Solar Panel Question from novice

MHomeVagabond

Guest
Hi,

I've never had a solar panel before but thinking about it now. I used to own a Hymer and was a fulltimer starting 2010 for about 4 years. I had 2 leisure batteries and moved most days and didn't seem to need a panel. Now I have an Adria Twin which we hope to use mainly weekends but with some extended trips too.

It has 2 leisure batteries installed, too dark now but assume they are 90ah each. When habitation service recently done was told that alternator was correctly charging both engine battery and leisure and battery condition good. The control panel on this Adria though I think might not be reliable. It will sometimes flash red even just after disconnecting EHU or when driving yet lights etc all work. I don't have high power demands. I like to use a laptop and charge the phones and camera batteries but we don't watch TV and most lights are LED.

So based on my setup what panel would people recommend and can anyone advise where to get one fitted. I believe the roof on Twin is far from flat but I'm told normal panels are OK. Some seem to say a Schaudt controller is essential for the Schaudt elektroblock but not sure this is true. Would installing a solar panel with display mean I could check on condition of leisure batteries from new display if the control panel is mis reporting?

Thanks
Gary
 
MHomeVagabond said:
Hi,
I believe the roof on Twin is far from flat but I'm told normal panels are OK. Some seem to say a Schaudt controller is essential for the Schaudt elektroblock but not sure this is true. Would installing a solar panel with display mean I could check on condition of leisure batteries from new display if the control panel is mis reporting?
Click to expand...

Yes normal panels will fit OK. It depends on which Model Schault you've got these People will give you honest advice

Schaudt LR 1218 - Solar Regulator

You need to measure roof space see what there is for panels if you've no sat dish possibly 2 x 100 watt panels will fit
I used THIS TYPE of mounts on a Twin
 
Last edited:
Interested in seeing what comes up here myself. I am not sure it is essential to use Schaudt with an EBL, my understanding is because the EBL will handle all power input and distribution to leisure and starter batteries it is sensible to utilise it if you can.
 
I have used the Schaudt LRM1218 on our Globecar PVC but you can use the Voltronic MPPT regulator and it’s quite a bit cheaper.

John.
 
Consider semi flexible panels there prices have dropped dramatically over the past view years .
 
Someone with an LRM can confirm but I think the LRM is higher rated, the LR is 15A if I remember rightly, I think the Voltronic may be higher again if you get the MPPT version.

I know my EBL is fused at 15A for solar (EBL100-2) but you can get higher. The advantage of passing everything through the EBL is one unit is controlling all charge input so you have less risk of overcharging and damaging your batteries. You can be on hookup with chargers running and solar without risking overcharge.

Shout if any of this is wrong, I have been doing a lot of reading up ready for when I get my solar and would much prefer to be corrected than get the wrong/poor setup later :)
 
try

MHomeVagabond said:
Hi,

I've never had a solar panel before but thinking about it now. I used to own a Hymer and was a fulltimer starting 2010 for about 4 years. I had 2 leisure batteries and moved most days and didn't seem to need a panel. Now I have an Adria Twin which we hope to use mainly weekends but with some extended trips too.

It has 2 leisure batteries installed, too dark now but assume they are 90ah each. When habitation service recently done was told that alternator was correctly charging both engine battery and leisure and battery condition good. The control panel on this Adria though I think might not be reliable. It will sometimes flash red even just after disconnecting EHU or when driving yet lights etc all work. I don't have high power demands. I like to use a laptop and charge the phones and camera batteries but we don't watch TV and most lights are LED.

So based on my setup what panel would people recommend and can anyone advise where to get one fitted. I believe the roof on Twin is far from flat but I'm told normal panels are OK. Some seem to say a Schaudt controller is essential for the Schaudt elektroblock but not sure this is true. Would installing a solar panel with display mean I could check on condition of leisure batteries from new display if the control panel is mis reporting?

Thanks
Gary
Click to expand...
try falcon they fitted mine 120
works all winter keep the faith.pj
 
My EBL will regulate what charge goes where so long as you use parts that will connect to it. On solar side mine only takes in the power (one connector for solar) but if you EBL has the second solar input it will display on your control panel what you are getting.

