Solar panel/ Leisure Batteries

[stevee2]

As a complete novice when it comes to Motorhome electrics ,having recently purchased a Burstner Nexxo 2016 how do I find what size solar panel is fitted ?
The van has one Varta Leisure battery fitted LFD90 I was thinking of having two batteries & know I will have to purchase two new ones , am I better to buy AGM or the similar Varta , would my solar panel charge both ? Also would like an inverter .

 

[Abacist]

Stick with the Varta. I had two and are still going strong after 8 years but now being used by a mate.

AGM is unreliable technology for leisure batteries and you will find many posts on here to this effect.

 

[stevee2]

Can I still run an inverter with the Varta,s ?

 

[tonka]

The varta get good reviews. My van came with 2 and I changed for exact same pair. Works fine for me. The solar will charge both as they will be connected in parallel.
I run an 1100 watt inverter but do have 2 X solar panels for replenishment.
The only real sure fire way to check the panel is take it off and look at the label you could measure output or the size to try and calculate it but a bit hit and miss.

 

[stevee2]

The varta get good reviews. My van came with 2 and I changed for exact same pair. Works fine for me. The solar will charge both as they will be connected in parallel.
I run an 1100 watt inverter but do have 2 X solar panels for replenishment.
The only real sure fire way to check the panel is take it off and look at the label you could measure output or the size to try and calculate it but a bit hit and miss.

Thanks for reply appreciate it .

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[Stealaway]

As a complete novice when it comes to Motorhome electrics ,having recently purchased a Burstner Nexxo 2016 how do I find what size solar panel is fitted ?
The van has one Varta Leisure battery fitted LFD90 I was thinking of having two batteries & know I will have to purchase two new ones , am I better to buy AGM or the similar Varta , would my solar panel charge both ? Also would like an inverter .

If you roughly measure the solar panel you could make a good estimate.
What do want to use the inverter for?

 

[stevee2]

If you roughly measure the solar panel you could make a good estimate.
What do want to use the inverter for?

Wife’s hairdryer , boil a kettle / toaster ?

 

[Stealaway]

Wife’s hairdryer , boil a kettle / toaster ?

I thought hats what you was aiming far. Far too much for only two batteries and one solar panel
I would suggest you only use any of them when connected to EHU on a camp site

 

[stevee2]

I thought hats what you was aiming far. Far too much for only two batteries and one solar panel
I would suggest you only use any of them when connected to EHU on a camp site

I think I will try & find a company local to me who can fit an extra Solar panel & the batteries together with an inverter , will be to complicated for me to fit .

 

[suavecarve]

It does depend upon what you want the electricity for as (how much do you use) to how much battery you need and then how much solar you need to replace what you use
2 ebikes to charge and that wont be enough
2 phones to charge and it is plenty

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[stevee2]

It does depend upon what you want the electricity for as (how much do you use) to how much battery you need and then how much solar you need to replace what you use
2 ebikes to charge and that wont be enough
2 phones to charge and it is plenty

Wife’s hairdryer , boil a low wattage kettle ,

 

[stevee2]

Wife’s hairdryer , boil a low wattage kettle ,

This is the controller but cannot see anything on it to indicate solar panel wattage .

 

[suavecarve]

Wife’s hairdryer , boil a low wattage kettle ,

Assumption she is only going to use haridryer for 3-4 minutes then appropriate inverter to cover outage and I would be tempted with just doubling the battery. I wouldnt over concern myself with solar. Thats not a lot of usage of electricity to justify (to me) spending loads of money

 

[stevee2]

Problem is she can use the dryer for 15 minutes or more think it would be cheaper to buy her a wig .

 

[suavecarve]

This is the controller but cannot see anything on it to indicate solar panel wattage .

View attachment 722040

Complete guesswork, but if a previous owner had upgraded the solar they should have upgraded the battery situation (and they havent) so a reasonable guess is you have the original solar that it came with. Probably 100 watt maybe 120.

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[stevee2]

Complete guesswork, but if a previous owner had upgraded the solar they should have upgraded the battery situation (and they havent) so a reasonable guess is you have the original solar that it came with. Probably 100 watt maybe 120.

You are probably right it more likely to be 100 watt , I will try & get in the roof the weekend to see if there is any information on panel .

 

[suavecarve]

Problem is she can use the dryer for 15 minutes or more think it would be cheaper to buy her a wig .

I would be monitoring the battery as she is using it and looking on amazon for hair clippers and sleeping tablets at the same time

 

[stevee2]

I would be monitoring the battery as she is using it and looking on amazon for hair clippers and sleeping tablets at the same time

I’ll pass that on to her