What are your solar power readings during winter?

[bob72]

Hi all,

Just wondered if I could get some stats for comparison with the various solar panel outputs.

I have just got a 180w array installed and the regulator from Taiwain (the MPPT from ebay).

Month: December
Weather Condition: Blue sky but cloudy
Wattage: 12w
Volts: 13v
Amp: 0.9

I'm curious if this is typical so it may be interesting to get some stats from members so we can see how well our arrays are performing. Thanks

 

[bob72]

My reading seems about right then. Thanks for adding your info!

 

[lufcdave7]

We are spending the weekend on a very pleasant cs site just outside Haworth, West Yorkshire. Intermittent blue skies and bright sunshine. With a 130w panel and Steca controller, the best recorded so far 1.4 amps/hours, the sun is very low in the sky. Last summer in France we were recording over 9 amps/hours regularly. Our tv alone uses 2 amps/hour, just proves you can't rely on solar in the UK winter.

 

[freddie]

freddie

hiya am new membber have had camper vans for over 35 years i have been useing 2 solar panels 1 a 15watt and a 30watt panel for around 4years which are very good have just got a 185 watts solar panel 2wks ago but not fitted yet have to buy a 20amp reg as my other reg is onyl 10amp will let you no how i get on with new 185 watts solar panel later when i have fitted it i have a ldv camper van fitted it out my self my van was a ex mini bus 17seater now camper van for 5years now just had wk traveling around cleethorpes scarborough whitby bridlington robin hoods bay now today 3dec at hornsea till mon night when i head for home rotherham all the best freddie

 

[bob72]

Hi Freddie and welcome.

Look forward to seeing/reading about your van

 

[David & Ann]

hiya am new membber have had camper vans for over 35 years i have been useing 2 solar panels 1 a 15watt and a 30watt panel for around 4years which are very good have just got a 185 watts solar panel 2wks ago but not fitted yet have to buy a 20amp reg as my other reg is onyl 10amp will let you no how i get on with new 185 watts solar panel later when i have fitted it i have a ldv camper van fitted it out my self my van was a ex mini bus 17seater now camper van for 5years now just had wk traveling around cleethorpes scarborough whitby bridlington robin hoods bay now today 3dec at hornsea till mon night when i head for home rotherham all the best freddie

Fit 2 x 110 + batteries and you can wild camp for as long as you want and also use higher voltage items without running to plugin points. If I am wrong in my assumption, someone will definitely pull me for it☺☺☺

 

[NicknClair]

Fit 2 x 110 + batteries and you can wild camp for as long as you want and also use higher voltage items without running to plugin points. If I am wrong in my assumption, someone will definitely pull me for it☺☺☺

Pull you up on it..................................................... don't know what you mean . Not too sure about the "Long as you want" bit mind

David & Ann is right on the money, more battery capacity is more important as you need a good foundation regarding your 12V system. The other factor in this climate is that you're gonna be drawing more power for heating/lighting/TV, as it can be too cold to walk around during the day for some, but at night the heater is turned up and you snuggle in watching a good film etc etc.
You can create a good debate as to what is the other alternative (Generator/B2B/Fuel Cell/ Gasparini/ Wind Turbine etc), but at this time of the year as a Wilder, you need an alternative back-up source for sure.

 

[Deleted member 3011]

Fit 2 x 110 + batteries and you can wild camp for as long as you want and also use higher voltage items without running to plugin points.

Not in the real world outside of the fairyland that solar power retailers live in.

Middle of winter in most of Europe north of Spain will need a hell of a lot bigger solar system than a 180W panel and a couple of batteries if you actually want to lead any sort of regular life formore than a couple of days when wildcamping. Forced-air Heating, TV and computer use alone will severely limit your off-grid camping unless you have something better than solar to rely on. Look at the two examples given here and assume that is typical. 1 Amp going into the batteries from a 180W panel - say 7 Ah a day would power a laptop for 1 hour. 16 hours of heating a day with the blower drawing ?? Amps, plus all the normal stuff like lights and pumps and entertainment and a couple of days would be the limit provided you start out with 100% charged batteries.


BTW The output from a solar regulator will greatly depend on the state of charge of the battery so comparisons between different users might be quite meaningless if one has a half-charged battery and the other has just had the battery on a mains charger.

 

[vwalan]

hi. i used to have 3x80wt panels and 600amp of batteries . worked my 240v fridge through an inverter all the time wintering in maroc . sometimes not quite in spai and portugal. i increased to 6x 80wt panels and 800amp of batteries now ok apart from in uk winter . but when away use washing machine and far more 240v things through the 2kw inverter. wish just a couple would swork but it doesnt.
i also managed with two 11o batteries charged from the truck when on the move . used gas lights gas fridge kept 12v power to water pump a 12v cassette player radio. and ocasional 5inch black n white tv . but wanted more life . mobile phone computer etc all take power. we normally get away for 5-6 months so some things arent luxury any more just making life easier. also use a 24v to 12v 20amp battery to battery charger . by durite expensive but i think it works very well. we often stay miles away from anything for a week at a time . might not move far to the next stop. so long as we have water and gas we can cope . bake our own bread etc if needed. have gone 4weeks sometimes not moving just enjoying the peace of just us .

