Solar Panels

The question has to be how long do you want to go off ehu and when?   If the answer is we go away for three weeks over Christmas and new year then £100 budget is likely to struggle. If it is a long week end in the summer then no problem. 

Looking at eBay you can pick up an 80w panel for about £50 it would seem and a controller for £20 ish A 10amp controller should be good for upto a 150W panel.  In terms of cabling I would permanently fix the controller to the van and connect the output from
it to either the battery or in some cases  your 12 v fuse box might have a solar input. NB you still need the controller you can't connect the solar panel direct to this. 

It is possible to buy proper solar cable and I have used this roof my roof mounted panel.  When I had my first 40w panel I connected it to the controller as a temporary measure using a 110v plug and socket ( looks like a ehu plug but different) That I had
laying arround in my garage and a the cable from a scrapped flymo.   This temporary measure lasted 4 years until we changed van!    You need long enough cable to be able to position the panel so it collects the sun And this might not be at the front of van.
 I can't see any reason why a cigar lighter wouldn't work and would be convenient.  

Final thoughts and sorry for the ramble.  Before pressing buy on an 80w panel consider its size for physically getting in and out of the van The 40 w I had was big enough to manhandle without the sharp corners catching the furniture But maybe I'm a clumsy
sod.  Also consider getting some security like a chain to secure the panel it won't stop them but it will slow them down. 

I was going to get a 100w solar panel, now considering 150w, my Compass has a dedicated solar panel connector in the battery box (cig lighter socket). It has a 10amp fuse then the +/-  wires connect up to the wires from the battery, the loom then goes to
the 12v fuse / distribution panel. There is very little space left with the battery in place so croc clips would be no good for connection.

Back of battery box, solar socket under mains connection.

Boff, I have a 100 watt solar panel which I  have used for 5 years on extended caravan rallies. The panel you buy will come which a suitable arrangement to wire it in.  A control box/ regulator and cabling will all come with it along with necessary fuse
protection. I would play it safe and use what you are given.

With the modern technology that was appearing like SPs, LED lighting and refillable cylinders, I had decided that EHU was no longer for me and so I set about fitting out the van for some serious off grid action. Firstly, a 135w panel was fitted to the roof. Not a budget make. It was fitted by Panelworks in Bawrty, South York's who also fitted the  controller and all the cabling. They did a first class job. I then fitted a second 110ah battery. I knew I wanted in the future to use an inverter and run things like electric toasters and the microwave. So far so good. The batteries were never less than fully charged and the winter changing of batteries had stopped thank goodness! Then, some 10 months later, I found an excellent electronics engineer who helped me with a new 2000w PSW inverter. He used all the correct dia cables, he even used shrink insulation where needed. Used ring terminals for permanent fixing and protected the whole system with a 100w fuse properly mounted on the same heat sink as the inverter. He finished off by making the whole system able to be killed by an illuminated switch on the end of the bed box. This ran to a 12v solenoid which killed the inverter completely as it would still pull a little power if it was on but not being used, but even better than that, we could very easily switch it on when needed without lifting the bed!! We tested the whole inverter system,  first with small amps lighting and then toasters and microwave. It worked flawlessly. We have now fitted a battery monitoring system to tell us exactly where we stand for power etc. Safefill was a Godsend as it appeared just as my interest in non EHu was burgeoning! What a Godsend!! Gas at 25% of what I was paying for bottled gas. I will never say never, but with the system I have, I can't ever see me being hooked up to the matrix again!

Placing the regulator on the panel whilst expedient is technically not a sound solution.

As already commented they then need to be sealed from damp ingress.

Plus there it can't automatically make the compensations needed for cable voltage losses or the battery's varying requirements with temperature.

Placed close to the battery its regulated output will not be reduced by the long cable losses. Plus as all but budget basement controllers will have battery temperature compensation it will, placed near the battery have more idea of the temperature of the battery, than a controller is sat cooking behind a panel.

Both these aspects will result in the battery not receiving the level of voltage it should be getting.

The practice is though widespread, as said because it is expedient to provide an aftermarket product. The DIYer can of course install a correctly designed system.

I was going to get a 100w solar panel, now considering 150w, my Compass has a dedicated solar panel connector in the battery box (cig lighter socket). It has a 10amp fuse then the +/-  wires connect up to the wires from the battery, the loom then goes to the 12v fuse / distribution panel. There is very little space left with the battery in place so croc clips would be no good for connection.

Back of battery box, solar socket under mains connection.

Chris are you sure that the distribution board includes a regulator/controller. I have no idea what type is specifically fitted to your compass, but most of them afaik don't.  The solar input, in to the fuse/distribution, should be made from a controller and what it removes is the need for a direct connection to the battery logically it should also have its own fuse fitted into fuse box.  

I could be wrong about this but please check .

Write your comments here...

Boff, the regulator/controller is on the back of the solar panel, the +/- wires from that connect to the croc clips, I will use a 12v plug instead for the fitted socket in the battery box..

Thanks for your concern.

However looking at some makes of solar panels the regulator/controllers are not waterproof!! instrutions say they need to be covered in rain!! the one I will be getting is to IP66 standard and waterproof.

