Newbie .. solar panel help (1 Viewer)

[Marmite]

Hi
Picked up our new motorhome this week (Dethleffs Trend T 6757) and getting ready for the first trip. This is our first motorhome having been carravanning for 18 years.

I am considering fitting a small solar panel to keep the batteries topped up whilst in storage, but am not sure what I need for this. Suspect I only need a relatively small one (vehicle battery and 2x leisure batteries on board), but only concerned re storage discharge and keeping it the batteries topped up when not on the road. The unit has an alarm fitted which takes some charge continuously. What output do you suggest? I intend to mount it internally behind glass so as not to have to drill holes in our new baby.

Also, the motorhome has an Elektroblock EBL 119 unit fitted which has connections for a solar panel. Does this mean that I can connect directly to the EBL 119, or do I need a seperate controller, and would this keep both the leisure and vehicle batteries topped up?

I am OK with basic DIY and did lots of work on the caravan during our 18 years of ownership.

All and any advice appreciated.

 

[funflair]

I appreciate that you don't want to drill holes in your new van but done properly it is not a problem at all and then your solar would be fit and forget, have are you going to use your van? are you always going to be on hook up, if not you could use the solar power while you are out and about.

Martin

 

[Lenny HB]

The small ones you put on the dash are a wast of time. Far better to fit at least a 100 watt one on the roof.
The EBL connections are just a convienant way of connecting a panel you still need to fit a solar regulator. You can get dual output solar regulators that will keep the starter battery topped up as well as charging the leisure battery. Alternatively you can fit a single output regulator and either a solar split charge relay or Battery master to keep the starter battery topped up.

You seem to be thinking like a caravaners rather than a Motorhomer, loads of solar power and a good battery bank gives you freedom and you don't need to rely on sites.

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[Off da Grid]

Go for roof mounted panels at least 200watts and a good dual mppt solar controller.
You won’t regret it.
We much prefer the field type sites as it feels more like camping if your off grid, we’ve got 250watt panel and Votronic duo 350 mppt controller, 1 110A starter and 1 110A leasure battery.
This fully charges both batteries by 10 ish on a sunny morning even when flat, I can tilt it for more power on cloudy days or the winter months.
I’ve turned of the battery charger as we don’t use it even if we happen to be on hookup mostly for the fridge.
Even in October providing the sun shines we’re usually ok for battery power.

 

[Riverbankannie]

I think you should fit a panel on the roof. As others have said, Motorhomes give you freedom of choice in pitching up places. Having a panel fitted, with a battery master to keep both habitation and vehicle batteries topped up was the first thing I did. As said above, it is fit and forget! I am constantly surprised that it one is not fitted as standard equipment.

 

[Off da Grid]

I would guess they’re not fitted as standard so the dealers can charge over the top for adding them.
Considering the crap the eu has imposed on us over the years and restricting the power of devices like vacuum cleaners, putting solar panels on motorhomes and large camper vans should be a standard fitting.
Even on hookup I’ve noticed ours still contributes to the 12v power and battery charging so reduces the power we take from the grid.

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[peterc10]

You do not need to drill holes to fit them solar panels on the roof. They are stuck on using specialist adhesives and brackets Easy to do yourself, I put 2 x 100W into our previous motorhome without problems. Or you could get a dealer to do it, as we did on our present motorhome (total of 250W). Once you have a decent amount of solar you can break free from the tyranny of having to book and stay at campsites. That is especially so in Europe, which have many informal areas specifically for motorhomes to stop in many countries.

 

[autorouter]

There is a 3-way connector on the EBL119 intended for use with solar. Pins 1 and 3 go direct to the leisure battery, through a fuse labelled 'Solar'. The fuse (15A) will probably not be present. You can check the polarity with a multimeter if you can't work out which pin is which from the manual.

Any solar panel more than about 20 or 30 watts needs a solar controller to stop overcharging when the battery is full. The pins of the 3-way connector are rated at about 15A, so would be good for up to about 200W. The plugs are MNL '= Mate'N'Lok' available from 12V wiring supplies shops like 12VoltPlanet or AltecAutomotive. The pins can be crimped with standard NON-insulated crimp pliers.

On most EBLs , including the EBL119, pins 1and 3 go to the leisure battery. On some EBLs, but NOT EBL119, pins 1 and 2 go to the starter battery. So with the EBL119 you can't connect to the starter battery through the EBL front panel. You could use the big wire to the starter battery that comes in at the back of the EBL, but it's usually quite an effort.

Small solar panels are not completely hopeless as others seem to suggest. I have had some success keeping a starter battery topped up with a small panel (less than 5 watts) stuck to the inside of the windscreen, facing South in a sunny location. A single panel of 20 watts or a couple of 10 watt ones would probably be adequate.

 

[Marmite]

Thanks for all the great advice above. Very much appreciated.

The EBL119 is the model with OVP (over voltage protection). Does this change the view that a solar controller is needed?

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[peterc10]

Thanks for all the great advice above. Very much appreciated.

The EBL119 is the model with OVP (over voltage protection). Does this change the view that a solar controller is needed?

No. OVP has nothing to do with solar charging. It protects the unit if the main electrics spikes when on a EHU.

 

[Nanniemate]

Gosh so far no one has mentioned Vanbitz