Solar Power

Margaret and Barry · Margaret and Barry

Hi all, Being new here I need lots of help, I want to put solar panels on pop top roof but what kind flexi vs non flexi, next what size do I need I have 220ah deep cycle battery so what panel size do I need controller I will use is mppt but what size I will mainly stay free camping using 12v lights gas cooking an...

oldbloke · oldbloke

Are these two red & black leads meant to be connected on my portable panel? -- Edited by oldbloke on Sunday 19th of May 2019 12:11:58 PM

Bobdown · Bobdown

I have a 160 w folding solar panel and was wondering where and how is the best storage position. It is approx 750 mm x 750 mm and about 15 kg, not something you want flying around the van while you are driving. Is it best to store upright or flat? On the bed or under? or beside with a pillow or similar wedged upr...

dorian · dorian

Our house has a 1.5kW solar system wired up as a gross feed-in installation. That is, we have 3 meters -- one meter for peak power, a second for off-peak, and a third for solar. The solar output connects to the grid side of the peak and off-peak meters, meaning that we have a gross metering system. However...

T1 Terry · T1 Terry

I have a Coromal caravan at the workshop with one of these Solarking SD2430S controllers fitted. Looking on the web it suggests they are an MPPT controller, but I can't find the exact part number to get the specs, just Solarking products with similar part numbers. I have found a reference relating to t...

stoney123 · stoney123

hi, my victron bmv700 has no display, it had been working for 2 years. I have read that there is a fuse for it, where would it be? Someone else wired it all up. -- Edited by stoney123 on Sunday 12th of May 2019 02:38:49 PM

mezza56 · mezza56

I'm adding two 150 w panels to my roof , there is 3 x 80w panels there already, I upgraded my reg to 100 /50 when the old one gave up the ghost . If I wire them all in parrallel , from my calculations they will be within the parameters of the reg. I was advised to upgrade the 6mm wire to 8mm down to the reg and to the b...

iana · iana

Some of you may remember sometime back that I did a considerable amount of work re-doing our solar system. Replacing the two hose batteries from Gel to AGM, and then, having three 150w panels on the roof began a re hash. I replaced two solar controllers with one big one, ran new wiring to the controller t...

Terryt · Terryt

I read the post just below a number of times but it ended up way above my ability to comprehend. I often have two controllers working at the same time. A morningstar 30a PWM looking after my roof mounted panels (400w) and a DC DC charger with solar input that I connect a 140 watt portable panel to. I keep rea...

T1 Terry · T1 Terry

We had to make trip to WA and were concerned about the heat. We have a rather aged Hino RB145A converted to a basic motorhome, 24v 180Ah of lithium battery now around 5 yrs old. I removed the solar that was fitted up around 7 yrs ago and ran 2 lengths of house rooftop solar panel raling from the front to the ba...

Ubif · Ubif

Hi all I have followed this story on this and other forums and find the information to be some what misleading. I am not affiliated to any company and find people that tell others that their choice is incorrect due to some affiliation wrong. I am posting this and will update to give you a real idea as to wha...

denmonkey · denmonkey

Hi All, I finally got around to installing my solar panels on the caravan. I'd always had an idea of how I wanted to do it and got my chance to try it out. Since I have the pop top the center of the roof is a very light tin and is not capable of supporting the weight of the panels outright. Luckily the outside of t...

Wimma · Wimma

Just wondering if anyone has used these in their van? We do have a basic controller coming with our van (standard base offering) which I thought of upgrading. I've read about PWM and MPPT (and don't want to start any arguments) but the existing unit I believe does not have a specific calcium battery set...

iana · iana

Its my understanding that the regulator for solar panels to battery is placed as close to the battery as possible to avoid voltage drop, thus allowing the batteries to reach full charge. The problem I have is, I have noticed that all portable panels on sale have the charger fastened to the back of the pa...

Jaahn · Jaahn

Hi I was at the local tender center this weekend and spotted a good looking portable solar panel. It was a BP solar 150W, made in USA, polly panel with the usual cheap PWM regulator stuck on the back and a longish cable with an anderson style plug. Quite a lot of lookers while I was there. A bargain at $50 re...

rockylizard · rockylizard

Gday... This is a proposal being considered at the moment. The size of solar panel or wiring is not the question, just where would one suggest the positioning of solar regulator/s? Cheers - John

Jaahn · Jaahn

Hi I received another email from the place where I have purchased some Lithium batteries some years ago. They have a stand at the Melbourne Caravan show offering advice and sales. Possibly a chance to seek them out and have a chat. There may be lots of suppliers there so go for it if money is burning a ho...

