Solar Panels

BrianW48
BrianW48 Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited May 2018 in Caravans #1

Any advice appreciated. 

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2018 #2

    In what context? Size, wiring, effectiveness.... 

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2018 #3

    Brian what do you want to use it for, charging battery or being off grid.  Do you want fixed or temporary suitcase type.  You need to give us a lot more info to receive anything meaningful

  • bootneck248
    bootneck248 Forum Participant Posts: 30
    edited May 2018 #4

    Not sure what you want to know, but, if you want a panel to keep battery topped up and short stays off grid i suggest  a 100W panel mounted on roof (with control panel to stop overcharging). Mine keeps my battery at a constant 13•7v. Last van I had a smaller panel, fine in summer, but, when the days were short and dull it was inadequate. Main drawback is price depending where you buy a 100w can cost up to £500 fitted. Hope this is of some help to you.

  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited May 2018 #5

    Use a 150w folding panel which gives out 8 amps in full sun, keeps my 110amp battery charged up for 15 nights so far, inc 3 - 4 hrs TV usage a night. Have a 150w inverter to charge up shaver, laptop, camera battery and phone just use more gas.

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited May 2018 #6

    Almost, identical to above.  My 150w panel is roof mounted.  More convenient less efficient.  My 150w inverter charges laptop camera battery and a beard trimmer rather than a shaver.  The phones, iPads and kindle we use 12v usb points.   It’s not exactly roughing it   Is it?

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2018 #7

    no, more like make do and mendsmile

  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited May 2018 #8

    Have a look on here:

    Solar panels

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2018 #9

    Perhaps the OP is only interested in one of those tiny panels for charging his phone. We could speculate all night. undecided

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2018 #10

    We have a 100 watt roof mounted panel.  Didn’t bother with an inverter as I can charge phones, camera batteries etc using 12 volts.  All works well.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2018 #11

    true - could actually be for their roof at home?

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited May 2018 #12

    There is an assumption that any answer should only be of interest to the OP.  I have learnt from threads that I have taken no part in. 

    But to respond to the original question.  

    Bigger Panel produce more electricity than smaller ones.  But they cost and weigh more.  

  • Lambdrover
    Lambdrover Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited July 2019 #13

    I am interested in the suitcase type as they seem more useful insofar as you can move them to follow the sun. My Elddis Crusader doesn't have one and I question the logic of forking out for something that will go with the van when it comes time to change. The portable one would stay with us. Of course that's not to say that the next van won't have one fitted as standard as many do.

    Also the portable type can be used in other situations and aren't exclusive to the caravan. As we are looking at solar PV panels for the farm, with a view to hooking up a bank of batteries and really going for the 'off-grid' life, then it could be an interesting experiment in energy capture. 

    Does the suitcase type have a control system to prevent overcharging?

  • derekcyril
    derekcyril Forum Participant Posts: 408
    100 Comments
    edited July 2019 #14

    Like  the setup chris how do you get away with gas bottle outside locker ? Great idea a lot cheaper than smaller ones . We used to fill small ones of a biggy many years ago 

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