Should I add another solar panel?

[rosalan]

I have limited battery space (1 x160 ah Battery), Would it be worthwhile adding more solar panels to my existing 130 panel? If I got a showground sales to fit another one and could they make a mess of connecting it into my present system? My van has an electroblok and my battery is AGM.

 

[The Wino]

Do you run out of battery or does it limit what you can use it for and you want say an inverter or if you have one 240v off grid more often? If it's working fine why change it if you want more 12v capacity then try and work out what it is you want extra.

 

[autorouter]

What make/model is the solar controller? If you are doubling the solar power, then it's quite likely you will need to upgrade the solar controller. If the existing controller is a PWM type, you could go for an MPPT controller. Then you'll just have to be careful that the new panel's maximum power voltage point (Vmp) is about the same as the existing panel's Vmp.

 

[rosalan]

Thank you both. If the weather is cool and I need to run my Alde heating at night in the UK, I worry about running my battery down too low. At other times, charging two electric bikes has put a strain on the system and I hate the alarm that tells me so.

 

[68c]

As an example, we have 240Watt of solar and two 100AH lead acid batteries. Normally stop two to three days without EHU then drive 50 to 75 miles on average.
We watch TV most evenings, fridge is on gas, Truma heating/hot water by gas which also uses 12v for the distrubution fans etc. We charge two ebikes using two DC to DC converters which change the 12vDC from the leisure batteries to 42vDC to charge our 36v bikes. This is more efficient than using an inverter. We are OK from March to September. During the winter, short days, low sun and rain mean we need EHU or long drive every other day.

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