Are Solar Panels Realy Worth Having

Fazerloz

Fazerloz

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I have just been on the A and N Caravan Services website reading why they have stopped selling solar panels and what they say gives food for thought.
A and N Caravan Services : Caravan Servicing, repairs, pre purchase inspection, Damp Checks-North Wales.
Usually what you read about them is positive, but usually written by someone wanting to sell them. Read the section on why they no longer sell them. :cheers:
 
all i can say is i have had solar for 13 yrs it powers washing machines etc while away in winter . very often in morocco but lately spain and portugal . at the moment my trailer is by my bungalow and the solar is powering my fridge and a big freezer in the house . gotta make it work .
i say its great and only today i saw these on ebay .SPECIAL Best Seller OFFER! 12v 80W Solar PV Panel Mono Caravans Boats Motorhomes | eBay
thats incredibly cheap ./ wish they were that price when i bought mine .
i bought secondhand in morocco then later some new ones here in uk .
but that price is a gift . i spend about 5-6 months a year traveling and never had ehu since i went solar . mind i have 6x80wt panels and 600 amp of batteries . works a treat . never run out of power and use a under counter fridge freezer in the trailer plus other 240v items through an inverter .
solar is great . not so good in uk in winter but great if you go south .
 
always said we don't need sola panels, well fixed a 100w one 2 years ago and I must say I think it was one of our best investment ever, we wild camp almost all the time, although we never a power problem the thought was always there, if we stayed in one place for a few days that the diesel heater would not fire up in the mornings or if we wonted tv would we have enough in the battery's. Yes a definite must from us.



:drive: :drive:
 
Fazerloz said:
I have just been on the A and N Caravan Services website reading why they have stopped selling solar panels and what they say gives food for thought.
A and N Caravan Services : Caravan Servicing, repairs, pre purchase inspection, Damp Checks-North Wales.
Usually what you read about them is positive, but usually written by someone wanting to sell them. Read the section on why they no longer sell them. :cheers:
Click to expand...

Very interesting. Can, Worms,Opened.
I reckon this thread will run & run.
Pat
 
They appear to be on a different planet. I presume they have given up on solar panels because you can buy all the bits and a 100w panel for less than £200 and they want to charge you £900 for one fitted. Why do you need extra battery banks and why do you need to be changing them every 4 years. They think that everyone wants 240 volt everything. Its a bit of a ramble really. They seem to be saying buy a generator and you can run 240v everything. They even suggest using calor for the generator. We use gas to boil our kettle and it's certainly quieter than a generator. Who are they trying to kid GENERATORS ARE QUIET .. Someone next to me with one running constantly would certainly be asked if they would like it shoving somewhere where the sun never shines.
 
Not many have your setup though, and obviously works well for you. I wonder how many are disappointed with their setups i am sure some must be.
Those panels do look like they could be a good buy.
 
Bring Me Sunshine

We have an all Led van, no TV and charge the laptop from an inverter once a day . I have always been suspicious of drilling holes through the van roof but our van has plumbed in wiring for a solar panel. For the last 10 years we have, (just about), managed with 2 x 5 watt freestanding panels placed on the van roof ,via the Heki Skylight.

Wear and tear and the odd drop has meant that we have had to replace them both.

The new 10 watt ones are smaller, lighter, more robust and less than half the price of the old ones .

I'm making hay while the Sun shines
 
Pauljenny said:
We have an all Led van, no TV and charge the laptop from an inverter once a day . I have always been suspicious of drilling holes through the van roof but our van has plumbed in wiring for a solar panel. For the last 10 years we have, (just about), managed with 2 x 5 watt freestanding panels placed on the van roof ,via the Heki Skylight.

Wear and tear and the odd drop has meant that we have had to replace them both.

The new 10 watt ones are smaller, lighter, more robust and less than half the price of the old ones .

I'm making hay while the Sun shines
Click to expand...

Absolutely brilliant. We read postings with Mega Watt of solar panels and 100s A/h of standby batteries and you manage on 10 Watt. Really impressed and I am sure we could take a leaf out of your book
 
Were off to France next week and don't plan to use hook up, we will be moving everyday, based on how the battery copes I will decide whether to go solar or not.
 
