Solar help wanted please

[Delmywelmy]

Morning, new to the solar game. Hopefully getting a 30 year old Talbot express on Monday. She has an inverter and a leisure battery, not sure what sizes or anything. Want to add solar panels and possibly another leisure battery as we will be off grid for appx 3 months at a time. What size/power of panel/battery should I be looking at please ?

 

[Two on Tour]

Morning, new to the solar game. Hopefully getting a 30 year old Talbot express on Monday. She has an inverter and a leisure battery, not sure what sizes or anything. Want to add solar panels and possibly another leisure battery as we will be off grid for appx 3 months at a time. What size/power of panel/battery should I be looking at please ?

Off grid at what time off the year and in what part of the world as it will make a big differance as to what you can get away with and cost.

 

[Otter Spotter]

You need to list all the items you are likely to run off both 12v (lights etc) and 240v via Invertor ( kettle, Air fryer, Microwave, Remoska, hairdryer etc. the Microwave will be the most power hungry as it starts so that will govern the size of of Invertor.
Once you have your list then consider where you expect to travel to is it going to Sunny all the time Spain etc. or Scotland (not Sunny most of the time).

 

[oldiesontour]

In short as many watts as you can fit on the roof ....not for sunny days but for the majority of days that are cloudy..when you will get maybe with luck 10%of the panels rated output

 

[68c]

Morning, new to the solar game. Hopefully getting a 30 year old Talbot express on Monday. She has an inverter and a leisure battery, not sure what sizes or anything. Want to add solar panels and possibly another leisure battery as we will be off grid for appx 3 months at a time. What size/power of panel/battery should I be looking at please ?

Where are you going? If southern Europe about 200watt of solar will be OK with 100Ah of usable leisure battery. As you must never completely discharge any leisure battery this means around 200Ah of lead acid or 150Ah lithium.

If expecting to spend most of your time in northern Europe, probably need 300watt of solar and 200Ah usable for the leisure battery. In winter and in Scotland you will harvest very little solar so need another way of charging, perhaps another 200watt of portable solar that you can tilt to the sun. Campsite hookup, a lot of driving or a (much hated by other campers) generator.

Just my suggestion, others will differ.

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[LostInSpace]

Just live with it for a while. Learn about what you have and how much spare payload you have.

Nothing wrong with living on the grid for some of the time.

 

[Delmywelmy]

Where are you going? If southern Europe about 200watt of solar will be OK with 100Ah of usable leisure battery. As you must never completely discharge any leisure battery this means around 200Ah of lead acid or 150Ah lithium.

If expecting to spend most of your time in northern Europe, probably need 300watt of solar and 200Ah usable for the leisure battery. In winter and in Scotland you will harvest very little solar so need another way of charging, perhaps another 200watt of portable solar that you can tilt to the sun. Campsite hookup, a lot of driving or a (much hated by other campers) generator.

Just my suggestion, others will differ.

Morocco, Andorra, Portugal to name a few

 

[Delmywelmy]

You need to list all the items you are likely to run off both 12v (lights etc) and 240v via Invertor ( kettle, Air fryer, Microwave, Remoska, hairdryer etc. the Microwave will be the most power hungry as it starts so that will govern the size of of Invertor.
Once you have your list then consider where you expect to travel to is it going to Sunny all the time Spain etc. or Scotland (not Sunny most of the time).

Lights, kettle, phone chargers, TV, possibly air fryer. No hairdryer or microwave. Sunny the majority of the time.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Lights, kettle, phone chargers, TV, possibly air fryer. No hairdryer or microwave. Sunny the majority of the time.

You should get away with 300AH of Solar, but be aware that some phone chargers only like Pure sine wave invertors.

 

[Delmywelmy]

You should get away with 300AH of Solar, but be aware that some phone chargers only like Pure sine wave invertors.

Thanks

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[Otter Spotter]

Thanks

No problem, if you can fit some USB sockets 2.4amp then you could charge your phones up but it’s a little slower. That would save using your invertor

 

[68c]

If going that far in an older vans it may be worth thinking about what spares and tools you may need. One good source of parts for older vans is coastamotorhomes.co.uk. Based in Ringwood but do a lot of mail order.
Well worth getting details of who you would try and contact if you need mechanical help, try researching who would be likely to have parts in more remote areas. A lot easier to sort that out home with no stress. Luckily the Talbot Express is a simple van with no complicated electronics to go wrong. I had a 2litre petrol Camelot, took it to southern France, Germany etc.

