the croc clips on the connections used to jump start your van under the bonnet.
The windscreen glass will block a lot of the solar radiation your trying to capture, put the panel outside and you will gain a lot more usable power.

A solar controller converts the power from the solar panel which needs to be more than 12v to charge the battery.

A PWM controller drops the voltage down to charge the battery, but can waste any excess voltage.

An MPPT controller will drop the voltage but can convert the spare voltage to amps giving more available power.
They can also get you more power on a cloudy day from your panels.
Take a look at the Alt E store or RV with Tito YouTube channels both explain a lot about solar.

 

[TheBig1]

I would open the bonnet, connect the clips and then close the bonnet trapping the wire to prevent theft. keep the wire away from the catch area and it should be fine. I do this when putting a battery on charge, with the incoming mains cable trapped and the charger positioned in a dry part of the engine bay if it rains

 

[Off da Grid]

I prefer off grid camping on field type sites, it seems more fun, and like to be as self sufficient as possible.
I’m not an environmentalist in anyway but like to do my bit even as far as not putting the battery charger on if we are on a site with electric just have the fridge on electric to save gas.
Although I have noticed that the solar works in conjunction with the mains charger so saves a bit of electric.

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