require a good recommendation for solar installations for my kea nomad

2 olestiffs · Member

require a good recommendation for solar installations for my kea nomad

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

What is the budget?
What is the current solar controller?
Cheers,
Peter

yobarr · Guru

2 olestiffs wrote:
hi, i want to improve my solar from 1x80watt panel atm. and has 1x105ah agm battery. to hopefully at least 200w +++ 300w with 2 panels. as i would like replace the heavy agm install 2x120ah lithium batterys. and to loose 30kgs in weight due to the lithium batteries being so much lighter in weight. also want to install a webasto diesel heater in the van as well. also 2.5watts ??? 1 pure sine wave inverter to power the following items by it.i have the following electrical items to use on there own. 1x2000w induction single cook top. 1x 1800w small air fryer. and 1x1300w small caffeine dispenser.. aslo need advise as to what approx close too 20 kg inverter type generator to buy also. for those days when the hard to look glow . in the sky dont do the right thing. for the solar panels etc. thanks in advance sue

Hi Sue....there is little doubt that people like Peter n Margaret,and Jaahn,among others,will provide detailed advice,but if you want to run all the stuff you mentioned with 2x120ah lithium,you will need around 500 watts Solar.The experts will no doubt give good advice gained from their vast experience,but I think youll struggle with a 2.5kw inverter? If you do the solar right.you will not need a generator,in my opinion.Good luck with your project! Cheers

2 olestiffs · Member

hi vobart, i realise i can only use 1 electrical item i mentioned at a time. i never worded it correctly. i read the rule of thumb is. to use 1x120ah lithium battery too 200watts of solar panel. i also read 1 guy uses 400w of solar per 120ah of lithium battery. thanks for the advice. sue

swamp · Senior Member

HI
Alotta questions
Solar minimum 400watts 200watt per 100-120ah battery is normal for minimal AC operation . From others on the site I`m sure your AC demands would be to much for even what I have mentioned . Others will chime in .
Starting point would be Enerdrive controller 40Amp [lithium suitable]
600watts of solar probably is all about u can fit on the roof which produces about 144ah [200watt produces 48ah ]

2 olestiffs · Member

hi peter, i will let you know what size the solar controller etc it is tomorrow b4 midday. thanks sue

2 olestiffs · Member

hi swamp, will possibly buy a yamaha inverter 2.5 inverter type geny if we needed a/c going. will go and test run a few over 2.5 generators . and see what fires the air con up etc 1st. before we buy it. unless some 1 can tell me. what will do the good 100% ok. thanks sue

Jaahn · Guru

2 olestiffs wrote:
hi, i want to improve my solar from 1x80watt panel atm. and has 1x105ah agm battery. to hopefully at least 200w +++ 300w with 2 panels. as i would like replace the heavy agm install 2x120ah lithium batterys. and to loose 30kgs in weight due to the lithium batteries being so much lighter in weight. also want to install a webasto diesel heater in the van as well. also 2.5watts ??? 1 pure sine wave inverter to power the following items by it.i have the following electrical items to use on there own. 1x2000w induction single cook top. 1x 1800w small air fryer. and 1x1300w small caffeine dispenser.. aslo need advise as to what approx close too 20 kg inverter type generator to buy also. for those days when the hard to look glow . in the sky dont do the right thing. for the solar panels etc. thanks in advance sue

Hi smile

You want to set up for mostly full 240V use. I cannot advise as i have no experience. I believe your expectations are too high and you cannot do it on the cheap. If you want to do that you are welcome to do so but should carefully work out the power use and the cost so you know what you are getting.

Read the other threads here, and in the solar sub forum, as there has been plenty of discussion about batteries and inverters and generators. Possibly if you have not done much camping or caravaning and are used to plugging in to the power point and switching on any item, you might be disappointed with a small system that you must personally keep powered up to 'keep the lights on'. hmm

It is hard to see where the weight saving is going to happen either. Does this mean you have a weight problem to accommodate. disbelief

The inverter will be 2.5KW which is 2500 Watts. If you want to use a generator for power then you will need a big battery charger to run the batteries off it. Possibly it would be easier to just run the generator and use the 240V power direct. You need to decide on whether you will use batteries more or a generator most IMHO and then rethink what to get.

jaahn

yobarr · Guru

2 olestiffs wrote:
hi vobart, i realise i can only use 1 electrical item i mentioned at a time. i never worded it correctly. i read the rule of thumb is. to use 1x120ah lithium battery too 200watts of solar panel. i also read 1 guy uses 400w of solar per 120ah of lithium battery. thanks for the advice. sue

Hi Susan.....whilst I am in no way an expert on this subject,my research and sybsequent discussions with an installer suggested that always the Solar wattage supply should be around two times the battery storage capacity,or 480 watts solar for 240ah batteries.Never having been one to take short cuts,I installed 1710 watts solar on the van,with 540ah Lithium,so my figures are better than 3 to 1.Run AC whenever I want,right thru night,and I have no gas appliances on board,although I do have a diesel heater for both air and water. Air fryer,microwave,electric fry pan,electric jug,TV,stereo,toaster etc all run 240 v from 5kw inverter.Good luck with your research.Cheers

