Pudsey Bear
Full Member
- Posts
- 20,205
- Likes
- 32,055
Same here I'm afraid Barry.
Hank the Tanks Dodgy battery and solar system
- Thread starter barryd
- Start date
exwindsurfer
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,018
- Likes
- 1,390
Flexible panel are sh:t Barry .They don't last very long.This might work. Thoughts?
120W 12V Sunshine Solar Flexible ETFE Range
This Sunshine Solar Flexible ETFE 120W 12V boasts ultra pure silicon delivering optimal power conversion. Thin, light and when fitted to the roof of a caravan or motorhome very aerodynamic. Light weight design combined with high efficiency cells and solar panel flexibility makes our latest ETFE...www.sunshinesolar.co.uk
Last edited:
barryd
Full Member
- Posts
- 18,479
- Likes
- 35,979
Ok thanks. Thats that settled then. We should be ok with a 100w standard one I think. Maybe a 120 if I can find one 54cm width.
exwindsurfer
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,018
- Likes
- 1,390
A cheese wire and yiu would have it off in seconds Barry lolol
exwindsurfer
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,018
- Likes
- 1,390
merl
Full Member
- Posts
- 2,887
- Likes
- 6,504
Fcuk off Geoff you show off
exwindsurfer
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,018
- Likes
- 1,390
PmslFcuk off Geoff you show off
exwindsurfer
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,018
- Likes
- 1,390
Something I said Merl lololol
exwindsurfer
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,018
- Likes
- 1,390
Plus I can tilt them up to thing angle so sun in the winter is no bother.Bloody hell! thats a solar farm! What are you running in there? A stack of Marshall Amps? Now theres a thought.
Attachments
barryd
Full Member
- Posts
- 18,479
- Likes
- 35,979
Only ever seen one van do that and it was in Tenerife of all places. Impressive. Not a requirement for me though, come late September or October I go looking for hookup!
merl
Full Member
- Posts
- 2,887
- Likes
- 6,504
Nah, something you did. They are brilliant mate and I'm well gel.
What Geoff's not mentioned yet is that he tilts em electrically from the cab
Last edited:
barryd
Full Member
- Posts
- 18,479
- Likes
- 35,979
Is that aimed at me Trev? Not sure I have. Some little ones perhaps. I think after researching the max size I will be able to fit is 100w. The only ones that are 54cm wide above that are flexible stick on ones which we have ruled out. 120w -150w are generally 67cm. Too wide. I could possibly stick 2 x 100w or 2 x 80 up I guess. I think one will be enough. two might look neater though.
trevskoda
Full Member
- Posts
- 44,356
- Likes
- 66,682
100 watts is fine added to what you have, im running 200w and a votronic 250 mppt unit into 2 90ah lead acids, runs a fridge and lights overnight, thats the longest i have ever stayed.Is that aimed at me Trev? Not sure I have. Some little ones perhaps. I think after researching the max size I will be able to fit is 100w. The only ones that are 54cm wide above that are flexible stick on ones which we have ruled out. 120w -150w are generally 67cm. Too wide. I could possibly stick 2 x 100w or 2 x 80 up I guess. I think one will be enough. two might look neater though.
exwindsurfer
Full Member
- Posts
- 1,018
- Likes
- 1,390
I think with what I've got on roof + batteries I'd last best part of two weeks with out charging so nowt to worry about lol
barryd
Full Member
- Posts
- 18,479
- Likes
- 35,979
Thats interesting. I was expecting you to say you could stay off grid without charging all year round with that capacity. You must be heavy users though surely (And I dont mean fat bastuds
). It confirms what I have been saying from the start of this thread. We clearly are not. Even with the one new battery and one panel last summer we managed a month off grid with no charge other than the solar near Salcombe middle of last summer and on the old van with 1 x 100w and 1 x AGM 120 April to September we never really had an issue long term off grid at all. So we clearly were not too far off last year. In theory doubling battery and solar capacity for us should be more than enough.
barryd
Full Member
- Posts
- 18,479
- Likes
- 35,979
A few observations. My internal measurements were wrong. Its going to be too tight for even a 100w panel down the shorter side behind the roof gland for the existing panel I think and it will be the length that is too long. The cabling from the roof gland on that side restricts some length and the overlap on the roof light restricts some width. Also at the very back of the van the roof slopes slightly up so its not flat right to the back. As best I could measure from the roof gland cable to where the roof starts to curve up at the back is 115cm. The panel I found is 120cm but then you have to allow for the brackets. However what I did discover is the distance between the current panel and the back of the roof light is actually 57cm so about the same width as the side so you could fit a 100w panel directly between the current panel and the rear roof light across the roof and length wont be an issue there. It was really flipping awkward on unstable steps with just my head over the top with Michelle holding the ladder but I think I got it right. The only other alternative is the other side. I think you could get it far enough from that Aerial to avoid shade but remember, its spring, summer and autumn use for us anyway.
The arrows in red across the van show where I think a 100w panel might fit. It will be tight and it might restrict opening the rear roof light fully but it might be the best place for it.
Few more pics attached. Yeah I know. the roof is minging. Working on that.
The arrows in red across the van show where I think a 100w panel might fit. It will be tight and it might restrict opening the rear roof light fully but it might be the best place for it.
Few more pics attached. Yeah I know. the roof is minging. Working on that.