Solar panel brand and type advice

[Northernraider]

Can you actually get 300watts of solar on your 5.4M van roof?

This is my 6M ih, with the original skylights I could only squeeze in 175w victron solar panel up there, that one was the best size I could find that would fit side to side on the van.



I went with a victron solar controller and a battery master, but then a 45A votronic b2b as victron only do a max 30A one.
I find that camping in the UK you struggle with solar sometimes and having a bigger b2b allows flexible in charging your battery, especially as you are going for a 230ah battery

You could fit another 175w in the front

 

[Bobby-gg]

You could fit another 175w in the front

Not safely.
It would be slightly too far forward into the curve of the over cab area creating lift under the panel - not a risk I'm willing to take

 

[Pebble99]

I have the Globecar Roadscout R which is the same size and had fitted a 175w NDS panel lengthwise. I then fitted myself a KS energy 200ah underseat battery, a Votronic 50s B2B (wired directly) and a Votronic solar controller wired via the EBL. Didn't bother adding a new mains charger as we now never need ehu.

 

[MisterB]

No problems with MPP 165 or 250

me neither, theyve both been fine. have you considered buying a foldable panel with its own solar controller? that might be an option to increase the capacity of the solar input?

as there seems to be an increase of more compact motorhomes/van conversions coming to the market, i dont think it will be too long before we start to commercially available solar panel slide outs. especially if they slide out over the engine bay/bonnet area, that way the footprint of the parked vehicle wouldnt increase.
i know that solar panels are being produced that are a lot more efficient for the same surface area but i suspect it will be some time before they filter down into the leisure market.

there are quite a few 'home brew' produced slide out solar panels you could check out if you think its a viable option? they tend to be used by self built full timers.

 

[AsdaPricey]

Can you actually get 300watts of solar on your 5.4M van roof?

This is my 6M ih, with the original skylights I could only squeeze in 175w victron solar panel up there, that one was the best size I could find that would fit side to side on the van.



I went with a victron solar controller and a battery master, but then a 45A votronic b2b as victron only do a max 30A one.
I find that camping in the UK you struggle with solar sometimes and having a bigger b2b allows flexible in charging your battery, especially as you are going for a 230ah battery

Hello Bobby-gg

Old thread hijack & revival - We're a week away from swapping from a caravan to a 2008-ih-tio-r.
Please could you tell me what are the dimensions of the solar panel you mounted on your van.

Lettuce snow

Cheers

AsdaPricey

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