Which Solar Panels?

wylecoyote

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Hi All,
I am thinking of buying some solar panels and am looking for advice on does and donts, and recommended makes, models etc.
I have an EC325 charger controller with a spare input for solar. Was thinking of using this as way of keeping batts topped up in summer. Any advice on fitting solar panels would be appreciated as they are a bit of a black art form to me!
Cheers Phil.:confused::confused:
 
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Hi, if you put solar panels into the search field (just below log in) you will find lots of previous threads on the subject....Maja
 
Your starting point will be 'how many/big panels will I need'. My experience is for a start roughly match the output in watts to your battery capacity in Ah, this has suited us well for many years, but always consider that you might wish to add another panel so try and fit the first panel to allow a second to be easily fitted.
 
colinmd said:
Your starting point will be 'how many/big panels will I need'. My experience is for a start roughly match the output in watts to your battery capacity in Ah, this has suited us well for many years, but always consider that you might wish to add another panel so try and fit the first panel to allow a second to be easily fitted.
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The sargent 325 unit has max capacity of 120 w. Any bigger and you will have to fit your own controller you may have to purchase a small wiring harnes from Sargent ., using the sargent controller charges both engine and leisure battery information available from Manuel ,download is available on Mr google .oooops sorry I hijacked you post
 
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Bimble Solar have great deals on solar,most panels seem to be similar in efficiency unless you spend mega for a couple of % more in efficiency. Have a look at their second hand panels,they're a bargain and will probably outlast your ownership of the van.
 
I was in near the beginning regarding solar panel use for m/homes.
The so called Saturn Technology pair I bought nearly 20 years cost an arm and a leg and are still doing their intended job, maybe not as well as they once did I
don't know. The Chinese one I bought 5 years ago, likewise, still seems to be
doing the job the materials and anodising finish stil look good, and for quarter the cost of the Saturn Techs.
 
Byronic said:
I was in near the beginning regarding solar panel use for m/homes.
The so called Saturn Technology pair I bought nearly 20 years cost an arm and a leg and are still doing their intended job, maybe not as well as they once did I
don't know. The Chinese one I bought 5 years ago, likewise, still seems to be
doing the job the materials and anodising finish stil look good, and for quarter the cost of the Saturn Techs.
Click to expand...

I've been using solar panels for over 30 years, but the first I put on a van was 1998, 30w semi flexible and as you say cost a fortune, it was still working well when I sold the van 13 years later. The one we have on van now is 7 years old and working well, but then I've never bothered with much monitoring, as long as my batteries have charge I'm happy.
 
I've pondered this question many times, what brand, what size what output etc.

I simply look at the available space on the van's roof and then try to fill them with pv panels.

Previously on a Damon Daybreak I had 4x 180w panels giving around 720 w max output, feeding a battery bank of 6x135ah batteries.
I still managed to deplete the bank a few times.

Simple advice is to put up as many as can fit/can be afforded, with the best charge controller and as many batteries than can be carried and located.

Properly configured you will always get a charge if there is light, always get a charge when the engine is running and as a backstop, an EHU cable will fully replenish the bank.

It's all to easy to get lost in the technical details so K.I.S.S.

james
 
I'm in the 'fit as many as you have space for' camp. Got a good deal from Alpha batteries last time and was pleased with the s/h ones from Bimble.
 
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My mate bought a couple of these and he said they work okay. Certainly sound good, althougth there not flexible they don't seem to be too heavy.

Regards,
Del
 
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