 

[Kontiki]

I got 4.2 Kws today but that's from the 21x185 watt (3.885 kw system) on the roof of our house, average for a Dec. day should be about 1.69 kw.
Haven't got a clue what we get from the the 85 watt panel on the van, wouldn't expect too much as it is parked in the shade of the house formost of the day..

I use this website to get estimates of the solar radiation PV potential estimation utility you could enter your location & size of panels et. & see what you can expect at any time of year.

 

[freddie]

Freddie

Fit 2 x 110 + batteries and you can wild camp for as long as you want and also use higher voltage items without running to plugin points. If I am wrong in my assumption, someone will definitely pull me for it☺☺☺

hiya dave ann manny thanks for info on battys upto now not fitted solar panel just yet but will let you no how get on am off to skegness this wkend for a wk of free camping and winter is all most over how you doing have you been any places free camping in last 4 wks or so keep happy by for now freddie

 

[freddie]

Freddie

I got 4.2 Kws today but that's from the 21x185 watt (3.885 kw system) on the roof of our house, average for a Dec. day should be about 1.69 kw.
Haven't got a clue what we get from the the 85 watt panel on the van, wouldn't expect too much as it is parked in the shade of the house formost of the day..

I use this website to get estimates of the solar radiation PV potential estimation utility you could enter your location & size of panels et. & see what you can expect at any time of year.

hiya bit late in replaying not fitted solar panel yet but soon its 185 watts around 5ft long around 4ft wide will let you no how get on with panel i have been usein 2 small solar panels for 5 years 1 is 3owatts other is 15watts wired with 2 regs 2lots of wires to batty what do you think what watts to batty will i get from 185 solar going to get 2 110 l, battys panel over winter i no power will be down a lot i only put tv on in winter at 6pm to watch news upto around 11pm at night have led lights in camper van 5 lights in all but not on all 2geather happy wild camping freddie

 

[maingate]

hiya am new membber have had camper vans for over 35 years i have been useing 2 solar panels 1 a 15watt and a 30watt panel for around 4years which are very good have just got a 185 watts solar panel 2wks ago but not fitted yet have to buy a 20amp reg as my other reg is onyl 10amp will let you no how i get on with new 185 watts solar panel later when i have fitted it i have a ldv camper van fitted it out my self my van was a ex mini bus 17seater now camper van for 5years now just had wk traveling around cleethorpes scarborough whitby bridlington robin hoods bay now today 3dec at hornsea till mon night when i head for home rotherham all the best freddie

Hi Freddie,

Save your money, 10 amp is OK for your new panel.


I run a 90 watt panel and an 80 watt wind turbine together with a 7.5 amp regulator.

 

[Techno100]

Hi all,

Just wondered if I could get some stats for comparison with the various solar panel outputs.

I have just got a 180w array installed and the regulator from Taiwain (the MPPT from ebay).

Month: December
Weather Condition: Blue sky but cloudy
Wattage: 12w
Volts: 13v
Amp: 0.9

I'm curious if this is typical so it may be interesting to get some stats from members so we can see how well our arrays are performing. Thanks

I got 7 amps out of my 200watts on Sunday in clear sky. Same mppt controller
You have to put load on your batteries to establish how much is being held back because the batteries are already charged.

Ten minutes after load removed

DOH! just realised you posted DECEMBER
most likely 3 amps max from mine then

 

[bob72]

Wow thanks for the update, interesting none the less.

I still not managed to see more than 1.5 amps but to be honest I don't think I have looked when had ideal conditions. Will be going away for a full week next week so hopefully will monitor it then.

 

[Bigpeetee]

BEWARE of 12v sellers

hiya bit late in replaying not fitted solar panel yet but soon its 185 watts around 5ft long around 4ft wide will let you no how get on with panel i have been usein 2 small solar panels for 5 years 1 is 3owatts other is 15watts wired with 2 regs 2lots of wires to batty what do you think what watts to batty will i get from 185 solar going to get 2 110 l, battys panel over winter i no power will be down a lot i only put tv on in winter at 6pm to watch news upto around 11pm at night have led lights in camper van 5 lights in all but not on all 2geather happy wild camping freddie

What is the voltage output from your panel??

I've not seen one of that size for 12v batts, maybe I've not looked properly.

But there are some Ebay dealers advertising house roof units as suitable for 12 v charging.
250 Watt Solar Panel PV Monocrystalline 12V 250W TUV MCS Approved Photovoltaic | eBay
Eg their data:

Size: 1580X1062X505mm
Short circult current(Isc): 5.33A
Open circuit voltage(Voc): 59.46V
Maximum power Intensity (Imp) 5.20A
Maximum power point (Vmp) 48.01v
Maximum power (Pmax) 250W

Weight 20KGS

These are higher voltage as used in domestic installations, if you look at the current there is a max of 5.20A That means that there will be a lot of heat generated to reduce 48v to 12v.

With only a maximum useable power of approx 70w

BEWARE