Hi Buffy61. The size and number of panels is largely dependent upon the load (s) that you will have. Basically you need tsites down and add it all up the work out what loads will be in use most of the time. For example, if you are running a car fridge in the van you need to have a permant panel attached to the van to cover that load.
The next point is one that mant people have opinions on. Do you need portable sola panels? My answer to that is a YES .
They allow you to obtain fully charge from the sun when you are pulled up at a site for a while. Usually you need to repositionother once or twice a day for max charge. However there is the problem of the theft of the panels if you are away. If you attach a tether stainless steel wire to them and your van via a padlock that normally provides the security that you need. I use about a 8 mm cable in my case and have had no hassles at all.
As regards to the installion of them a number of things are majorly important here.
1. What ever regulator to use it needs to be installed at the batteries and not at the panels. It's all to do with loss of charging voltage. If you use the regulator at the panels you will need much larger cables to ensure sufficient charge at the batteries.
By installing the regulator at the batteries and with sufficient size cable your batteries will always be fully charged when sufficient sun is available. In my case, I use 10mm cables and this allows me have cable lengths of up to 10 meters in length. There are times when the sun and your van are not parked in a good place, trees, etc. by having panels portable and the system wired this way you can usually get your panels into a position that will allow charging. In my case I have a 120 watt panel on the roof of the van and two portable 80 watt panels.
I have used this system on the road for the last 3 years and it has never lets us down. One thing I just thought of! Go to an auto electrician for your cables as they usually have the cable you need in stock and once yowe tell what it's for they will be able to supply what you need.
In regards to what regulator to use, I use a C Tec Dual smart charger, as it has inputs for sola panels and charging from the tow vehicle. That way no matter where your charging source comes from the batteries will be charged to the best they can be.
To back all of this up we have a generator to keep the batteries charged for those days when the sun just don't shine.
Trust all of that makes sense, it you clarification on any area please feel free to PM me if you want. As an electrician and worked with battry systems in my employmant I am aware of some of the pitfalls that people can run into. It has also been my misfortune to come across people who may be in the business but just don't know what they are talking about, they just simply don't know so be sure that you go to someone that does wpknow the right answers. Take someone who does know.
Its a major expense so you need to get it right.
All the best for your journey and trust it all works out for you
Regards
Brian.
-- Edited by briche on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 11:50:23 AM
-- Edited by briche on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 11:51:50 AM
patrolst said
11:43 AM Apr 30, 2013
buffy61 wrote:
.... And run my hair straightener!!
and the usual bits and pieces e.g. TV, lights, fan.
so was talking to a car repair guy that has off road vehicle and has put a solar panel on his car. He reckons 100w as he only has 100ah battery. Think he may be a tad confused about amps and watts! He tried telling us as we had two 100ah batteries we would only need 200w solar panel. I want to put two 200w panels on roof of van (To total 400w). What say all ye wise folk??
oh... And if anyone knows someone in Brissy that can help us out with fitting said panels and some other 12v work (auto electrician) please let me know who they are! Thanks
Buffy
People I know have used "Springers" at Brendale. http://www.springers.com.au/
Also "Solar Express" at Caboolture. http://www.solarpanelxpress.com.au/
I have purchased most of my equipment with them and my Brother has had the first Motorhome fitted with panels at springers and the second Motorhome has had additional panel fitted at Solar express and he is happy with both installs.
I fitted all of our system on our van.
-- Edited by patrolst on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 11:46:02 AM
buffy61 said
05:34 PM Apr 30, 2013
.... And run my hair straightener!!
and the usual bits and pieces e.g. TV, lights, fan.
so was talking to a car repair guy that has off road vehicle and has put a solar panel on his car. He reckons 100w as he only has 100ah battery. Think he may be a tad confused about amps and watts! He tried telling us as we had two 100ah batteries we would only need 200w solar panel. I want to put two 200w panels on roof of van (To total 400w). What say all ye wise folk??
oh... And if anyone knows someone in Brissy that can help us out with fitting said panels and some other 12v work (auto electrician) please let me know who they are! Thanks
Buffy
Onedodger said
05:49 PM Apr 30, 2013
Two by 200 Watt panels will be adequate. Just make sure you get an MPTT solar controller. Search thru the forum and you will find much info on how to wire said panels.
buffy61 said
07:16 PM Apr 30, 2013
Hey guys, thanks for that... Really useful information. I like the idea of one panel on roof and folding ones too. We will also want to power the fridge we will carry in tow vehicle so will consider all you said briche! Cheers... Keep the comments coming!
Sheba said
04:49 AM May 1, 2013
Been hearing good things about the Caboolture guys for years.
Agree Sheba,,, Solar Express provide good info and have the expertise to advise. Friendly staff too.
EllenajoeL said
06:26 AM May 1, 2013
@buffy61
if you are having trouble with all the stuff about watts/amps/volts etc....thats ok, so do lots of folk. I'd suggest its all very simple to learn (and there are basic-level books available)....but that may be my opinion only.
Either way, it you have anything powered by electricity that involves
heat or (perhaps, less so)
a big motor starting on a regular basis or (perhaps, less so again)
a smaller appliance likely to be in constant use....,
and (of course) there is the daily sun requirement/expectation to consider too.
