Portable solar panels

[U.Toadifact]

Much of the time we are on EHU on the sites we visit. However, we also exhibit at traction engine rallies for up to four days where no EHU is available. Our PVC has a measly 80 watt solar panel which will not maintain the leisure battery for more than 24 hours owing to our fridge being electric only. We are therefore considering purchasing a portable solar panel which we can set up on site. Could you fine folk please offer any advice on a suitable panel? How do you connect such a panel to charge the leisure battery? If the leads from the portable panel's controller just clip to the leisure battery terminals, can it be used with the existing solar panel without modification?

 

[Tombola]

Check your solar controller, if it will take the power of the 80 w one and whatever the power of the new one is you are going to buy then they can both feed to the same controller. If not then anothe controller for either the new panel or one capabale of running both.
if both going to one controller then how you feed it in is up to you. Both cables straight to the contoller terminals or use inline connectors

Id imagine if you are only adding another 100w then the controller you have may be suitable. But check the max input of it online.
And no, dont just add the leads direct to your battery, even a cheap controller will do the job.

 

[U.Toadifact]

I intend to purchase a portable panel with its own controller. The version fitted to my pvc is only a small basic device with only lights and not even an isolating switch so I would like to leave that doing its job with the fitted panel and then use a portable panel with its dedicated controller.

 

[Tombola]

Thats fine, but crocidile clips arent ideal, depending on your current set up, add the new ones through your bus bars or if you dont have that much stuff added to need bus bars, then something like this to add multiple inputs
Amazon product ASIN B092HD4NSY

 

[U.Toadifact]

I have bus bars so no problem there. However I was hoping that someone would explain how these panels actually connect to the leisure battery and if by doing so there is any detriment for the fitted panel and controller.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Tombola]

I have bus bars so no problem there. However I was hoping that someone would explain how these panels actually connect to the leisure battery and if by doing so there is any detriment for the fitted panel and controller.

I see, no then, they just connect like any other, as long as your batts can take the combined power coming in then happy days.
We used to do the same back in the day, for a bit more power. Lob the cable through the window to 3 way connectors through one exsiting mppt.

 

[U.Toadifact]

OK thanks. I assumed the dedicated controller would protect the leisure battery from over charging.

 

[U.Toadifact]

Does anyone have advice for selecting a portable solar panel or a recommendation?

 

[U.Toadifact]

Really? Has no-one any advice on portable solar panels?

 

[XxAnthxX]

I have a portable 120w eco-worthy panel from Amazon from a previous day van…..

It’s in a black canvas satchel type cover, the controller isn’t great and the cables to the crocodile clips are too short really, but the clips were reasonable quality.
I changed them to longer cables and put quick release plugs on the ends, which I plugged into pig tails that I left permanently connected to my battery terminals.

I have occasionally used it with my current van alongside the permanent 100w panel that’s connected to my victron smart MPPT controller, works great with no issues.

Amazon product ASIN B07RVG179M
I think that they have changed the cable coming out from the panel to round plug by the looks…..mine had mc4 connectors on

I did consider removing the controller and connecting it directly to the Victron…..but with its own controller and crocodile clips (I also put quick release plugs on the ends of the original crocodile clips) it makes it more versatile and quick to connect to other vehicles too

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Raul]

I use a portable panel made by myself. Two victron 115w bolted together with 3” door hinges, and I prop them on a stick. They are serviced by a dedicated victron 100/20 mppt controller. I only deploy them when the roof 600w is struggling.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

I asked a very similar question regarding portable panels and controllers and connecting and had several intersting replies, particularly in NOT buting a kit complete but to buy a portable panel and a seperate mppt controller.
Think the thread is still available.
And some of the best and most comprehwnsive advice came from Raul, as posted!

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I have 2 x120w folder's. We used one around France for off grid camping.
I got 7+ amps with the panel laying flat on the roof. The batteries were all recharged by 11.00am. It's a bit of a faff, but not unworkable.
At home I leave one in the screen, where it gives 1.8+ amps, easily enough to look after both battery banks.
I have Anderson plugs to both batteries, and another one to the electroblock, fed through an MPPT capable of handling 3 x 120w panels, but I will fix a roof top 300w panel shortly. Mike.

 

[U.Toadifact]

Thanks all for your replies. I have bought a Dokio 100 watt folding panel from Amazon which, assuming it works OK and plays happily with the fixed panel on the roof, I will attach sockets to the leisure battery terminals and plugs in place of the crocodile clips on the cables from the controller on the portable panel.