Terryt · Terryt

Coaster. start batteries 24v. House batteries 12v. While sitting at home I have it connected to power. A 24v charger looks after the start batteries and a dc dc charger supplies 12v to the house batteries and keeps them charged. The 24v charger is connected to 240v. I assume the dc dc charger takes what...

Ron-D · Ron-D

The system a Red Arc BC to DC 12250 12v 25 amp DC to DC 3 stage charger to Be used while travelling to charge the battery,A projector intelli charge 12volt 25 amp 7 stage battery charger when on 240.,a portable 180 watt solar panel with a Victron reg near the battery not attached to the solar panel, thats m...

daffyfrancis · daffyfrancis

My portable 80w solar panels have the controller attached to the back, permanently wired to the panels & with about 4 metres of cables to connect to a battery with aligator clips - I want that to remain even though I realise it could be made more efficient as I use them in the campervan & at home f...

Topic		Started By	Replies	Views	Last Post
	solar panels for pop top (Preview) Hi all, Being new here I need lots of help, I want to put solar panels on pop top roof but what kind flexi vs non flexi, next what size do I need I have 220ah deep cycle battery so what panel size do I need controller I will use is mppt but what size I will mainly stay free camping using 12v lights gas cooking an...	Margaret and Barry	7	1870	01:20 PM Jun 11, 2019 by denmonkey
	Portable Solar panel connection (Preview) Are these two red & black leads meant to be connected on my portable panel? -- Edited by oldbloke on Sunday 19th of May 2019 12:11:58 PM	oldbloke	21	2923	09:23 AM May 28, 2019 by Whenarewethere
	Portable solar storage (Preview) I have a 160 w folding solar panel and was wondering where and how is the best storage position. It is approx 750 mm x 750 mm and about 15 kg, not something you want flying around the van while you are driving. Is it best to store upright or flat? On the bed or under? or beside with a pillow or similar wedged upr...	Bobdown	6	2181	05:16 PM May 21, 2019 by Ron-D
	Gross solar feed-in for residential solar installation (Preview) Our house has a 1.5kW solar system wired up as a gross feed-in installation. That is, we have 3 meters -- one meter for peak power, a second for off-peak, and a third for solar. The solar output connects to the grid side of the peak and off-peak meters, meaning that we have a gross metering system. However...	dorian	8	1318	11:29 PM May 17, 2019 by stevep1
	Solarking SD2430S Anyone using one of these? (Preview) I have a Coromal caravan at the workshop with one of these Solarking SD2430S controllers fitted. Looking on the web it suggests they are an MPPT controller, but I can't find the exact part number to get the specs, just Solarking products with similar part numbers. I have found a reference relating to t...	T1 Terry	4	2115	02:37 PM May 16, 2019 by T1 Terry
	Victron bmv700 (Preview) hi, my victron bmv700 has no display, it had been working for 2 years. I have read that there is a fuse for it, where would it be? Someone else wired it all up. -- Edited by stoney123 on Sunday 12th of May 2019 02:38:49 PM	stoney123	3	1925	05:07 PM May 13, 2019 by stoney123
	Extra panels (Preview) I'm adding two 150 w panels to my roof , there is 3 x 80w panels there already, I upgraded my reg to 100 /50 when the old one gave up the ghost . If I wire them all in parrallel , from my calculations they will be within the parameters of the reg. I was advised to upgrade the 6mm wire to 8mm down to the reg and to the b...	mezza56	7	1557	03:37 PM May 13, 2019 by T1 Terry
	Fitted the wrong solar controller ----Dammmm ( 1 2 3 ) (Preview) Some of you may remember sometime back that I did a considerable amount of work re-doing our solar system. Replacing the two hose batteries from Gel to AGM, and then, having three 150w panels on the roof began a re hash. I replaced two solar controllers with one big one, ran new wiring to the controller t...	iana	64	5588	12:43 PM Apr 23, 2019 by T1 Terry
	Two controllers (again) (Preview) I read the post just below a number of times but it ended up way above my ability to comprehend. I often have two controllers working at the same time. A morningstar 30a PWM looking after my roof mounted panels (400w) and a DC DC charger with solar input that I connect a 140 watt portable panel to. I keep rea...	Terryt	17	2284	11:06 AM Apr 15, 2019 by T1 Terry