When I say it uses a single controller I mean it takes in the power from whatever source you connect to the EBL and will control how much goes out. If you have totally seperate solar, btb, mains charge whatever and they all put a float charge out they will cut battery life, connecting through the EBL stops that, or that is my understanding.

And as Graham says the LRM will give the proper output for gel batteries.

This is only relevant if you have a Schaudt EBL though :)
 
Thanks for replies. Not all of it made sense so will get my local guy to suggest and install. I know my batteries aren't gel, Adria state they should be based on their location but others disagree.

Will Google some of the names people have given but in truth I won't be doing job myself anyway.

Thanks
Gary
 
Plug 'n Play

Reviving this.
I hoped that by buying a kit, it would be Plug'nPlay.

My van Adria Twin 07 plate has the Schaudt EBL. The guy who was going to fit my solar was going to go direct from the solar panel via a MPPT controller to the leisure battery.

I've tried to understand the piece on LR1218 & LRM1218 , and to be honest it confused me.

1, I had intended, or do intend to buy a Renogy 100 w panel kit (with MPPT) and fit it ignoring the Schaudt panel. Yes or NO ?
I'm aware the vehicle battery will not be charged.

2, I'm thinking of using 50x50x1000 aluminium angle to mount the panel. From what I've seen most are using plastic mounts. Am I over thinking this ?

On the You Tube videos I've seen very few people are fitting inline fuses. Any thoughts on this.

Thanks in advance. Derek
 
Just a couple of comments after reading this thread...

Questions over "enough to room to fit panels" - it should be remembered that it is not just a question of is there space to mount the panel, but will there be shade on it from other roof 'furniture'? If you have just 5% of a solar panel in any kind of significant shade (from vent, TV aerial, Sat Dish, roof box, etc) you will kill virtually ALL solar energy harvesting.
So when choosing a position, keep that in mind.

Fuses. Seem to serve two purposes in peoples minds when it comes to solar....
1) protect the cable. Well, actually the fuse should be at the start (energy source) point of a cable, not the end, so for that that purpose the fuse should be on the roof and not by the controller. You can actually get in-Line fuses mounted in MC4 connectors but never seen anyone fit one.
The controller itself should have fuse protection built in for protecting the device.
2) a way to disconnect the solar panel from the Controller. A resettable breaker is a much better idea if you want to do this. Some controllers allow you to turn the charger off from the front panel or via s/a (my Victron will do this for example).
 
If I could share my experiences with you:

I've just upgraded my solar system and have learned a lot about how the Schaudtt EBL-100 works.

I originally had the correct Schaudtt PV PWM controller and cable installed, this connects between the Solar panels and the EBL-100 and plugs directly into the EBL Block 6.

However using the EBL-100.1 installed by Hymer I discovered that the design does NOT charge my starter battery. It does a good enough job at managing the aux batteries, with the following limitations:

The Schaudtt LM 12XX units are limited inside the EBL to 15Amps, whatever you inject into the socket.

This will be ok, if you are planning a single panel, but if you want to maximise your roof real estate and go over a single panel, then the EBL will not be of any help. It would be preferable to wire your chosen PV controller directly to the aux batteries.

This will still not charge the starter battery. For most folks, this might not be a concern.

If you intend to spend more time off-grid and thus be reliant on solar, you would need to ensure that the loads on the starter battery, when stationary (alarm, tracker, dash radio etc etc) are not allowed to drain the starter battery.

I chose to also add in a facility to take some solar power and divert it to the starter battery which now ensures that all of my batteries are kept fully topped up.

The long thread on this topic is here :

Solar charge controller - load terminals - what practical use in a MH ?

james
 
Thank you Fringe Dweller.

My Adria Twin is fitted with a Schaudt EBL 208 SC.

To save me from trying to understand wiring diagrams and electrical mumbo jumbo. Just hold my hand and tell me what you might think to be the easiest route for me to go.
From what I can decipher from the link FD gave me. If I buy the Schaudt LRM 1218 controller, This I think is the MPPT option. I'm getting back to PLUG AND PLAY. I'll still have B-B charging. Have I got that right ?

