Hi everybody! I am starting my "van life"and am having some teething problems. The guy who is doing my solar panels dont know much about it and neither do I. We have installed 3x300W panels, 1xAGM Deep Cycle 140 Battery, 1x20Amp controller, and I have no electricity. My guess is that I should have more batteries, but I dont know how many and which. Someone told me I should have Gel - Lithium. The cars battery is connected to the solar battery, but as I am not driving, it doesnt charge it. I am so frustrated. Can someone help me please?
I forgot to say what I would like to run with the solar power. Well: I have a 12V fridge, a laptop, Phone, wifi, toothbrush, an Ikea one burner stove 240V. The fridge is working, but I haven't been able to use the stove. Actually, the let 2xlights go off all the time. My inverter is 3000 to 6000.
Since I wrote this message, I found out that the inverter itself d a lot of energy to work and that I should keep it off all the time I am not using any appliance.
-- Edited by Eremita on Friday 25th of June 2021 11:20:53 AM
-- Edited by Eremita on Friday 25th of June 2021 11:23:10 AM
Whenarewethere said
02:45 PM Jun 25, 2021
There is a lot of information in the section of the forum called Solar & more in the section Techies' Corner.
Better if this was in that section.
300 watt panels are hugh for a vehicle, make sure they are fastened down properly & be careful of corrugated roads with all that mass.
I have a 20amp controller for 120 watts of panels, up to 11.3amp output.
For 900watts you need at least a 75amp controller plus a bit more for headroom.
A 3000 watt inverter needs to be able to draw 250 plus another 10% for inefficiencies continuously from the batteries. One 140AH battery is far to small for what you need. When you draw such high current the capacity of the battery is far less.
Firstly on a regular basis you only have about half your 140AH, so 70AH, at 275amp draw you can half the capacity again. So 35AH ÷ 275amp = about 7 minutes from your battery.
You really need to redesign your whole setup. A 6000 watt inverter simply will not work.
Aus-Kiwi said
11:51 AM Jun 26, 2021
I Run most things on 12v, heating and cooking with gas . Unless you want to run a generator ? The microwave is about the only thing I run through inverter. Used for short time !! Pays to fit voltage sensitive relay ( VSR ) between truck and house batteries so your not left stranded with no charge to start engine ! A good charger 40 to 50 amp to charge batteries with geni or on 240v . Or youll be taking all days charging with 5 or 7 amp charger !
I forgot to say what I would like to run with the solar power. Well: I have a 12V fridge, a laptop, Phone, wifi, toothbrush, an Ikea one burner stove 240V. The fridge is working, but I haven't been able to use the stove. Actually, the let 2xlights go off all the time. My inverter is 3000 to 6000.
Since I wrote this message, I found out that the inverter itself d a lot of energy to work and that I should keep it off all the time I am not using any appliance.
-- Edited by Eremita on Friday 25th of June 2021 11:20:53 AM
-- Edited by Eremita on Friday 25th of June 2021 11:23:10 AM
There is a lot of information in the section of the forum called Solar & more in the section Techies' Corner.
Better if this was in that section.
300 watt panels are hugh for a vehicle, make sure they are fastened down properly & be careful of corrugated roads with all that mass.
I have a 20amp controller for 120 watts of panels, up to 11.3amp output.
For 900watts you need at least a 75amp controller plus a bit more for headroom.
A 3000 watt inverter needs to be able to draw 250 plus another 10% for inefficiencies continuously from the batteries. One 140AH battery is far to small for what you need. When you draw such high current the capacity of the battery is far less.
Firstly on a regular basis you only have about half your 140AH, so 70AH, at 275amp draw you can half the capacity again. So 35AH ÷ 275amp = about 7 minutes from your battery.
You really need to redesign your whole setup. A 6000 watt inverter simply will not work.