Solar panels

theflyer

Hi everyone,

I have just purchased a 2013 apache 632 motor home. I am thinking of fitting a solar panel to it.

On the control box it does show a solar panel symbol. My question is would I be able to wire the solar panel into it?

Ken

DavidKlyne

Ken

I think you would have to establish whether the reading on the control panel is just an indication of the charge going into the battery. If the van didn't originally have a solar panel I can't imagine the manufacturer would have installed a solar panel controller. I have on my new motorhome a solar panel and a separate Truma controller. It is capable of sending a charge to both the leisure battery and the cab battery but Bailey in their tight fistedness only connected it to the leisure battery!!! 

David

JollyKernow

Hi

Your PSU, charger and control panel will have been from Sargent Electrical. They have an informative website with many manuals and diagrams. They also have a really good technical helpline. I've used them this year with great success. Some vans come prewired for solar and have a socket available in the psu. 

JK

brue

Ours was pre-wired, OH added a 100w panel to the roof and a new switch, it has all worked well and we can see the charge levels on the main control panel.

young thomas

just to add to JK's useful post...

we had a 2010 Swift which also had Sargent electrics. the solar was pre-wired and the 'open' end was in a cupboard above the drivers seat.

the other end of the cable was plugged into the PSU in 'socket 14' if my memory serves me correctly.

some Sargent PSUs have a regulator built in, and logic which can divert charge to both leisure and vehicle batteries.

OTOH, you may need to supply your own regulator, check with Sargent as advised.

if you do require a regulator, go for a MPPT one, gives a better charge from the available sunlight, add a fuse and go for a panel no smaller than 100w.

good luck.

theflyer

Thank you everyone for your replies.

Ken