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I don't want to take this off track, but the solar requirement is related to energy consumption, not to battery capacity which is related to energy delivery rate and storage for when the solar is inadequate.
Susan needs to indicate a maximum budget (including or not including install labour costs) and then it might be possible to indicate what the possibilities are.
Cheers,
Peter

2 olestiffs · Member

peter, the item you asked about . is a projecta 7amp unit atm. sue

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Sue, I think that unit is a battery charger, not a solar controller. What is the solar controller?
Cheers,
Peter

2 olestiffs · Member

ok peter, 2nd time should fix this problem. thanks sue

msg · Guru

Not sure how long the KÈA Nomad is but my KEA Freedom is 5.2mtrs.

The amount of solar power is limited by how many solar panels I can fit on the roof. 290w

It is also limited by space i.e. a diesel heater would use too much storage space.

The only place for the batteries is under the passenger seat. Two Sentry 75amps lithium batteries the largest I could fit.

A generator would have to travel inside the van and be moved out when I park up.

Whilst no doubt these issues could be solved with some clever thinking. e.g. a box on the back for the generator. It then raises weight issues on the rear of the vehicle. Maybe if you had the bed across the width with storage underneath that can be accessed from out side.

However, I have found that with 12v Fridge,TV, fans etc this system is more than enough. I have an inverter once again, its limited by available space that will run a couple of 240v appliances but there is not enough power to run say a kettle, without almost running down the batteries. So I rarely use it.

Gas for cooking. Hot water is a heat exchange system that runs off the engine. The aircon and microwave have to wait until I get to a caravan park.

All that said, I guess my point is you need to bare in mind that these smaller motorhomes only have so much space and this needs to be considered when you design your system. There will always be compromises.

2 olestiffs · Member

hi swamp it has a projecta charger 12v 25amp 7 stage. the solar charge controller also is a projecta 7amp 12volts. also says protects your battery from solar power over charge . maintains your battery in fully charged state. protects your battery from solar power discharge. all written on the controller swamp. thanks for your imput so far. sue

2 olestiffs · Member

hi msg, our van is 7 metres long with a/c up there also. is a 2015 kea nomad m700 2x1 model. im led to believe there will be enuff space up there . for 2x solar panels watts??? have a appointment next week with a solar fitter. i was given his name etc this morning. by a customer thats had good work done by this person. the solar person uses mainly victron products . i have read victron are up they in the top 4 bracket for excellent long lasting products etc. thanks sue

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Yes, Victron are good products, but you need to establish what solar you need and what that ill allow you to run.
It sounds very much to me like you will need to seriously reduce your expectations, especially if your budget is not unlimited.
You still have not indicated what your maximum budget might be.
Cheers,
Peter

msg · Guru

I've got Victron. Sorry can't talk much about the tech. as I said, mine is 5.2 so you have a bit more space perhaps. My air con is inside so there is only the hatch and aeriels and the bathroom vents up there.

2 olestiffs · Member

hi swamp i sent you a private message 2 days ago. as all i want to do is get enuff solar watts and battery ah to power the 3 mentioned electrical items that are. 1x2000w single induction cook top plate, 1x1800w small air fryer. and 1x1300w small coffee machine. and want to get a 2.5w good brand pure sine wave inverter. also a 2.5w inverter type generator. for those lack of sun days that will happen. also the merc alternator charges the house batterys. may you can give me a better way to get what i need. the power the electrical items. as will be staying in powered parks . to do washing etc 0nce weekly im sure of. and will be using a 18" tv, charging fones and using lap tops etc .thanks swamp sue.

Jaahn · Guru

2 olestiffs wrote:
hi swamp i sent you a private message 2 days ago. as all i want to do is get enuff solar watts and battery ah to power the 3 mentioned electrical items that are. 1x2000w single induction cook top plate, 1x1800w small air fryer. and 1x1300w small coffee machine. and want to get a 2.5w good brand pure sine wave inverter. also a 2.5w inverter type generator. for those lack of sun days that will happen. also the merc alternator charges the house batterys. may you can give me a better way to get what i need. the power the electrical items. as will be staying in powered parks . to do washing etc 0nce weekly im sure of. and will be using a 18" tv, charging fones and using lap tops etc .thanks swamp sue.

Hi Sue smile

If you will be staying in "powered parks" then you do not need to have the extra means to make 240V power. Caravan parks have 240V power available for you to plug in to. That means you can use your three items OK individually and also run the lights and charge the phones etc. I am puzzled by your requirements for a full battery, solar, generator setup. Have i not understood what you are going to do ?

Jaahn

Whenarewethere · Guru

If you can dump the air fryer & use gas, or like we do, metho for cooking. The only thing left to deal with is coffee. Get an Aeropress & hand grinder.

You will have solved all your battery problems & have all the money you need to buy the best coffee available like we do!

https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t65885379/aero-press/

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Sue, your self contained ability will be limited by how much solar you can install.
That needs to be determined first before you invest in large and expensive batteries and inverters.
Cheers,
Peter