Where to get solar panels fitted ooop North?

[barryd]

100 watt solar panel keeps our 2 x 95 ah battery's charged we aren't heavy users 3 hrs tv and hot water and heating as req often stationary for 7 to 10 days in Portugal during winter. Not used in dark and murky climes though

I think our usage has actually increased a fair bit when I think about it and its mainly technology. Two laptops, two (Well three now) smart phones endless other stuff I am always charging. It seems there is always at least one thing plugged in. I bought a new smart phone recently that lasts days now between charges and is fully charged in just over an hour so that might improve things a bit.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We're very frugal, all LED, not even used the inverter yet, heater doesn't use electric unless we use the fan which would melt us or the water heater, no puters to charge either, panel is only a 85w, I bought 2 from Techno100 ages ago, still have one left, our new MTTP controller charges VB and LB but no clue how to set it up yet.

Your needs are more specialised as you take Abbey Road studios with you and need to run an office on the road so on reflection Mr Wildebeest might enable you better than my humble experiences.

 

[barryd]

We're very frugal, all LED, not even used the inverter yet, heater doesn't use electric unless we use the fan which would melt us or the water heater, no puters to charge either, panel is only a 85w, I bought 2 from Techno100 ages ago, still have one left, our new MTTP controller charges VB and LB but no clue how to set it up yet.

Your needs are more specialised as you take Abbey Road studios with you and need to run an office on the road so on reflection Mr Wildebeest might enable you better than my humble experiences.

Guffaw!

Actually our 100w panel and 125ah battery with the MPPT controller have done really well until the battery started to peg out. I powered all that stuff from May to September no problem at all. I just wondered on this new van if it would need a bit more but maybe not. Plus I think you are supposed to match panels to batteries so if there is 180 AH on board maybe I need 160 to 200 watts of solar to match it. Once it gets to the back end I generally start looking for hookup anyway mixed with a bit of off grid.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Multiple batteries should be matched, but in my own experience the panel only needs to be able to keep them topped up, which obviously will depend on how much you deplete then and of course available current bun.

 

[winks]

How about Leisuretech in Clitheroe? They did an alarm for me years ago and were very easy to deal with.

Cheers

H

 

[wildebus]

They don't know to much if they say you require an inverter to charge a laptop, I would stay well away.

I use an inverter to charge my laptop (but yes, I agree, it is possible to get a DC-DC converter instead )

 

[wildebus]

I am very close to getting a new van! in anticipation of that I am wondering about Solar. Our current van has a single 100w panel charging a single 125ah battery and its been perfect. This van has 2 x 90ah batteries so I reckon ill need 2 x 100w or 2 x 80w panels and an MPPT controller. Last time I bought all the gear myself and my local motorhome fixer did it. I might go down that route again but thought I would ask on here for a recommendation. Is this something @wildebus does? Also I think I might want to move my aging but still functioning Camos Dome from the old van to the new so I might want that fitting also.

I would want an MPPT controller that shows me all the Watts going in and out etc.

Before you commit to the new solar setup, I would check if the batteries in the new van are still up to par. You might potentially need to be looking at new batteries and that could change what is needed Solar wise? (unlikely but possible).

 

[Nabsim]

If you are starting from scratch with solar it’s worth thinking where/when you are going to use it and if it’s worth looking at more electrical appliances. I am definitely going to get an electric induction hob to run when solar is good or frequently moving. Price of gas now it seems silly not to. Would be using electric kettle but hadn’t realised it’s 3kw as only ever used a few times if on a site with hook up.

 

[wildebus]

If you are starting from scratch with solar it’s worth thinking where/when you are going to use it and if it’s worth looking at more electrical appliances. I am definitely going to get an electric induction hob to run when solar is good or frequently moving. Price of gas now it seems silly not to. Would be using electric kettle but hadn’t realised it’s 3kw as only ever used a few times if on a site with hook up.

I found with my induction hob that I would put the normal stove kettle on it, with power set to 1000W. By the time I got the cups ready with teabags in, sugar in and milk out ready, the water was boiling. They are super-efficient (If I could retro-fit an induction hob in the place of the electric hotplate on the built-in cooker it would be brilliant )

 

[barryd]

Before you commit to the new solar setup, I would check if the batteries in the new van are still up to par. You might potentially need to be looking at new batteries and that could change what is needed Solar wise? (unlikely but possible).

Apparently according to the previous owner they were replaced with new 90ah batteries in 2020 and a new cab battery last year so should be good I would think. Dont know what they are though.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

90ah is not much for you, I'd have thought 2 x 125ah for you, and maybe the old controller is too small now, not sure I have all the calcs at home.

 

[barryd]

90ah is not much for you, I'd have thought 2 x 125ah for you, and maybe the old controller is too small now, not sure I have all the calcs at home.

2 x 90ah Kev! keep up!

So 180 in total.

 

[barryd]

Dealer has just sent me images of the roof. Can you experts take a look at tell me if you foresee any issues. There is no rear ladder on this van but I assume this wont be an issue for a solar installer? I think (if I can remove it) my Camos Dome would go front left and then it would look to me like there is easy enough space for 2 x 80 or maybe a couple of 100w panels behind. What do you reckon?

 

[witzend]

I think our usage has actually increased a fair bit when I think about it and its mainly technology.

Well over the last 10 yrs I've never had call to think about any extra panels the 100w has kept us supplied I tried the one knowing I could easily add another if reqd. I never mess with battery's only using l/a I'd rather change them early than be let down. We also have 2 phones an a router always on but their not using enough to make a difference

 

[winks]

Is that B****** L****** in *******on Barry?

I've only ever had a fridge repair done by them about fifteen years ago and it just came down to a burner change. My cousin recently bought a Swift motorhome from them and had a bit of a tussle with a totally dead leisure battery and they had removed the Calor bottles from the van before handover. Bit of sharp practice there unfortunately.

Cheers

H

 

[Pudsey Bear]

2 x 90ah Kev! keep up!

So 180 in total.

250ah ya wazzzzock fart faced donkey supporting tosser.

 

[barryd]

250ah ya wazzzzock fart faced donkey supporting tosser.

I thought you meant it only had 1 x 90ah and whats wrong with supporting Donkeys?

 

[barryd]

Is that Bardsea Leisure in Ulverston Barry?

I've only ever had a fridge repair done by them about fifteen years ago and it just came down to a burner change. My cousin recently bought a Swift motorhome from them and had a bit of a tussle with a totally dead leisure battery and they had removed the Calor bottles from the van before handover. Bit of sharp practice there unfortunately.

Cheers

H

Yes it is. I never mentioned the dealers name though as its not advertised yet and with vans in demand you dont know who is reading it but any feedback on them would be useful. The guy I dealt with seemed ok and so far has been pretty helpful. After they emailed me the photos of the roof I sent a reply mentioning that I want the van weighed at a local weighbridge so will see how they respond to that. They offer you a couple of nights on their site at handover so presumably they will have to put a gas bottle in it. Ill be getting an LPG refillable fitted anyway with a Calor backup. Maybe even an underslung tank. I am talking to Autogas 2000 in Thirsk about that.

 

[barryd]

Just one thing while I am on. I presume all swift motorhomes are strong enough on the roof to walk on and fit panels? Just wondered why there was no rear ladder on this one. There are also no obvious holes in the roof either apart from where the TV aerial is. Ill need a feed for the panels and the Camos Dome but presumably the fitters will know all about that?

 

[alcam]

Go acoustic , save yourself a fortune