Solar Power

Languid · Languid

I'm very much a 'newchum' on the subject of power requirements for life on the road, and have been devouring old postings about solar & batteries & setups. I was going to post this in reply on one of them but hesitated to do so because of the ages of the postings. So I figured to throw my "two bob's w...

LyntonB · LyntonB

I want to replace the two 100Ah AGM house batteries in my caravan. I can disconnect the CTEK charger from the batteries, but they would still be charged from 3 roof top solar panels via a 30 amp solar charge controller. I want to stop the panels from charging the batteries before I disconnect them for rep...

Mike Harding · Mike Harding

I'm looking to buy a couple of solar panels around 100W each; looking at the specs of the two types I cannot see a lot of difference but as mono are about 50% more expensive than ploy I assume there is a difference and guess that it is in output for given illumination. Your opinions and comments please peop...

RVero01 · RVero01

I have some questions to better understand the reality of RV awnings, in terms of general characteristics, recalls and sustainability. 1. What are the dimensions of your RV awning? 2. Is it electric/automatic or manual or hybrid? 3. Have you encountered any issues with your awning (durability,...

RWC · RWC

Hi, I have a Isuzu bus with 3 x 130w solar panels, morning star pro 30 solar controller connected to 3 120ah AGM batteries which are about 7 years old. I know nothing about nothing about the electrical side of things but feel that the system is aging and in need of replacement. First night away batteries...

rmoor · rmoor

In a month's time we are doing a trip on the River Road from Hume Village to Corryong. I noted a reserve at River Murray Reserve due east of Walwa, as I am keen to wet a line in the upper Murray at any opportunity. It says the Murray River reserve is Non PV. I think it means "Photovoltaic", which I think is an...

Gus1949 · Gus1949

Can a portable solar panel be connected to the caravans Anderson plug that is usually plugged into the tow vehicle whenn travelling? -- Edited by Gus1949 on Tuesday 13th of May 2025 11:35:56 AM

goldenyears · goldenyears

Hi all i have a redarc bms 30 connected to a roof top solar panel on my motorhome .. when parked in the shade i want to use my portable solar blanket hooked up with its own regulator directly to the battery .. At the moment when vehicle covered i hook up the portable sometimes to put a charge in battery .. the...

DogBoyz · DogBoyz

I am frustrated to the bloody max with this stupid solar / car fridge bullcrap My spare battery in back of my Kia Carnival (2006) is not lithium. Just a big old battery in a black box But it was running my car fridge which is only 1 yr old. Dometic CFX then one day it all changed. I have a Victor MPPT control...

NoelB · NoelB

Hi Techies. A little similar to the post by 'ottg' but a slightly different angle - my van has a 100w solar panel, 100 Ah AGM battery and no inverter. I'm after approx 350w solar, 240Ah lithium battery, 2000w inverter. Am I better off going this way or looking at a portable power station - Bluetti, iTech W...

Fruitfly52 · Fruitfly52

What is the best set up to keep my Sprinter battery charged while off grid? It has an electric sliding door which runs the battery down after a few days of not travelling and I'm trying to avoid starting the motor to charge via alternator. Thanks

ottg · ottg

I need off-the-grid power ~2000W. My Jaco Freedom poptop already has a standard small discrete system - just to power the lights. A consultant wanted to design a new discrete system replacing everything. a) How do you get the solar panel cable from a Jaco Freedom poptop to the battery power system b) C...

Warren-Pat_01 · Warren-Pat_01

Hello everyone, My son who lives in Canberra bought a 2nd hand (2years old) Jayco Eagle recently. He found last weekend that while the sub was out, his battery was discharging. I suggested he may have a blown fuse, a dodgy joint somewhere. Today he did some testing including wriggling some wires &...

johno1944 · johno1944

Drive seat only

valiant81 · valiant81

Hi all; two weeks to the day i finally bit the bullit and purchased a Lithium battery to replace my ageing agm's batteries. I had spent ages reading up on lithium batteries , the good and bad points, the do's and don'ts. The type of cells(?) bm's. I ended up with a 300 Ah lithium battery that was on special f...

The butlers · The butlers

Hi I have a 200 ah lithium battery in our bus that looses it capacity quite quickly I have had it on charge by mains power and it still doesnt come up as showing full charged on my victron charger even after 10 hours of charge two days in a row with only the fridge on the battery is of a good quality brand abou...

jeepnudger · jeepnudger

I have been reading van magazines and they are saying that you can fit lith. In place of agm batteries without changing any equip eg solar controller, recharger. Any comments advice please.

Bas + Eve · Bas + Eve

Any recommendations on a reputable organisation between Carnarvon WA and Broome who could fit or supply and fit another solar panel to our rig?? TIA Bas

Radar · Radar

Hi, I really need help, our Voltech ISC3040 has a E5 code on the dial, operating book goes to E4. The 2x170 watts solar panels linked with 2x100 amp batteries has been working great since October 2016 but yesterday when I was up the caravan to my horror this message was on the screen. The batteries are hol...

