Solar Panels

Alexandra

Alexandra

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Good evening all

I’m new to having a motor home. I’m wanting to buy a portable solar panel to top up my battery when on site. Please can anyone give some recommendations on good ones and what power I should go for. I’ve look at a 100w one.
regards
Alex
 
Even though I fit solar panels for people on boats, motorhomes, vans and caravans { including My own Dethleffs Globebus I recommend having one fitted on your roof.
Less clutter in your leisure vehicle, less hassle on site, battery continually charges etc etc
 
Hi thank you for the response. How much is it to have one fitted ?
alex
 
Hi, I don't think I am allowed to advertise on this forum.
I advertise mainly on ebay,leaflet drop, recomendation, facebook etc

rover.ebay.com

100W, 120W , 260W Solar Panel / Controller Mobile Fitter be a Happy Camper CH7 | eBay

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This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
If the single leisure battery normally lasts you a couple of days, then a 100 watt panel will probably be enough, in the summer months. But the bigger the better. You may find it's not much more expensive to fit 160 watts.
 
Here you go. I've used these myself and there top of the range., i carried mine behind the drivers seat when not in use. However, agree permanently mounted S.P. on the roof is the way to go and if you choose this route make sure you have a shed load of S.P. up there.

12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine

12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-grid
www.photonicuniverse.com
 
Totally agree with the comments regarding roof mounting, however if you really want a portable system I have one on Ebay at the minute. Item number 184001430654. If you like it message me on here and I will reduce it.
 
roof mount every time...
My portable one is a pain in the ass TBH, wind seems to find a way of blowing over no nmatter what I do with it and then when I go out I'm always worrying if someone is going to walk off with it..

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That's about it really.
+ fitting (someone above maybe able to give you a rough idea for labour)..
 
:hi2:hellowelcome Good luck with your solar panel quest, we're looking for solar too, so we'll watch this thread with interest.

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Can I also ask for folding panel recommendations. There's so many and I've no idea of brand, quality of if I'm comparing like with like. My plan is put some miles on the van then upgrade to one that already has roof mounted panels so for now I'd just like something folding. I'm thinking of 100w or a little less.
 
Have a look at Photonic universe they do the fold up kits
 
I have two from GGX energy on Amazon. they fold up to about the size of your average shopping bag. 100w each and they come with a cheap little PWM controller.
I use both of them on the roof of a couple of my cars I don't use regularly.

one of them on the windscreen of my disco whilst I was away camping with a 12v compressor fridge and an iPhone charger. it kept that tip top without issue.
When I went back to the same supplier for the second one, they did say they had a better model available at half the size (same wattage) but I opted to keep the one I had as I knew it performed pretty well for a "flexible" type.

This is not the exact model i bought but the same cocept from same company.
Amazon product ASIN B01FYR63QS
 
Still looking myself, can’t decide wether I should buy high voltage/low amps or lower voltage/high amps!
The Victron panels look good value also as I have a black roof the cigs ones.
 
The good thing about free standing is you can stand them facing the sun so they will still produce near maximum power when the sun is low in the sky. I used to lock mine to the van with a mini padlock and security wire, just stops the opportunist.

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Leakylunar said:
Still looking myself, can’t decide wether I should buy high voltage/low amps or lower voltage/high amps!
The Victron panels look good value also as I have a black roof the cigs ones.
Click to expand...
The volts/amps thing will sort itself out to watts at the end of the day as that is the actual power of the panel, no real point in having more than a nominal 20v panel and I would go mppt controller.

Martin
 
Leakylunar said:
Still looking myself, can’t decide wether I should buy high voltage/low amps or lower voltage/high amps!
Click to expand...
Depends on the type of controller. With an MPPT type, it doesn't make any difference, the controller has an intelligent algorithm that will cope with any voltage and current, as long as they are within the specification limits.

With a PWM type, the voltage has to be within an optimum range. Too low, and the battery doesn't charge much, too high and you are getting bursts of high voltage to the battery, which it doesn't like much. The voltage of panels intended for vehicles is usually OK - 20 to 36 volts is fine.
 
Getting Victron mppt , thanks think I know what I’m doing now?
 
Thanks for those thoughts and suggestions. I was looking at a 100w folding on the photonic website and see the controller can connect to a usb on a laptop, does that enable one to lower the output from the controller?
 
lower the output from what?
The USB's on the controller are used as "power sources" for charging small devices like phones and powering 5v LED lights etc. not for comms with the controller..

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Depends where you’re staying ... on a campsite folding may be good as you have more space. On an aire you may not have room to have them out. Also on roof charge all the time rather than just when you feel safe leaving them out. And higher up not shaded by other vehicles, hedges etc. Lots to think about.
 
Not a lot to think about really ,on the roof is the sensible way to go .no packing and unpacking ,out of the way and far more efficient.
 
Let’s have a poll
Answer roof or portable? One word answers

Roof
 
Roof

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roof

looking to get it fitted after Christmas as the warrantee will them kick in when the sun is shining
 
We have 100W solar on the roof but at this time of year it’s not generating enough power. We just bought a used panel which is only 53watt but moving it around and pointing it directly at the sun it’s giving as much as the larger one in the roof.
 
One of my dogs says 'Roof' and the other two say 'Woof'. With mine I think that's four votes for roof. :D

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