	Just an idea about what can be done (Preview) We had to make trip to WA and were concerned about the heat. We have a rather aged Hino RB145A converted to a basic motorhome, 24v 180Ah of lithium battery now around 5 yrs old. I removed the solar that was fitted up around 7 yrs ago and ran 2 lengths of house rooftop solar panel raling from the front to the ba...	T1 Terry	23	4109	05:21 AM Apr 15, 2019 by Reed
	Drop in Lifepo4 - true or false ?? (Preview) Hi all I have followed this story on this and other forums and find the information to be some what misleading. I am not affiliated to any company and find people that tell others that their choice is incorrect due to some affiliation wrong. I am posting this and will update to give you a real idea as to wha...	Ubif	5	2090	02:03 PM Apr 13, 2019 by T1 Terry
	pop top solar panel install (video included) (Preview) Hi All, I finally got around to installing my solar panels on the caravan. I'd always had an idea of how I wanted to do it and got my chance to try it out. Since I have the pop top the center of the roof is a very light tin and is not capable of supporting the weight of the panels outright. Luckily the outside of t...	denmonkey	6	2818	10:59 AM Apr 11, 2019 by denmonkey
	Enerdrive Epower EN3DC40+ units (Preview) Just wondering if anyone has used these in their van? We do have a basic controller coming with our van (standard base offering) which I thought of upgrading. I've read about PWM and MPPT (and don't want to start any arguments) but the existing unit I believe does not have a specific calcium battery set...	Wimma	5	2906	05:49 PM Apr 6, 2019 by Noelpolar
	Solar regulator position. ( 1 2 ) (Preview) Its my understanding that the regulator for solar panels to battery is placed as close to the battery as possible to avoid voltage drop, thus allowing the batteries to reach full charge. The problem I have is, I have noticed that all portable panels on sale have the charger fastened to the back of the pa...	iana	54	6393	10:55 PM Apr 5, 2019 by jeepnudger
	Cheap portable panel ! Trap for the unwary ! (Preview) Hi I was at the local tender center this weekend and spotted a good looking portable solar panel. It was a BP solar 150W, made in USA, polly panel with the usual cheap PWM regulator stuck on the back and a longish cable with an anderson style plug. Quite a lot of lookers while I was there. A bargain at $50 re...	Jaahn	1	2063	11:58 AM Apr 3, 2019 by T1 Terry
	Not really RV solar but..... (Preview) Gday... This is a proposal being considered at the moment. The size of solar panel or wiring is not the question, just where would one suggest the positioning of solar regulator/s? Cheers - John	rockylizard	6	1726	03:48 PM Mar 27, 2019 by denmonkey
	Melbourne Caravan show. Battery information opportunity. (Preview) Hi I received another email from the place where I have purchased some Lithium batteries some years ago. They have a stand at the Melbourne Caravan show offering advice and sales. Possibly a chance to seek them out and have a chat. There may be lots of suppliers there so go for it if money is burning a ho...	Jaahn	5	2116	11:02 AM Mar 15, 2019 by denmonkey
	Keeping batteries charged (Preview) Coaster. start batteries 24v. House batteries 12v. While sitting at home I have it connected to power. A 24v charger looks after the start batteries and a dc dc charger supplies 12v to the house batteries and keeps them charged. The 24v charger is connected to 240v. I assume the dc dc charger takes what...	Terryt	7	1977	07:06 AM Mar 5, 2019 by Terryt
	Lithium can it be this simple (Preview) The system a Red Arc BC to DC 12250 12v 25 amp DC to DC 3 stage charger to Be used while travelling to charge the battery,A projector intelli charge 12volt 25 amp 7 stage battery charger when on 240.,a portable 180 watt solar panel with a Victron reg near the battery not attached to the solar panel, thats m...	Ron-D	15	3086	01:01 AM Feb 22, 2019 by T1 Terry
	connecting portable panel leads (Preview) My portable 80w solar panels have the controller attached to the back, permanently wired to the panels & with about 4 metres of cables to connect to a battery with aligator clips - I want that to remain even though I realise it could be made more efficient as I use them in the campervan & at home f...	daffyfrancis	17	2793	05:53 PM Jan 30, 2019 by Terryt
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