Solar generators ?

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Hi all, a question for the electric power solution guru's. As in the title really, solar power generators, viable kit, or would my hard earned ££s be better spent on a quality, second leisure battery, and a good quality inverter, and some solar panels,that would be needed in case to run the generator???
Any answers in as "lay persons" language as possible please.
Many thanks.
Mike.

 

[68c]

Not sure what you mean by 'Solar Power Generator'. You mention solar panels so it can't be that.
The solar panel, battery and inverter will give you a 12v supply and a limited amount of 240v and is the normal setup.

 

[poppycamper]

I too am mystified by solar generator... going by OT's name could it be a boaty thing... just guessing.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

It's one of these,
Amazon product ASIN B08BZBBNJJIt just seems to replicate technology mostly present in MHs already, but in a stand alone package.
Mike

 

[tonka]

It's basically a battery in a box that you charge up and take with you ie camping. Often they have a solar panel that can be set up to recharge the box.

My personal view first buy a second battery as that instantly doubles your capacity.
Next solar panel (s) to recharge your batteries.
Last the inverter, useful if you need the odd mains powered device but taking out high amp use needs to be replaced hence the solar panels.

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[poppycamper]

Gosh.... look at the price.

 

[jollyrodger]

2 good size batteries (100+AH)
Solar panel to suit your space available
Mppt solar regulator
1500w (?) Pure sine wave inverter
And around £1200+ saving on the unit ,or buy a genny

 

[poppycamper]

Had a look and i can see appeal for tenters to give them an easy carriable battery for power.
But can't see any advantage in a moho

 

[Emmit]

There's someone down here at the 'Pointy Bit' selling Solar Panels on Marketplace at £85 a pop.
From memory they're 330 watt and measure 1.00Mts x 1.65Mts.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Looks like this is really some sort is swish pricey portable battery solution. Great if you were off grid in tents and stuff. But tenters are hardy souls so wouldn’t want to be spending double of the price (at least) of their tent for that type of glamming.

but for motor home camper van boat you can do your permanent installation cheaper with a lot more battery capacity

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[MitchandJenny]

Some clever chap told me that the total solar panel wattage should match the total ampere hour rating of the leasure batteries.
So I have 200 watts of panels ( one of which is 100w suitcase fold-out type that I can angle to the sun) The other one flat on the roof only produces half as much as the portable one.
And 2 x 100 AH leasure batteries.
Works for me.
Mitch.

 

[JJ]

"Solar" generator?

I think not.

Very misleading... a battery in a box... nothing at all to do with solar.


JJ

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

2 good size batteries (100+AH)
Solar panel to suit your space available
Mppt solar regulator
1500w (?) Pure sine wave inverter
And around £1200+ saving on the unit ,or buy a genny

Are small pure sine wave inverter petrol/propane generators a genuine good use of payload ? I can understand how they might be, and could to an extent answer all the off grid excursions, but there must be a downside I'm missing??
Mike

 

[jollyrodger]

Depends what you want to use and how much free payload you want I suppose.
Me I prefer off grid wilding, but also like my trick bits.
What is the weight of the unit you posted ?
I have at the moment 160w of solar with space for more.
3 x 110Ah Numax . 2 were replacements for what was there already.and the heavey bits.
Mppt regulator
And a 1500w pure sine inverter
Total outlay £541
At the moment practically full time use and all for free
What's not to like .
Oh and on the boat I have 100w solar
4x 110 numax
30A regulator
1000w modified sine inverter
Even in this wx all batteries are fully charged
And apart from initial cost (only hurts once)
Saves in hook ups and free

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

O.K. hands up, I had an ulterior motive in the question, starting with a blank sheet, [ as we are ] , I was looking for the " ideal set up " for a couple who wish to initially, travel using sites with a decent EHU, but eventually as we gather the requisite experience start to do some wild camping.
Regards.
Mike

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[SuperMike]

Don’t need experience to wild camp, just do it, whilst keeping an eye on the batteries, you’ll soon learn.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Depends what you want to use and how much free payload you want I suppose.
Me I prefer of grid wilding, but also like my trick bits.
What is the weight of the unit you posted ?
I have at the moment 160w of solar with space for more.
3 x 110Ah Numax . 2 were replacements for what was there already.and the heavey bits.
Mppt regulator
And a 1500w pure sine inverter
Total outlay £541
At the moment practically full time use and all for free
What's not to like .
Oh and on the boat I have 100w solar
4x 110 numax
30A regulator
1000w modified sine inverter
Even in this wx all batteries are fully charged
And apart from initial cost (only hurts once)
Saves in hook ups and free

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

They weigh something in the order of 16kg, so about the same as as a small quality petrol genny.
Mike

 

[Lenny HB]

Some clever chap told me that the total solar panel wattage should match the total ampere hour rating of the leasure batteries.
So I have 200 watts of panels ( one of which is 100w suitcase fold-out type that I can angle to the sun) The other one flat on the roof only produces half as much as the portable one.
And 2 x 100 AH leasure batteries.
Works for me.
Mitch.

