Solar Panels

[evs007]

Why doesn’t my solar panel charge the batteries when there’s bright sunlight?

 

[Figaro]

Maybe they're already fully charged ?
If you have a multimeter, put it on the input terminals of the solar controller and see what the voltage is. In sun it should be about 22 volts I believe.

 

[Stealaway]

Why doesn’t my solar panel charge the batteries when there’s bright sunlight?

Bad connection. What's the voltage at the solar controller

 

[Gaston aires]

You need a multimeter reading across the terminals at the controller input. As said it should read around 20 volts on a sunny day.

 

[GeoffnDee]

If the connections and voltage are ok and your PSU is a Sargent one it may have smart charging and need setting to charge the leisure battery ,starter battery or both, (depending on the model number of the Sargent PSU)

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jim]

When it’s really hot Solar panels don’t work too well apparently. It’s OK if you live in Wales. But we’re stuffed in Sunny Sutton on Sea. 320 days a year with really poor panel performance. The price we pay for wall to wall sunshine I suppose.

Weather ‘too hot’ for solar panels

Power output during heatwave drops below levels typically reached in spring

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Reallyretired]

When it’s really hot Solar panels don’t work too well apparently. It’s OK if you live in Wales. But we’re stuffed in Sunny Sutton on Sea. 320 days a year with really poor panel performance. The price we pay for wall to wall sunshine I suppose.

Weather ‘too hot’ for solar panels

Power output during heatwave drops below levels typically reached in spring

www.telegraph.co.uk

Especially a problem with those semi flexible stick on panels with no air gap under them. Not that I would touch them with a bargepole anyway.

 

[Figaro]

Well he's got some helpful replies but not been seen since 4.22 to read them

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Probably why a lot of hotels and houses in hot countries like Turkey and Greece use a combination of solar for not extreme sunshine, but use a large array of metal water storage tanks on the roof to heat hot water in the summer.
Could be an interesting design idea if Moho roofs could accommodate a horizontal array of “heat tubes” for the hotter months, which could be refilled from the onboard water tank via a separate switch from the pump to divert water to the pipes.
Just my rambling thoughts!
I blame the heat

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Probably why a lot of hotels and houses in hot countries like Turkey and Greece use a combination of solar for not extreme sunshine, but use a large array of metal water storage tanks on the roof to heat hot water in the summer.
Could be an interesting design idea if Moho roofs could accommodate a horizontal array of “heat tubes” for the hotter months, which could be refilled from the onboard water tank via a separate switch from the pump to divert water to the pipes.
Just my rambling thoughts!
I blame the heat

These will do the job,

2x 20L Camping Solar Power Shower Bag Portable Outdoor Sun Compact Heated Water 5059649048220 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2x 20L Camping Solar Power Shower Bag Portable Outdoor Sun Compact Heated Water at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Put them out in the morning, they'll be scorching hot by the evening. I used one when we were in France, decant the hot water into a tub, and add cool water to bring the temperature down to an acceptable level. Our main pump is easily accessible, I just took it out of the tank with the feed pipe still attached, and dropped it into the tub of hot water. Then just turn on the shower in cold mode and shower away, for nothing.
Mike

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

These will do the job,

2x 20L Camping Solar Power Shower Bag Portable Outdoor Sun Compact Heated Water 5059649048220 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2x 20L Camping Solar Power Shower Bag Portable Outdoor Sun Compact Heated Water at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Put them out in the morning, they'll be scorching hot by the evening. I used one when we were in France, decant the hot water into a tub, and add cool water to bring the temperature down to an acceptable level. Our main pump is easily accessible, I just took it out of the tank with the feed pipe still attached, and dropped it into the tub of hot water. Then just turn on the shower in cold mode and shower away, for nothing.
Mike

Brilliant!
Love it.

 

[Jays2]

Our first long trip away we were told by an older traveler, to collect dark coloured ( it was blue at that time) fill with water and place on the dash, with the camper facing the sun.
we also learnt that the bath towel also drys on the dash, and when in wet weather and driving use the window de mist to air the bath towel.
Care is required as the screen can start to cloud so adjustments by the co driver are required, also with the turning to dry the other side.
works great!