Solar panels

Joiner8
Joiner8 Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited December 2020 in Parts & Accessories #1

I'm looking for some advice on solar panels to connect to my 100amp leisure battery while in storage just to trickle charge the battery 

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  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2020 #2

    If it’s just a temporary requirement, you could get a portable solar panel and prop it up behind the window. The panel will lose efficiency located behind glass/perspex but you only need a small output to trickle charge and maintain the leisure battery via a solar charge controller. Make sure you get the optimal position relative to sun location & angle. The more powerful the solar panel the better it will all work, but I’d go for at least 30w, but 50w would be better.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2020 #3

    We use a small portable solar panel  (from Aldi) to keep our car battery topped up , it has worked so far this year with car not used for weeks sometimes ,lay in on the Dashboard

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2020 #4

    If it’s just a temporary requirement, you could get a portable solar panel and prop it up behind the window

    Not that i have a problem SB as caravan kept at home on EHU, but is there not a danger of the solar panel overheating particularly if used during the summer months ???

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2020 #5

    I think the risk of panels overheating and becoming a fire hazard is extremely low, but they certainly become less efficient in very hot conditions. Probably a greater chance of the controller overheating and all of us with solar panels will have one of them fitted without drama,

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited December 2020 #6

    If all you are using is a small portable panel to trickle the battery, then provided you stay under 30W you shouldn't need a controller. Start getting up to the bigger sizes then a controller becomes necessary to manage the voltage so you don't fry the battery.

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2020 #7

    Yes, but 30w will probably only deliver 15w behind glass and probably less in gloomy winter conditions if not in direct sunlight. Probably ok if mounted outside tho’.

  • Phishing
    Phishing Forum Participant Posts: 597
    500 Comments
    edited December 2020 #8

    Previously had a 30w propped up in the front window with a decent controller. Kept the battery charged all winter no issues. 

    Keep the panel as close to the controller as you can and use good size cable to the battery, 2.00mm2. 

    Pointing south is best but not necessary as long as you get some sun directly on it. 

    When you leave the van make sure you turn the fridge to off, the master is off, and the TV antenna is off. You only need a tiny charge to keep the battery healthy.

  • Mr H
    Mr H Forum Participant Posts: 356
    100 Comments
    edited January 2021 #9

    I have recently bought a folding 100w and put it in my front window and it is working fine. The controller is maintaining the charge perfectly. This is with the winter weather. I previously tried a 27w without a controller and it was not sufficient, even though everything other than the alarm (non tracking) was switched off and the panel faces south. One thing I did change was the connection to the controller. This came with a long lead attached to it with its other end being plugged into a lead with crocodile clips to attach to the the battery. To speed the set up I replaced the long lead with the short one with crocodile clips removed. This allowed me to connect the long lead permanently to the battery and pass it under the bed to where the solar panel is located. Setting up now means simply positioning the solar panel and a simple connection to the battery lead.All done from inside the caravan.

  • Wolfie1
    Wolfie1 Forum Participant Posts: 27
    edited February 2021 #10

    I use a 50w solar panel with controller attached to my shed roof that is connected to 1 of my cars, it has enough power to keep the battery topped up for months on end with the alarm activated, i have had this set up for years without an issue

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