 

[jollyrodger]

My tuppence worth from experiences
First get it weighed with full tank of fuel and water with you sat in it
Then see what spare payload you have. You can always drop the water if it puts you near or over gross
You can then get an idea of what you can add in the way of extras.
I agree with previous posters
Solar as much as you can fit on the roof within weight limit 1500 - 2000w pure sine wave inverter a good mppt regulator also you may benefit to fit a battery master,to keep stsrter battery tip top then see what you have left.
Personally for solar suppler then Craig Solar ,fast and efficient service at the right price recently ly replaced 200w to 480W
Renogy mppt 30-40A regulator. I went with 40A
Having replaced the old 3way ff in favour of a 12v compressor ff.
Even in the UK at present batteries all good (2x120Ah +1110AH)
Kettle 600w ,toaster 600w, microwave 800w,Air fryer 900w. Obviously not all at the same time.
We also go off grid mostly
But even on sites (with a pool) no leccy needed
Hair dryer is a terry towel
Good luck on your quest and journeys

 

[MisterB]

i would be looking at a minimum of 300Ah lithium battery and a 3000w inverter. Then its about the recharging regime, you basically need to replace what you use on a daily basis (irrespective of what size or type of battery) solar is good if not moving regularly and you get the weather, consider adding a folding solar panel as well as filling your roof! if travelling every couple of days then large B2B (DC- DC) charger, sized accordingly, will replenish what you have used - so long as your battery capacity is such that you can stay off grid for the amount of time you wont be driving.

but as others have suggested, why not try it first before making major investments ....

 

[Delmywelmy]

Just live with it for a while. Learn about what you have and how much spare payload you have.

Nothing wrong with living on the grid for some of the time.

My tuppence worth from experiences
First get it weighed with full tank of fuel and water with you sat in it
Then see what spare payload you have. You can always drop the water if it puts you near or over gross
You can then get an idea of what you can add in the way of extras.
I agree with previous posters
Solar as much as you can fit on the roof within weight limit 1500 - 2000w pure sine wave inverter a good mppt regulator also you may benefit to fit a battery master,to keep stsrter battery tip top then see what you have left.
Personally for solar suppler then Craig Solar ,fast and efficient service at the right price recently ly replaced 200w to 480W
Renogy mppt 30-40A regulator. I went with 40A
Having replaced the old 3way ff in favour of a 12v compressor ff.
Even in the UK at present batteries all good (2x120Ah +1110AH)
Kettle 600w ,toaster 600w, microwave 800w,Air fryer 900w. Obviously not all at the same time.
We also go off grid mostly
But even on sites (with a pool) no leccy needed
Hair dryer is a terry towel
Good luck on your quest and journeys

I'm lucky in that my hair looks ok if left to dry naturally so I don't even use a hairdryer at home. I spend a lot of time driving to work at mo so even in winter I can get away with the car heater lol

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[jollyrodger]

I'm lucky in that my hair looks ok if left to dry naturally so I don't even use a hairdryer at home. I spend a lot of time driving to work at mo so even in winter I can get away with the car heater lol

Not a problem

 

[oldiesontour]

If starting from scratch on a budget
Renogy B2B (DC DC charger engine to batteries) 30 or 50amp £200 ISH 50amp..
With built in mppt solar controller and keeps starter battery topped up from solar panels as much as you can afford / have space for / controller can handle £200 ISH either another battery to match existing or lithium for less weight and more power...Fogstar build your own kit £350 for 315ah

 

[Delmywelmy]

You should get away with 300AH of Solar, but be aware that some phone chargers only like Pure sine wave invertors.

What size of inverter would I need for 300 ah solar. The one in the van is 500w. Also what size leisure battery.
Thanks

 

[oldiesontour]

What size of inverter would I need for 300 ah solar. The one in the van is 500w. Also what size leisure battery.
Thanks

Solar is rated in watts,batteries are rated in amp hours,inverters in watts...which can easily be converted approximately by dividing by 250( volt output) so your 500w inverter will supply 2 amps at 250volt,appliances..phone chargers to kettles will hav either amp or wattage required on them( IE 240v.1amp( input) X volt X amp output)or a kettle 240v ..800w.

 

[Raul]

What size of inverter would I need for 300 ah solar. The one in the van is 500w. Also what size leisure battery.
Thanks

The solar is irrelevant to the battery, but the battery size vs inverter size it is very crucial.
A battery has a max rate of discharge. And you don't wan't to exceed that.
What size inverter, depends on type of batteries.

Solar, the more you can fit, the better. Panels are cheap, and worth having 500-600Wp of solar. But, with your loads mentioned earlier, I would dare say even a modest 400Wp of solar will be sufficient. If, you run a inverter, you will use allot of energy, and the recharge time will be slower on less solar, hence fit as much as you can on the roof. Even 1000Wp is not to much, a good mppt controller will take care of it nicely.
Don't waste your money on cheap gear, spend once and buy victron. You will not regret it.

