Solar panels - quantity discount?

I have ordered 2x80 from Jackie at £145 each delivered.

The German seller has let me down twice now as today rather than send 2x80 watt panels I received an insectocutor :mad2:
 
Techno100 said:
I have ordered 2x80 from Jackie at £145 each delivered.

The German seller has let me down twice now as today rather than send 2x80 watt panels I received an insectocutor :mad2:
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Please let me know if the panels from Jackie are of good quality and suitable for me to purchase 2... Thanks, Mack
 
Yep sure will Mack.

the German seller has apologised and says I can keep the insectocutor :lol-053: funny NOT
 
That's a plan! it's only 23watts at 230volt so small inverter (not from Germany) could be the ticket :idea-007:
 
the German seller has apologised and says I can keep the insectocutor :lol-053: funny NOT[/QUOTE]

If there is a large 4 berth motorhome in the next mixed up delivery... can I have it to save posting it back?
 
Techno100 said:
My pleasure. Seller is top notch reliable. Offer £69 to be sure of purchase. Ask for value reduction for import duty
eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace
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I have found the installation guide for the regulator which can be found here http://www.taiwantrade.com.tw/resources/member/142894/productcatalog/97ae964e-c00d-402d-988d-d63cb820ac9c_SCC-MPPT_manual.pdf

Once Phil has sorted a competitive source for panels, I'm going to fit one of these regulators to accompany it, and I'm going to follow Techno's excellent instructions to attach the panel to the roof.

I intend to drill a hole through the roof to feed the cable through, and rather than use an expensive roof grommet fitment, I plan to use this instead eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

I will cut off the tank connector around 5mm below the flange, then use Sikaflex to bond it to the roof, and also use Sikaflex to fill the elbow thus securing the cable and sealing it against the elements. I will face the elbow towards the rear of the vehicle as a further precaution.

(This isn't my idea - I picked it up elsewhere as an installation moneysaver.)

I have studied the wiring diagram for my 'van, and I have worked out how to connect the regulator. I have one query however which I hope Techno can advise upon.

The load connections I intend to make are by connecting the Load 12v positive to the 12v positive input for the distribution switch panel, and the Load 12v negative connection to chassis earth. Is this correct?

The regulator connections I believe should be made thus:

Solar panel positive: 12v positive cable from panel
Solar panel negative: 12v negative cable from panel

Battery 12v positive: 12v positive feed from split charge relay terminal 87A (connected to leisure battery positive terminal when ignition is off)
Battery 12v negative: to chassis earth

Load 12v positive: connect to the 12v distribution switch panel positive input (with suitable in-line fuse)
Load 12v negative: connect to chassis earth

Does this seem correct, Techno?

Thanks for the advice.

Regards

Chris
 
Why not a proper gland? not so expensive? Whichever make sure you clean the PVC with isopropanol or Sika 205 or the adhesive will not stick 100%
eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

Isn't your 12 volt distribution already connected direct to the batteries? Do you mean to disconnect that and feed from the load terminals INSTEAD?
 
In case anyone is interested, the seller of those regulators told me that they will be listing a higher rated version next week (25-30A) which will be able to handle 300w of panels instead of 200w max.
 
I didn't ask how much it would cost. I just made contact via their auction page, they were very helpful and quick to respond. Guy called Kevin (maximum_solar). He said the model will be called a PCM3012 and it looks the same as the lower rated one. He's going to email when it's posted.

If you manage to negotiate a best price for it, let us know...
 
Techno100 said:
Why not a proper gland? not so expensive? Whichever make sure you clean the PVC with isopropanol or Sika 205 or the adhesive will not stick 100%
eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

Isn't your 12 volt distribution already connected direct to the batteries? Do you mean to disconnect that and feed from the load terminals INSTEAD?
Click to expand...

Ah! Now that gland is much cheaper than others I've seen on Ebay ...

I have assumed that I need to disconnect the existing panel from the leisure battery ... isn't that so?

Doesn't the regulator need to supply the 'van's load?

Confused ...
 
No Chris the load is just there for outside street lighting etc but you could connect a small inverter to it and the low voltage cut off would prevent it flattening the battery.
Or even connect a 12 volt socket or USB charger to it?
 
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Techno100 said:
No Chris the load is just there for outside street lighting etc but you could connect a small inverter to it and the low voltage cut off would prevent it flattening the battery.
Or even connect a 12 volt socket or USB charger to it?
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Well that makes installation a lot easier ...

The LCD display presumably would not then be capable of showing the load being drawn - is that a good reason for making the extra connection? Or is that not workable/advisable?
 
The load being drawn isn't really important rather than the battery voltage.
Also if you connect your whole hab distribution to the load, when the voltage drops to the cut off point you'll be in the dark LOL and wont get lights back on until the battery gets recharged
 
Techno100 said:
At £69 it would be better to fit 2 and split the panels across them.
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Well if it's possible / straightforward to fit 2 together, then that sounds like a good way of dealing with it.

If you were plugging in 2x 100w panels, would it be likely that you would often / ever be generating 30a? Or would 20a cover it most of the time?

You mentioned it's always good to charge your laptop etc during the day while the sun is shining. Does this mean that you are often generating surplus power that's not being captured by the regulator and stored in the batteries? Or is this just about avoiding the inefficiency of saving to battery and then drawing it out again?

I've asked how much the 30a model will cost. (And for clarification on max input power).

The seller is also doing a 1000w model, but it's more expensive than getting 2 of the original boxes, and they all seem to be coming from australia with £30 postage on top.

max 40A 1000w output mppt solar charge controller regulator LCD 12V 24V 36v 48V | eBay
 
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