They are quoting ridiculous prices for a solar installation - I think they just want to sell generators. Our solar panel (total cost for 165w, decent mppt controller plus remote monitor, cables, fixings etc was under £220 - admittedly self fitted but that took about 2 hours and I'm not a regular DIYer) We haven't come close to needed a top-up since fitting it
 
User1 said:
They appear to be on a different planet. I presume they have given up on solar panels because you can buy all the bits and a 100w panel for less than £200 and they want to charge you £900 for one fitted. Why do you need extra battery banks and why do you need to be changing them every 4 years. They think that everyone wants 240 volt everything. Its a bit of a ramble really. They seem to be saying buy a generator and you can run 240v everything. They even suggest using calor for the generator. We use gas to boil our kettle and it's certainly quieter than a generator. Who are they trying to kid GENERATORS ARE QUIET .. Someone next to me with one running constantly would certainly be asked if they would like it shoving somewhere where the sun never shines.
Click to expand...

heres a 100wt panel.SPECIAL Best Seller OFFER! 12v 100W Solar PV Panel Mono Caravans Boats Motorhome | eBay
i agree how can anyone compete with prices like that. every camper van should buy three.
mind i do like gas lights . light heat and keep mozzies at bay.
 
Interesting reading, £900.00 seems a tad expensive !

As i mentioned in previous threads im still undecided about solar, managed up to now for 2/3 days without moving and without the batteries getting below 12.4 volts. As i normally only spend 2 nights max in one spot when wilding still wondering whether i can justify the spend.
Van full led, fridge on gas and 2 x 110amp batteries. Also carry a Honda generator which i use at home and on my allotment which to date i have not had to use. Only time i can envisage using it is if my daughter needs the hair dryer and tongs or a quick microwave meal.

I am amazed when i read about people having 200, 300 or even 400 watts of panels on their motorhomes and wonder if wilding why they need this amount of panel unless they are parked up for days on end which goes against our wilding policy of 1 or 2 nights max.

Anyway im sure there will be posts explaining the need for this amount of solar power.
 
Flippin eck this 90 w with mppt I have been given ...must stick on e bay then !!!???

Dont know enough about them to make a comment I can stick by . What I do know is the technology seems to have advanced and the prices seem to be dropping. That tells me a reduced price means a return on the investment a lot quicker.

Dealers devalue because of solar ? ...I doubt that, more likely dont take it into account until selling.

btw who mentioned Aluminium DG ? grrr

Finally I must be doomed, I am currently working with a company to procure a Air/con/heater /hot water on the condensation stage system powered by solar panels..to offer the static caravan market.

Channa
 
Fazerloz said:
Are you on commission Alan.
Click to expand...

no i have been watching them and today i had an email saying they had dropped the price . thought better let you know .
nothing to do with them at all . last ones i bought were 160 quid . first ones about 200 quid second hand .
gotta be worth having . i think thats a real good opportunity for anyone .
i use two regs like these Solar Panel Charger Battery Regulator Controller Converter Auto 12V 24V 30A | eBay
again a cheap option that works .
 
Hmmmmm. I fitted an 80 watt panel on the roof of my Transit and wired it up to a 110A/H battery. I disconnected the whole leisure system from the engine electrics as there was a problem with the control box. So for the last 3 years I've run all the led lights, radio, computer, phone charger, shaver, etc from just that 80watt panel and it's been brilliant.
I think solar panels are great. Got them on my house too. :)
 
Much of that is somewhat iffy information.

That said, solar power is certainly not free so it's a case of weighing up whether you really want/need it.

I wanted to use the van away from proper camp sites a fair bit so it wasn't so much the savings against EHU costs as it was just getting electricity in the middle of nowhere.

Solar panel performance will drop after time, I that is fairly well established, but it is nowhere near 80% loss in 4 years. My panels are nearly 3 years old and still kicking out the same levels as when new (perhaps i'm in for a shock next year).

I think many places are struggling with solar installs now as the panels are cheap as chips and products like sikaflex mean that you don't even need to drill the roof for the bolts so basically anyone who can get on the roof can install these things in about half an hour or so for nowt. You'll also notice that whilst some of these places will say that their panels are good quality and not cheapy ebay types they rarely give performance figures or efficiency ratings (so not a lot of reason to believe that theirs are better).
 
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