Solar kit for van .is this a good deal

[fat haggis]

hi I'm looking to get a solar set for the my hymer 655 starline..is this a good deal

LINK
Or do you have any links to a good deal . I'll probably update batterys as I think they are on the way out. ..thanks

 

[Sheddy]

Looks very reasonable to me, but for the same price this has a larger capacity controller.

215W Victron Energy Solar Panel Kit with 15A MPPT Contoller - Alpha Batteries

215W Victron Energy Solar Panel Kit Low voltage-temperature coefficient enhances high-temperature operation. • Exceptional low-light performance and high sensitivity to […]

www.alpha-batteries.co.uk

Cheers
Ed

 

[dunnah01]

Both kits look identical but 15a controller looks borderline for 215watts

 

[Two on Tour]

Both kits look identical but 15a controller looks borderline for 215watts

So why would it be borderline then ?

 

[dunnah01]

So why would it be borderline then ?

I thought 215W/12v = 18amps although very unlikely to see 215watts

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[bobandjanie]

And providing you have enough room for the panel, its always best to measure the space available, because sometimes it works better with different size or shape panels, especially if you wanted to add another or something else on the roof. Bob.

 

[Two on Tour]

I thought 215W/12v = 18amps although very unlikely to see 215watts

So on that statement of yours it's not going to be borderline then ?

A descent 250 watt panel will only be rated at not much over 12 amps max.
You could have a 300 watt panel attached to that Victron 75/15 MPPT controller but it will only allow 220 watt in and the remainder of the 300 watts is just ignored by the controller.

 

[68c]

According to the specifications it should be easy to fit but may act as a sail. Width 35mm, height 880mm.

 

[dunnah01]

So on that statement of yours it's not going to be borderline then ?

A descent 250 watt panel will only be rated at not much over 12 amps max.
You could have a 300 watt panel attached to that Victron 75/15 MPPT controller but it will only allow 220 watt in and the remainder of the 300 watts is just ignored by the controller.

So just get a smaller panel to suit the controller then?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Is the rated current worked out on the 36v side or 12v side. 36v side is only 5.97a for 215w ?

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[Two on Tour]

So just get a smaller panel to suit the controller then?

I give up !!! It was an example or how the Victron MPPT controller operates.

 

[dunnah01]

Is the rated current worked out on the 36v side or 12v side. 36v side is only 5.97a for 215w ?

Both sides - the current on the solar side may allow smaller cabling

 

[dunnah01]

I give up !!!

It's your suggestion not mine

 

[68c]

Current rating is determined by the max controller output.

Panel side has higher voltage and lower current, mppt controller output has lower voltage with higher current. Mutiplying the volts and amps on either side will give similar wattage allowing for losses in the system. You can use thinner cables on the solar side than on the mppt output side. Main thing is keep cable runs as short as possible with the mppt controller close to the battery. This may influence where you are going to put the panel.

 

[autorouter]

I thought 215W/12v = 18amps although very unlikely to see 215watts

Usually assume 70% of that if flat on the roof in Europe. Maybe 80% if you're getting near Marrakesh. On that basis 15 amps is OK.

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[dunnah01]

Usually assume 70% of that if flat on the roof in Europe. Maybe 80% if you're getting near Marrakesh. On that basis 15 amps is OK.

Or borderline depending on where your looking from. Me - I'd go 20 amps + and lose one more thing to worry about

 

[DBK]

hi I'm looking to get a solar set for the my hymer 655 starline..is this a good deal

LINK
Or do you have any links to a good deal . I'll probably update batterys as I think they are on the way out. ..thanks

You need to check the Victron spec sheets which you can find on line. The 75/10 controller shown in the link is rated for a 145W panel only. The 75/15 controller can cope with 220W. It won't harm having a panel bigger than the controller, assuming it's a Victron, but it will limit the output to whatever it is rated to.

 

[Two on Tour]

You need to check the Victron spec sheets which you can find on line. The 75/10 controller shown in the link is rated for a 145W panel only. The 75/15 controller can cope with 220W. It won't harm having a panel bigger than the controller, assuming it's a Victron, but it will limit the output to whatever it is rated to.

Image is a 75/10, text quotes 75/15.

 

[DBK]

Image is a 75/10, text quotes 75/15.

View attachment 389404

It will work then if that is what arrives.

 

[Gromett]

Seems like a good deal if you like the gear.
I can't fault the panel or the controller. However I dislike the mountings and the connectors.

If you are happy with them and the individual parts cost more than yes, seems like a good deal.

Sorry to be slightly negative but I really dislike those mounts. I prefer using aluminium angle cut to size. But that doesn't look pretty on some expensive modern motorhomes

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[Silver-Fox]

Sorry to be slightly negative but I really dislike those mounts. I prefer using aluminium angle cut to size. But that doesn't look pretty on some expensive modern motorhomes

A solar panel hanging off the side of an expensive Moho isn’t so good on the eye either ??

Ali brackets all the way ?

 

[Gromett]

A solar panel hanging off the side of an expensive Moho isn’t so good on the eye either ??

Ali brackets all the way ?

Yup, I don't trust those plastic ones held on by only glue. That why I used ali glue and self tappers.

 

[zaskar]

Looks very reasonable to me, but for the same price this has a larger capacity controller.

215W Victron Energy Solar Panel Kit with 15A MPPT Contoller - Alpha Batteries

215W Victron Energy Solar Panel Kit Low voltage-temperature coefficient enhances high-temperature operation. • Exceptional low-light performance and high sensitivity to […]

www.alpha-batteries.co.uk

Cheers
Ed

Must admit I really fancy that for our 5ver. I messed up with my first installation. Thought I'd done my research properly and although I got a 185watt, I didn't realise it was a domestic panel and I couldn't find an MPPT which would also step down.
I've always been bitterly disappointed with the performance. Over winter in Spain we always unplug from site supply during the day and rely on solar to keep the cost down. We were getting just 3 to 4 amps supplied to 2 x 110amp batteries.

 

[autorouter]

Thought I'd done my research properly and although I got a 185watt, I didn't realise it was a domestic panel and I couldn't find an MPPT which would also step down.

I would have thought that all MPPTs, certainly all the Victron ones, will step down. That's their main purpose.