Solar panels - quantity discount?

If you're going to have more panels then you need more batteries. Once the batteries are happy the regulator won't keep on charging so you need to put load on them to drop the voltage and this is where charging your kit up through the day comes in.
I havn't managed to get more than a bit over 10 amps out of my 200watt but that's likely because it's hard to put enough load on since I have all LED's.
I reckon 100watt per 110ah battery is about right for most of the year. An 80 watt is really just going to keep batteries happy in storage and for weekends where it will have all week to top them back up.
 
Techno100 said:
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
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That's a fair point ... thanks for all the advice :)
 
It may be usefull to have two battery banks so when travelling both can be charged - one from the split charger and one from the pv panel. This could also be a way of using mismatched batteries.

I can choose which bank to run my heaviest load (a compressor fridge) via a two way switch. A two way switch can also swap the pv imput between the les. bat and the vehicle bat.

cheap glands can be bought from screwfix Tower Male Comp Gland White 20mm Pack of 2 | Screwfix.com

Fit these under the panel with a non-setting sealant.

Mr B.
 
I've decided on a 90W panel for each of my 110Ah batteries.

But it's a good point, having a lot of solar capacity does you no good unless you have the batteries to match it.

With regard to the panels grading, I guess anyone can say theirs are "grade A" panels. It's going to be difficult to prove otherwise without adequate testing as some of the defects or mismatches seem difficult to spot with the naked eye.

But Grade B panels do not seem to me such a bad buy if you are looking at value. They are hidden on the roof and if you can't be certain you are keeping the van long term then they represent a saving.
 
Techno100 said:
At £69 it would be better to fit 2 and split the panels across them.

Now look how much this 18 amp input Steca is and still made in China altho Steca like you to think its German made AND not even an LCD display


STECA SOLARIX MPPT 2010 SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER | eBay
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The difference with the steca one is that you can connect the panels in series (increased voltage) instead of parallel (increased amperage) which means you do not have to have large cables to prevent voltage drop.

However the large cables are probably cheaper :)
 
Techno100 said:
What a BARGAIN! no brackets no adhesive no cable gland no regulator BUT a free multimeter :cool1: Do you imagine they actually sell any?
80WP Solar Panel - 80 Watt Solar Panels Caravan Electrical Carava...
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i bet they do....

a old man was asking about one of their leisure batts other week, so i said infront of him how long warrenty, and he said a year, and i replied thats crap, for less money, better quality and a 4 year warrenty i can get better, but the old man looked and me and just bought it anyway....................
 
mrbigglesworth said:
It may be usefull to have two battery banks so when travelling both can be charged - one from the split charger and one from the pv panel.
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I just started a new topic about electrics installation options. Any thoughts or experience very welcome...

http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/general-chat/15064-electrics-installation-options.html

in other news, the maximum_solar guys say that the pcm3012 will definitely accomodate 300w input. they said they need to update their information.
 
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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Arrived on time. The attached cable is only 2.5mm which is misleading as the add says MC4 connectors and leaves you to assume it is 4mm cable.
The glass of both panels is covered in smears of assembly paste/adhesive so will take some getting off.
There is a slight dent in one edge of a frame (not be noticed really) packaging was OK
When I get some Sun I'll connect them up.

German one's still better overall.
 
I just set them up and it took a while to get a bit of direct Sun but managed to coax 8 amps out of them so they're probably OK just not A grade.
seller not responded to my complaints yet.
 
Im at Silverstone for a long weekend in the campervan... British Superbikes--- ACE.

Before I purchase 2 panels and another battery, Im going to check on how the 1 battery(110) copes this weekend... I dont use that much power.

If 1 battery copes then I will purchase 1 panel.

Silverline 500w inverter.
16" TV which is 12v but through its own transformer.
Small SatBox BFSAT02SD (Argos £30) - 240v.

Good picture here too...

Waterbutt pump.
1 - LED
Laptop.. but charged enroute... so should last for the couple of hours I spend on it.

I'll let you know if I'm in the dark on Sunday evening...
 
Well... I'm in the camping field @ the Lincoln show.. I have with me 2 x 70w, 90W & 140w. I don't really want to take them back to Herts, make me an offer 07771 625564.

I won't say I told you so, but why buy china panels from Germany when you can buy them from Herts?

Anyway, these panels need to be gone, phone me.
 
Thanks Tech...

What do you think of 1 110v battery & 1 PV panel for my meagre use of 12v electrics?

If you have never been camping during British Superbikes at Silverstone...... its Ace.

£30 for Fri/Sat/Sun camping.

Heres the shock... £30 for plug in electric.!! - Solar Panel here I come.... 80 90 or 100w???
 
Quite a lot of the 80,90,100 panels are showing as same dimensions with same cell arrangement so I'm a bit doubtful about some specs. I would go for a roof mounted 80 permanently fixed and another in the van that you can whip out and plug in more directly at the Sun with a security cable/tether.
 
They look just like upvc window openers.... interesting ... I have an idea!

I'm going to speak to my friend Heath Robinson
 
Of course, because it only pivots in one direction, to take full advantage you need to park so that the panel faces south when it's tilted up.

What would be really clever would be a rotating base to the mechanism ...
 
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