Solar power

[ShiftZZ]

We have 2 x 100 amp batteries.

I have changed all the halogen bulbs well beside two reading lamps. Massive reduction in consumption.

We have a TV but don’t often use it, mostly we use the batteries for charging kindle, tablets and mobile phones..

As the van is 7.6m long, the odds of us going wild camping off grid for weeks is slim.

So realistically, do we need to add two solar panels? Or would 1 be more than sufficient?

Or will I regret not having two..

 

[tonyidle]

It depends entirely on the panel size .

The smug feeling of having more power than you need on a sunny day is tempered by the lack of it when two or three overcast days come along. One thing is certain - you cannot have too much solar.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

It depends entirely on the panel size .

The smug feeling of having more power than you need on a sunny day is tempered by the lack of it when two or three overcast days come along. One thing is certain - you cannot have too much solar.

Exactly what you said. Too much is never enough

 

[Richard n Ann]

We've never had a problem with our system not being big enough and Ann has the tv on half the night .
150w panel, mppt controller and 85ah gel battery.
PS even in UK

 

[royw]

fit as many as you have space for worry about having too much as opposed to too little

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[ShiftZZ]

I get that, but on the Rapido I had a similar setup and never ran out or even close. . Yes it's nice to have 3 or 4 but is it simply overkill?

I've reduced our consumption, the TV Nd tge bosses hair straitner, ate possibly the two biggest drain, but they are not used that often.

 

[Richard n Ann]

fit as many as you have space for worry about having too much as opposed to too little

Problem with that is they're about 12kg each

 

[two]

... with leads to another saying:
"You can never have too much payload"

 

[royw]

Problem with that is they're about 12kg each

ok lets say have as many as weight, space and wallet allows - is that ok now ? or should i add planning permission

 

[Bobby-gg]

You've got the advantage of knowing that a system you've had before was more than enough, and you know how to use your existing capacity wisely, so just got for the one panel

I've only got a 170w panel feeding a 100ah battery and we've gone 4 days at a festival without issue, it's the "I need my deluxe coffee machine and hair drier/straighteners bunch" that need all the power they can generate, and probably more!

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[two]

In my early days (of caravanning) there were no solar panels and neither was there EHU, but we managed fine without...

 

[tonyidle]

I get that, but on the Rapido I had a similar setup and never ran out or even close. . Yes it's nice to have 3 or 4 but is it simply overkill?

I've reduced our consumption, the TV Nd tge bosses hair straitner, ate possibly the two biggest drain, but they are not used that often.

Or maybe just one of more than adequate output? The cheapest panels / Watt are those used for domestic solar arrays. They vary from 245 — 285 per panel. I have one, soon to be two, plus the 150W panel that came with the van.

 

[tonyidle]

In my early days (of caravanning) there were no solar panels and neither was there EHU, but we managed fine without...

In the early days there only tents. We managed fine .

 

[Wh05apk]

As has been said, you can never have too much solar, but the key thing is how you use it, you mention not going off grid long term, does that mean you are normally on ehu?

Depending on the type of battery you have, it sounds like you could get 3 to 4 days easily without solar or charging, how long will you be between being able to charge? How long do you need.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

In my early days (of caravanning) there were no solar panels and neither was there EHU, but we managed fine without...

As long as you had spare gas mantles you were ok

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[royw]

In my early days (of caravanning) there were no solar panels and neither was there EHU, but we managed fine without...

cavemen did real well with sticks

 

[Abgs]

I've only got one 120w panel feeding a 95ah battery and just done 4 days at a festival without issue. No TV use, fridge on gas, all lights are LED, radio one for an hour or so a day ...... but, it was a sunny weekend in the east of England. Battery was back top to 100% by mid morning.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

cavemen did real well with sticks

A quick look at ShiftZZ avatar will tell you everything that you need to know there……

 

[Eggs]

start with one panel, if you find it isn't enough add another.

 

[two]

Only you, as the consumer, might have an idea about how much solar or battery you need - you might just as well ask how long a piece of string is.

Battery capacity is determined by your average demand between top-ups, be that by driving, EHU, or solar.

If you don’t move on or hook-up very often, your solar input will need to match your consumption. Then you may prefer to add more to reduce your fear of running out.

Like fresh water, bigger tanks should last longer but you’ll still need to top-up more frequently if you squander it. The battery is your electricity ‘tank’ and solar might help you keep it topped-up. If you go North or out in Winter, however, no amount of solar is likely to satisfy your consumption.

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[dunnah01]

Best to scrimp on solar so anxiety for that deflects from the anxiety for running out of gas, running out of water, nowhere to dump the grey waste, nowhere to dump the black waste, finding somewhere safe to park overnight, something expensive breaking etc etc ..
Ah motorhomes - why do we do it

 

[Richard n Ann]

This is a typical day in the life of our 85ah gel battery...

TV off at 2am. Bulk charge starts at 6am when the sun gets up. Absorption phase starts at 10am and all finished at 1pm ready for Ann's next TV marathon that starts about 9.15pm

 

[two]

What about in Winter?

 

[Richard n Ann]

We don't do winter. But I can tilt the panel south if needed, I fitted it on hinges

 

[autorouter]

As long as you had spare gas mantles you were ok

And some meths to start the primus

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[peterc10]

Dave, one 150W panel will do on sunny days in summer, but 2 should make sure that you can keep going in spring and autumn as well as the usual cloudy summer days

 

[ShiftZZ]

Sorted, vanbitz 2 x 100w. Two separate controllers.

From one panel

 

[Shrimp]

All our lights are led, and our system kept us supplied well for the last week or so of dull grey weather and we have the atavistic on from about 8pm to 11pm every night, fridge & hot water on gas, all tech powered from USB.