Extra Leisure Battery or Solar Panels Off Grid?

[trevskoda]

I have only ever seen one example of tilting panels that seemed to track the sun and that of all places was some vans parked up on a windsurf beach in Tenerife at Christmas about 15 years ago. Wasn't you was it?

It makes absolute sense but I was under the impression these systems were costly.

Not if home made.

 

[exwindsurfer]

I have only ever seen one example of tilting panels that seemed to track the sun and that of all places was some vans parked up on a windsurf beach in Tenerife at Christmas about 15 years ago. Wasn't you was it?

It makes absolute sense but I was under the impression these systems were costly.

Not at all Barry.

 

[exwindsurfer]

This is mine as i type just waiting till the sun gets further round so its square on to panels

 

[exwindsurfer]

I have had them up in really strong wind and not had a prob with them. I have to say mine dont 5rack the sun but if you put you van at the right angle you will get a lot of solar.

 

[Wooie1958]

I have only ever seen one example of tilting panels that seemed to track the sun and that of all places was some vans parked up on a windsurf beach in Tenerife at Christmas about 15 years ago. Wasn't you was it?

It makes absolute sense but I was under the impression these systems were costly.

Are you thinking of these types of solar system ?

Automatic sun tracking solar panels by Oyster

The SunMover� is an intelligent and GPS-controlled solar system which automatically tracks the sun�s path during the day. Satellite dish version available also.

www.nottscountycampers.co.uk

 

[exwindsurfer]

Are you thinking of these types of solar system ?

Automatic sun tracking solar panels by Oyster

The SunMover� is an intelligent and GPS-controlled solar system which automatically tracks the sun�s path during the day. Satellite dish version available also.

www.nottscountycampers.co.uk

Ouch lolol

 

[exwindsurfer]

The 250 quid ish i spent on tilting mine dosnt sound to bad now lol.

 

[barryd]

Are you thinking of these types of solar system ?

Automatic sun tracking solar panels by Oyster

The SunMover� is an intelligent and GPS-controlled solar system which automatically tracks the sun�s path during the day. Satellite dish version available also.

www.nottscountycampers.co.uk

Yes. £2500. That's probably why I've not seen many.

The simplest one I've seen is captain Mainwaring @maingate where he just had a stand up one I think with a couple of crocodile clips outside his van and it was "self propelled" worked well but I think the Tuggers invented that one to be fair.

 

[barryd]

The 250 quid ish i spent on tilting mine dosnt sound to bad now lol.

Surprised someone hasn't produced a cheaper version. Bit like those crank up satellite dishes.

 

[trevskoda]

Surprised someone hasn't produced a cheaper version. Bit like those crank up satellite dishes.

They have, its called slope/curb parking.

 

[exwindsurfer]

This is what i am getting off my solar at i ty9s

 

[exwindsurfer]

Well an other bit of kit turned up today a 2000watt induction hob tryed it in the van works a treat

 

[saxonborg]

Well an other bit of kit turned up today a 2000watt induction hob tryed it in the van works a treat View attachment 114054

Hope it doesn’t affect yer pacemaker.

 

[exwindsurfer]

Hope it doesn’t affect yer pacemaker.

You have to have a heart for one of those Eric lolol

 

[barryd]

This is what i am getting off my solar at i ty9s View attachment 114051

Epic! So just out of interest if you wanted to could you survive indefinitely in one place without moving the van all year round in the UK off grid?

I think it would be amazing to be able to do that although you kind of run out of places to park up for long periods of time I guess outside of the main summer seasons that are not on grass. Most of the off grid places we stayed this summer and very early autumn were grass CL's. The hard standing places tend to be all year with hookup anyway. I love our little solar and AGM system but come mid September when you kind of have to start rationing stuff a bit it gets a bit tedious. I was glad to get on hookup in the lakes in October to be honest but then Im not sure where I would have gone had we still been self sufficient. I imagine a set up like yours would be fantastic for use all year round in southern Europe though.

 

[Nabsim]

Around Southern Europe you wouldn’t need the tilting panels most of the time I bet

 

[saxonborg]

You have to have a heart for one of those Eric lolol

 

[exwindsurfer]

Epic! So just out of interest if you wanted to could you survive indefinitely in one place without moving the van all year round in the UK off grid?

I think it would be amazing to be able to do that although you kind of run out of places to park up for long periods of time I guess outside of the main summer seasons that are not on grass. Most of the off grid places we stayed this summer and very early autumn were grass CL's. The hard standing places tend to be all year with hookup anyway. I love our little solar and AGM system but come mid September when you kind of have to start rationing stuff a bit it gets a bit tedious. I was glad to get on hookup in the lakes in October to be honest but then Im not sure where I would have gone had we still been self sufficient. I imagine a set up like yours would be fantastic for use all year round in southern Europe though.

That would depend on how sunny it was in the winter Barry.Ive never had a mains charge or had to start my engine to charge battries only ever use solar.

 

[exwindsurfer]

Around Southern Europe you wouldn’t need the tilting panels most of the time I bet

For sure Neil .

 

[Caz]

@Phil M - I may have missed it but you mention "gas heating" - is it the sort that has a "fire" and you just need 12v to fire it up, or is it a blown air system like I have in my Adria? Mine uses quite a bit of 12v power for the fan.

I have a 200w solar panel on the roof and just one 110 Aph lead acid battery, and I can usually stop in one place for up to 4 nights in winter, 5 if it isn't sub zero temps.