Anyway...it is truly worthwhile to look at what electrical items you intend to use and when, what kind of typical sunhours you can expect during your travels and ask for assistance from there. It'll all be good, just set up the best system you can afford.
sandsmere said
01:28 PM May 1, 2013
We have 2x135w panels on the top of the van , charging 2x120ah batteries .
The only time we use the generator is to run the aircon .
AmandaJayne said
09:31 PM May 5, 2013
we have 960w solar panels and 6 120amp batteries... but we run a decent fridge/freezer, have a coffee maker but run this when there is plenty of sun... we love our laptops and have a tv... we made sure we had plenty of solar for free camping when we can get it in.... I take many photographs so use my laptop a lot when we're stopped somewhere.... when we have finished travelling around Australia we plan on adding our solar to some things in the house (the house has panels too)... making it so we can 'unplug' and go again any time we want to :)
Hi Buffy61. The size and number of panels is largely dependent upon the load (s) that you will have. Basically you need tsites down and add it all up the work out what loads will be in use most of the time. For example, if you are running a car fridge in the van you need to have a permant panel attached to the van to cover that load.
The next point is one that mant people have opinions on. Do you need portable sola panels? My answer to that is a YES .
They allow you to obtain fully charge from the sun when you are pulled up at a site for a while. Usually you need to repositionother once or twice a day for max charge. However there is the problem of the theft of the panels if you are away. If you attach a tether stainless steel wire to them and your van via a padlock that normally provides the security that you need. I use about a 8 mm cable in my case and have had no hassles at all.
As regards to the installion of them a number of things are majorly important here.
1. What ever regulator to use it needs to be installed at the batteries and not at the panels. It's all to do with loss of charging voltage. If you use the regulator at the panels you will need much larger cables to ensure sufficient charge at the batteries.
By installing the regulator at the batteries and with sufficient size cable your batteries will always be fully charged when sufficient sun is available. In my case, I use 10mm cables and this allows me have cable lengths of up to 10 meters in length. There are times when the sun and your van are not parked in a good place, trees, etc. by having panels portable and the system wired this way you can usually get your panels into a position that will allow charging. In my case I have a 120 watt panel on the roof of the van and two portable 80 watt panels.
I have used this system on the road for the last 3 years and it has never lets us down. One thing I just thought of! Go to an auto electrician for your cables as they usually have the cable you need in stock and once yowe tell what it's for they will be able to supply what you need.
In regards to what regulator to use, I use a C Tec Dual smart charger, as it has inputs for sola panels and charging from the tow vehicle. That way no matter where your charging source comes from the batteries will be charged to the best they can be.
To back all of this up we have a generator to keep the batteries charged for those days when the sun just don't shine.
Trust all of that makes sense, it you clarification on any area please feel free to PM me if you want. As an electrician and worked with battry systems in my employmant I am aware of some of the pitfalls that people can run into. It has also been my misfortune to come across people who may be in the business but just don't know what they are talking about, they just simply don't know so be sure that you go to someone that does wpknow the right answers. Take someone who does know.
Its a major expense so you need to get it right.
All the best for your journey and trust it all works out for you
Regards
Brian.
-- Edited by briche on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 11:50:23 AM
-- Edited by briche on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 11:51:50 AM
People I know have used "Springers" at Brendale. http://www.springers.com.au/
Also "Solar Express" at Caboolture. http://www.solarpanelxpress.com.au/
I have purchased most of my equipment with them and my Brother has had the first Motorhome fitted with panels at springers and the second Motorhome has had additional panel fitted at Solar express and he is happy with both installs.
I fitted all of our system on our van.
-- Edited by patrolst on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 11:46:02 AM
.... And run my hair straightener!!
and the usual bits and pieces e.g. TV, lights, fan.
so was talking to a car repair guy that has off road vehicle and has put a solar panel on his car. He reckons 100w as he only has 100ah battery. Think he may be a tad confused about amps and watts! He tried telling us as we had two 100ah batteries we would only need 200w solar panel. I want to put two 200w panels on roof of van (To total 400w). What say all ye wise folk??
oh... And if anyone knows someone in Brissy that can help us out with fitting said panels and some other 12v work (auto electrician) please let me know who they are! Thanks
Buffy
Just make sure you get an MPTT solar controller.
Search thru the forum and you will find much info on how to wire said panels.
I like the idea of one panel on roof and folding ones too.
We will also want to power the fridge we will carry in tow vehicle so will consider all you said briche!
Cheers... Keep the comments coming!
Been hearing good things about the Caboolture guys for years.
"Solar Express" at Caboolture. http://www.solarpanelxpress.com.au/
http://www.springers.com.au/
Cheers,
Sheba.
Agree Sheba,,, Solar Express provide good info and have the expertise to advise. Friendly staff too.
@buffy61
if you are having trouble with all the stuff about watts/amps/volts etc....thats ok, so do lots of folk. I'd suggest its all very simple to learn (and there are basic-level books available)....but that may be my opinion only.
Either way, it you have anything powered by electricity that involves
heat or (perhaps, less so)
a big motor starting on a regular basis or (perhaps, less so again)
a smaller appliance likely to be in constant use....,
and (of course) there is the daily sun requirement/expectation to consider too.
Anyway...it is truly worthwhile to look at what electrical items you intend to use and when, what kind of typical sunhours you can expect during your travels and ask for assistance from there. It'll all be good, just set up the best system you can afford.
We have 2x135w panels on the top of the van , charging 2x120ah batteries .
The only time we use the generator is to run the aircon .