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[Delmywelmy]

Solar is rated in watts,batteries are rated in amp hours,inverters in watts...which can easily be converted approximately by dividing by 250( volt output) so your 500w inverter will supply 2 amps at 250volt,appliances..phone chargers to kettles will hav either amp or wattage required on them( IE 240v.1amp( input) X volt X amp output)or a kettle 240v ..800w.

So basically I need a bigger inverter and more battery power, is that what you're saying? Sorry, if it helps I am blonde

 

[jollyrodger]

What size of inverter would I need for 300 ah solar. The one in the van is 500w. Also what size leisure battery.
Thanks

I assume you mean 300W of solar?
So inverter depends on what you are going to use and what wattage items are ie: travel kettle 600w? Etc
As has been said before go for a pure sine wave (beware of the cheap Chinese ones 3000w and only costing £40 or similar.)They are a disaster waiting to happen.
It may cost more but well worth you getting a recognised make .Ring,Renogy or similar
I have the Ring 2000W pro psw,it suits my needs and is happy with everything I chuck at it. (See my previous post)

Before you go on your grand tour have a few try outs,maybe a Funster rally where you will get heaps of help and enjoy a beer or two.
Finally a couple of good batteries to suit your pocket and payload

 

[oldiesontour]

So basically I need a bigger inverter and more battery power, is that what you're saying? Sorry, if it helps I am blonde

What do you want to run from your inverter ?

 

[Delmywelmy]

What do you want to run from your inverter ?

TV, phone chargers, possibly kettle although I'm leaning to gas on that and our fridge is only 2 way

 

[Delmywelmy]

TV, phone chargers, possibly kettle although I'm leaning to gas on that and our fridge is only 2 way

Oh and lights, toilet

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[Cush]

TV, phone chargers, possibly kettle although I'm leaning to gas on that and our fridge is only 2 way

Oh and lights, toilet

You should be fine on 12 v with all that. Inverter not necessary but could be done. Kettle best on gas in my opinion. By 2 way fridge do you mean 12v and 230v or one of those plus gas?

 

[Delmywelmy]

You should be fine on 12 v with all that. Inverter not necessary but could be done. Kettle best on gas in my opinion. By 2 way fridge do you mean 12v and 230v or one of those plus gas?

No gas on fridge. It's either on battery or hook up.

 

[oldiesontour]

TV, phone chargers, possibly kettle although I'm leaning to gas on that and our fridge is only 2 way

None of that is a massive load a 1000w inverter would cover it...your 500w will do everything except the kettle( so long as it's pure sine wave) If I were upgrading I would go for a 2000w Renogy well liked by many on here and under £200..will cover your future desires( microwave/air fryer....)
A 2 to 300ah lithium battery (£3/400)
400/600w solar£2/300..Combined DC/DC Mppt dual charger ( handles leisure & engine battery charging from solar and engine) (will keep all batteries topped up in when you are not using the van for extended periods)££2/250 Renogy.Mains charger around 20amp circa £60 ecoworthy.Unless you are going to be hammering the set up most of the year for many years to come then victron may be worth the added cost.

 

[Simon Select]

Get used to the van first. Run it off grid. It’s pointless wasting money if you don’t need too.
Once you have been away and realise you run out of power on day 3 for instance, then start to plan it.

 

[autorouter]

Phone chargers are an essential item, but are quite low power - less than 100W, probably more like 30W. They are perfect for running from the 12V leisure battery with a suitable adapter. Phone chargers are usually used for several hours at very low power, so it's not ideal to run a mains charger from an inverter. The inverter drains power even if there's no load on it, so is best used for high-power items like a kettle or microwave, that are run in short bursts, then switched off.

You can either fit USB sockets powered by the battery, or you could fit 12V cigarette-lighter sockets powered by the battery, and get a USB adapter to fit it.

However you need to be careful when choosing the USB adapter. They have evolved by leaps and bounds since they were invented years ago. Older low-power sockets and adapters are still widely on sale, so be very choosy about what you buy.

I prefer to fit a cigarette-lighter socket, and buy an adapter, because it's easier to buy a new adapter than re-install an outdated USB socket. But others prefer to fit panel-mount sockets. The specifications are the same for both.

The latest type is USB Type C, which is different from the older rectangular USB Type A. When buying a USB-C, look for 'PD', which is 'Power Delivery', and see how many watts. You want a minimum of 30W for a modern phone.

If you need USB-A sockets, best to get a USB-C adapter with PD, that has an extra USB-A socket. Then you know it will be the maximum power for USB-A.

I have a few of these:

UGREEN 130W PD Car Charger 3 Ports with 100W USB-C Cable

UGREEN 130W USB C Car Charger: PD 100W high-speed charging, fast charge 3 devices, multiple protocols, and durable 100W USB C to C cable. Perfect for family travel.

uk.ugreen.com

but I think this one is OK if you don't need to charge a laptop from it:

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www.amazon.co.uk

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