That being the case :- I have a 110ah wet leisure battery. I'd like to buy either a Renogy or LG Solar panel, 100w - 120w, whatever comes in cheapest, now that I'm no longer buying a kit. Not cheap, but quality less expensive. I am open to suggestions of other manufacturers.
Add to that the Schaudt LRM 1218, 5mtrs or so of cable, Gland box, Sikaflex 512 (?) and aluminium angle or plastic feet. I'm still waiting for advice from someone, anyone, on this, Aluminium or plastic?

Glued ? Or my least favourite option,Glued and screwed?
The panel will be fitted north/south on the roof, in between the roof lights.

I know I sound like a Numpty, there is a very good reason for that. I am a Numpty.
 
The LRM is plug and play and limited to 18amps, that is not a problem for the panels you state.

Not all EBL’s will charge the starter battery as well as the leisure batteries but a few threads have said they come with an adapter you connect to do this. I haven’t had an LRM so can’t say yay or nay but there are many ways to add starter battery in if required.

We did my panel last weekend and I used 4 plastic corner brackets and added 2 straight plastic brackets as the panel was I think 1.3mtrs long so reduced risk of flexing as sideway mounted.

On top of the plastic mounts I bought a plastic gland box for the cable to go in that covered hole in roof, probably not necessary but wanted to reduce risk of leaks as much as possible. Then I used 6 x stainless nuts and bolts 8mm x 30mm (1 per bracket) to fix panel to brackets each nut and bolt having a spring washer, could have got away with 25mm length and I used Allen head bolts as that’s what I had in the shed. To finish it off one tube of Sikaflex 252i architectural adhesive which is what Sikaflex recommended. If I had thought about it I would probably have used tigerseal. Only other thing is I had to get an 8mm wood drill bit.

Final thing you need is a son in law to push through roof light to clean off roof mark where panel will go, apply adhesive then stick down gland box and panel brackets feeding cable through suitable hole in roof (we had a previously sealed hole we could use).
 
The bullet has been bit. Solar kit on it's way. I've gone easier, pronounced, "cheaper", route. Still with MPPT. Going direct to leisure battery only. I've got a small trickle charger I'll put in the van. Belt 'n Braces. Must remember to keep on top of battery maintenance.

Full 100w panel kit, c/w inline fuse. Nice touch I thought, someone has thought this through.
 
Yup, the whole kit is only a few quid more than the Schaudt controller. Looking at the total cost of separate items was giving me a squeaky b** thinking how to tell the Sainted Nik how much I've spent. This way I'll only get a slap. Phew!

Now I can look forward to drilling a hole in Demi's roof. I tried to strip out the wardrobe panels to hide the new cables. That's not going to happen, whoever put the TV junk in, glued the panels back. Oh! Deep joy. Think I'm going to keep the Wardrobe door (WARDROBE!, it's a tiny cupboard) closed when entertaining.

Might take a few weeks, my helper has decided he needs a holiday. Can't get the staff.
 
You can still put the cable from your controller through the EBL if you want to, you just need Part number 2007, think is was about 13 squids where I got mine but you can make it yourself if you wanted to.

One other thing I am adding is a temperature sensor that goes from battery to MPPT, again I dont know if it needed with 1 x 100 panel or not but someone will say if its worth doing or not
 
Nabsim said:
You can still put the cable from your controller through the EBL if you want to, you just need Part number 2007, think is was about 13 squids where I got mine but you can make it yourself if you wanted to.

One other thing I am adding is a temperature sensor that goes from battery to MPPT, again I dont know if it needed with 1 x 100 panel or not but someone will say if its worth doing or not
Click to expand...

It is probably more relevant/important if you move between extremes of temperature, such as if travelling across North America say, or if you have Lithium Batteries which must not charged at all below a minumum temperature.

Having said that, I added a Victron Temperature and Battery Sense Unit to my AGM setup, but have quite a large setup I want to treat optimally.
 
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