Only works in summer any other time of year you need as much solar as you can get on the roof and as many batteries as you can fit.

 

[poppycamper]

must be a downside I'm missing??

Noise.!!!

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[jollyrodger]

BouncyBoatFolk
More like 23.5kg each but very very quiet

Against the lightweight kipor 1000w genny for comparison at around 15kg with fuel ,plus ready use spare go-go juice to carry ,done that and used it once .
The wildlife didn't like it! And that that was a fun meet

You've got to do your homework and find something that suits your style of camping.
There are some lovely sites wherever you can get to on or off grid
Hopefully back to Scandinavia next year all off the beaten track
Hopefully meet up someday and share a pint or three

 

[Edendeb]

Check out a few vloggers on You Tube, they have reviewed them. I think one of them is ExPAWers

 

[pappajohn]

They weigh something in the order of 16kg, so about the same as as a small quality petrol genny.
Mike

But they make no noise at all.
A genny in a wild camping situation is still noisy so, unless you're miles from nowhere, will attract attention.
Quiet gennies usually state 57db...but that's at ¼ throttle, they are loud at full chat.

 

[Otter Spotter]

It's one of these,
Amazon product ASIN B08BZBBNJJIt just seems to replicate technology mostly present in MHs already, but in a stand alone package.
Mike

This appears to be a very expensive battery block, why don’t you think about Lithium batteries with a solar panel, would probably be similar price but the solar panel will aid recharging. More importantly, they are not likely to get nicked like the Poweroak could.

 

[Jo662]

All been given for free to advertising on there channels!

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[funflair]

I don't understand why 3C rated cells take 15 hours to charge from the mains, and the battery is Lithium Polymer not LiFePO4 so not as safe.
.
.

 

[78978]

Are small pure sine wave inverter petrol/propane generators a genuine good use of payload ? I can understand how they might be, and could to an extent answer all the off grid excursions, but there must be a downside I'm missing??
Mike

Mike
I have a small VW , i carry a small pure sine wave generator, (it takes up about 1/8 of the boot). I have no solar or heat in the van.
It has helped me stay self contained / off grid / wild camp for weeks on end (which has really helped in the current climate) , I only have a small leisure battery .
It will power the Additional battery charger , charge the laptop , give me power for electric heater (although very low watts).
The downside to the generator is noise, noise is general isn't a good thing it highlights me to much. Obviously the Generator has to be outside the Van while running , so its also about securing the generator to the van while in use. I do have a box i pop over it which helps dull the running noise.

 

[tonyidle]

Mike
I have a small VW , i carry a small pure sine wave generator, (it takes up about 1/8 of the boot). I have no solar or heat in the van.
It has helped me stay self contained / off grid / wild camp for weeks on end (which has really helped in the current climate) , I only have a small leisure battery .
It will power the Additional battery charger , charge the laptop , give me power for electric heater (although very low watts).
The downside to the generator is noise, noise is general isn't a good thing it highlights me to much. Obviously the Generator has to be outside the Van while running , so its also about securing the generator to the van while in use. I do have a box i pop over it which helps dull the running noise.

All alternator-based generators output pure sinewave. Only when they are inverter-generators is it important to check that the inverter part has the appropriate filter to ensure a pure sine wave is output. Like any inverter really.

 

[Nasher]

Mike
I have a small VW , i carry a small pure sine wave generator, (it takes up about 1/8 of the boot). I have no solar or heat in the van.
It has helped me stay self contained / off grid / wild camp for weeks on end (which has really helped in the current climate) , I only have a small leisure battery .
It will power the Additional battery charger , charge the laptop , give me power for electric heater (although very low watts).
The downside to the generator is noise, noise is general isn't a good thing it highlights me to much. Obviously the Generator has to be outside the Van while running , so its also about securing the generator to the van while in use. I do have a box i pop over it which helps dull the running noise.

I'm guessing you have something like this:

<Broken link removed>

There are Screwfix & Wolfe versions (same gennie different coloured side panels)

I have the same, works really well and not too heavy

I use it to top up my battery at classic motorcycle races/events - noise is not an issue at these sort of places

However for heating I have a Wallas XC Duo diesel heater & hob - one device that does it all and runs off diesel from the vehicle tank

 

[78978]

Yes , but larger Watts 1.1Kw , and i wish i had gone the next one up , however then it would have been the next and next. It was to help me use the van virtually full time , which is has done.
Reality should be full up solar set up first and foremost , increase the battery storage (but space is a problem in a small van) and if i had to i would look at the due fuel LPG / petrol generators.

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