solar panel

irnbru said:
How do I know if I have a built in one on our Autotrail? Please.
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@irnbru What year is the Autotrail also what number is the Power supply / mains unit in the cupboard...
Generally it is later vehicles from the EC325 unit and upwards.

However the cost of a solar regulator can be as cheap as £10. I had a very basic regulator and 80w panel on my 2005 apache 700, did me proud for years.....
 
eddievanbitz said:
We charge £549 installed. Less 10% Funsters discount so £495. We only use the Victron MPPT and have personally tested it along side many other MPPT reg with fantastic performance. RRP is £109.95 so £385.00

In our opinion no points having a decent solar set up unless it judges the leisure batteries and engine battery. We use our own battery master which is £120 installed, so £285.00

The cost of 100 W panel say on average £120.00, A tube of the decent adhesive sealant £10, set of feet £20, a waterproof gland £5 A bit of conduit and a few screws, a fiver. So say £125.00

Average installation time say between two and three hours at £60 an hour, and a nights free camping on Cornish Farm Touring Park £18.00

Lots of people say that it is a simple job, every job is if you know how to do it!

It is to be fair more time-consuming than technical under normal circumstances, and it is cheaper DIY if you don't value your time, and forget the true costs of all of the bits.

I really not suggesting that it's better to have it fitted professionally if you have the time and skill to do it yourself. I'm merely pointing out that if you don't feel confident about doing it yourself, fitted professionally may not be quite as expensive as you think when you add up all the costs, using like for like components

And of course you get a warranty
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Very fair comment, I recently fitted my own and am very pleased with the results.

But yes the costs do mount up, as pointed out, 135w panel (purchased from ebay.de £80) a quality controller ( in my case LR1218, £79) decent sealant (£10+), set of feet (at least £20), roof gland (think I paid £15 for a multiple entry gland) 8m of pre-crimped mc4 leads (£15 ?), hole cutter (£10 ?), a few hours spent researching and carrying out the install.

With hindsight, might well of worked out a similar price (taking time into consideration) to have a professional fit.

Since Vanbitz is local to you, seems a no brainer to go there - unless you want to learn a new skill and fit your own...
 
There is also the time it takes resourcing parts and materials and issues of receiving damaged or sub standard panels. A business is not going to do that for sweet FA
 
irnbru said:
Its a 2010 EC225
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As Techno says... Not on that version..
It's no great problem, lots of choice in regulators and varied prices...
As I stated above, my first solar install had one of the cheapest bits of kit you could get. It did me well for 4 years before I sold the van with it left on....
 
i went to vanbitz had solar panel and battery master fitted very professional out fit you could probalby get in done cheaper but is it worth taking chance, and they are very nice people regards steve
 
I am of the opinion that it is worth paying a bit more for a MPPT regulator. I did a back to back test with a Sunsaver PWM vs Votronic MPPT and the Votronic put in 25% to 30% more.
 
I have 2 300w panels feeding 2 270ah battery very good set up now looking at the polska mppt off eBay

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I have 2 x 100w panels on the roof a 50amp mttp controller and 2 x 120ah batteries under the front seat. Ive never wanted for power as I get at least 2 amps on a very cl0udy day up to 12 amps in the height of summer.
 

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