 

Seems to me you have a perfectly workable setup as you have a controller inline so no chance of frying your battery. 

Solar panel ordered now, got this 150W one:

http://www.renytek.co.uk/folding-solar-panels/?Page_ID=3610&refpid=17676&id=39721

Postage included of course!

Retirement day fast approaching (6 weeks) so then plenty of time out in the van off EHU.

Write your comments here...

Good quick service from this company, odered 8.30pm Wednesday, delivered Friday 1.45pm.

With the modern technology that was appearing like SPs, LED lighting and refillable cylinders, I had decided that EHU was no longer for me and so I set about fitting out the van for some serious off grid action. Firstly, a 135w panel was fitted to the roof.
Not a budget make. It was fitted by Panelworks in Bawrty, South York's who also fitted the  controller and all the cabling. They did a first class job. I then fitted a second 110ah battery. I knew I wanted in the future to use an inverter and run things like
electric toasters and the microwave. So far so good. The batteries were never less than fully charged and the winter changing of batteries had stopped thank goodness! Then, some 10 months later, I found an excellent electronics engineer who helped me with
a new 2000w PSW inverter. He used all the correct dia cables, he even used shrink insulation where needed. Used ring terminals for permanent fixing and protected the whole system with a 100w fuse properly mounted on the same heat sink as the inverter. He finished
off by making the whole system able to be killed by an illuminated switch on the end of the bed box. This ran to a 12v solenoid which killed the inverter completely as it would still pull a little power if it was on but not being used, but even better than
that, we could very easily switch it on when needed without lifting the bed!! We tested the whole inverter system,  first with small amps lighting and then toasters and microwave. It worked flawlessly. We have now fitted a battery monitoring system to tell
us exactly where we stand for power etc. Safefill was a Godsend as it appeared just as my interest in non EHu was burgeoning! What a Godsend!! Gas at 25% of what I was paying for bottled gas. I will never say never, but with the system I have, I can't ever
see me being hooked up to the matrix again!

Awesome! I think you would need to watch the payload though. An extra battery is very heavy and the panel weighs a bit.

With the modern technology that was appearing like SPs, LED lighting and refillable cylinders, I had decided that EHU was no longer for me and so I set about fitting out the van for some serious off grid action. Firstly, a 135w panel was fitted to the roof. Not a budget make. It was fitted by Panelworks in Bawrty, South York's who also fitted the  controller and all the cabling. They did a first class job. I then fitted a second 110ah battery. I knew I wanted in the future to use an inverter and run things like electric toasters and the microwave. So far so good. The batteries were never less than fully charged and the winter changing of batteries had stopped thank goodness! Then, some 10 months later, I found an excellent electronics engineer who helped me with a new 2000w PSW inverter. He used all the correct dia cables, he even used shrink insulation where needed. Used ring terminals for permanent fixing and protected the whole system with a 100w fuse properly mounted on the same heat sink as the inverter. He finished off by making the whole system able to be killed by an illuminated switch on the end of the bed box. This ran to a 12v solenoid which killed the inverter completely as it would still pull a little power if it was on but not being used, but even better than that, we could very easily switch it on when needed without lifting the bed!! We tested the whole inverter system,  first with small amps lighting and then toasters and microwave. It worked flawlessly. We have now fitted a battery monitoring system to tell us exactly where we stand for power etc. Safefill was a Godsend as it appeared just as my interest in non EHu was burgeoning! What a Godsend!! Gas at 25% of what I was paying for bottled gas. I will never say never, but with the system I have, I can't ever see me being hooked up to the matrix again!

Awesome! I think you would need to watch the payload though. An extra battery is very heavy and the panel weighs a bit.

Write your comments here...point taken hitch. I have taken all steps to ensure I am not over loaded. I save quite a bit of weight with my safefill..thanks.

I use my microwave, blender, vacuum, and toaster and no orange cable in sight! I have asked the CC to interview me about non EHU caravanning and photograph what I have and how I use it - not one of their 'Back to Basics' articles that suggests that you have
just left the cave if you go non EHU! They have had 2 articles over the last two years and both have been woefully short of proper and meaningful information from which intelligent people could make decisions. One even showed old enamel buckets and old kit
in the photo!  I have asked them TWICE and I'm still waiting!! It ain't looking good is it? Is it because they are so heavily invensted in EHU and Calor? Im not saying it is, but, if this was a club - (which we all know it's not) they would be falling over
themselves to bring alternatives and education to their members. Just imagine if Calor or someone brought out a new way of supplying gas to the caravanners - can you imagine the powers that be in Grinstead Towers not covering it ? and indeed wouldn't they
move articles to make room for it? Technology has moved at a hell of a pace over the past few years and it seems that protecting the status quo is the agenda here. Come on CC, do the right thing by your 'customers' and at least let them have the information
to make up their minds about non EHU. I would bet that there are thousands of us out there who haven't even thought about non EHU (which is a massive saving on the cost of caravanning) people with kids, people who are not so well off as others could really
benefit from it but the CC is silent. I first asked about a year ago. I cant believe that the club magazine is full of articles 1+ years ahead! We will see.