Ondway2grey · Ondway2grey

Hi All, Throwing a couple questions out there regarding solar. 1. Majority of the time do you wire your panels in series or parallel or series & parallel? 2. Anyone using residential solar panels to charge a 48V battery If so what Voc are you using? (I am assuming < 120V DC) Cheers

Topic		Started By	Replies	Views	Last Post
	Lithium Batteries (Preview) I'm very much a 'newchum' on the subject of power requirements for life on the road, and have been devouring old postings about solar & batteries & setups. I was going to post this in reply on one of them but hesitated to do so because of the ages of the postings. So I figured to throw my "two bob's w...	Languid	17	2133	12:48 AM Nov 26, 2025 by TimTim
	Temporary stop to solar panels charging house batteries ( 1 2 ) (Preview) I want to replace the two 100Ah AGM house batteries in my caravan. I can disconnect the CTEK charger from the batteries, but they would still be charged from 3 roof top solar panels via a 30 amp solar charge controller. I want to stop the panels from charging the batteries before I disconnect them for rep...	LyntonB	37	5152	09:12 AM Nov 9, 2025 by Ben Taxyl
	Polycrystalline vs Monocrystalline solar panels (Preview) I'm looking to buy a couple of solar panels around 100W each; looking at the specs of the two types I cannot see a lot of difference but as mono are about 50% more expensive than ploy I assume there is a difference and guess that it is in output for given illumination. Your opinions and comments please peop...	Mike Harding	20	5858	07:36 PM Aug 7, 2025 by TimTim
	Sustainability and recalls on RV awnings (Preview) I have some questions to better understand the reality of RV awnings, in terms of general characteristics, recalls and sustainability. 1. What are the dimensions of your RV awning? 2. Is it electric/automatic or manual or hybrid? 3. Have you encountered any issues with your awning (durability,...	RVero01	2	1372	03:38 PM Jul 11, 2025 by Bas + Eve
	12v systems (Preview) Hi, I have a Isuzu bus with 3 x 130w solar panels, morning star pro 30 solar controller connected to 3 120ah AGM batteries which are about 7 years old. I know nothing about nothing about the electrical side of things but feel that the system is aging and in need of replacement. First night away batteries...	RWC	17	1628	06:29 PM Jun 25, 2025 by TimTim
	Non PV (Preview) In a month's time we are doing a trip on the River Road from Hume Village to Corryong. I noted a reserve at River Murray Reserve due east of Walwa, as I am keen to wet a line in the upper Murray at any opportunity. It says the Murray River reserve is Non PV. I think it means "Photovoltaic", which I think is an...	rmoor	6	1295	08:08 PM Jun 9, 2025 by Plain Truth
	attaching a solar panel to a caravan (Preview) Can a portable solar panel be connected to the caravans Anderson plug that is usually plugged into the tow vehicle whenn travelling? -- Edited by Gus1949 on Tuesday 13th of May 2025 11:35:56 AM	Gus1949	5	1522	12:02 PM May 14, 2025 by Dick0
	REDARC MANAGER 30 help needed (Preview) Hi all i have a redarc bms 30 connected to a roof top solar panel on my motorhome .. when parked in the shade i want to use my portable solar blanket hooked up with its own regulator directly to the battery .. At the moment when vehicle covered i hook up the portable sometimes to put a charge in battery .. the...	goldenyears	21	3522	03:30 AM Apr 25, 2025 by TimTim
	Confused why my Dometic car fridge not working well!! (Preview) I am frustrated to the bloody max with this stupid solar / car fridge bullcrap My spare battery in back of my Kia Carnival (2006) is not lithium. Just a big old battery in a black box But it was running my car fridge which is only 1 yr old. Dometic CFX then one day it all changed. I have a Victor MPPT control...	DogBoyz	10	1450	09:41 PM Apr 10, 2025 by DogBoyz
	Update solar, battery, inverter or portable power? (Preview) Hi Techies. A little similar to the post by 'ottg' but a slightly different angle - my van has a 100w solar panel, 100 Ah AGM battery and no inverter. I'm after approx 350w solar, 240Ah lithium battery, 2000w inverter. Am I better off going this way or looking at a portable power station - Bluetti, iTech W...	NoelB	4	2125	09:49 AM Feb 5, 2025 by valiant81
	12 Volt solar trickle charger (Preview) What is the best set up to keep my Sprinter battery charged while off grid? It has an electric sliding door which runs the battery down after a few days of not travelling and I'm trying to avoid starting the motor to charge via alternator. Thanks	Fruitfly52	1	1927	04:17 PM Nov 23, 2024 by TimTim
	Discrete off-the-grid power system versus single portable power station (Bluetti) (3000W) (Preview) I need off-the-grid power ~2000W. My Jaco Freedom poptop already has a standard small discrete system - just to power the lights. A consultant wanted to design a new discrete system replacing everything. a) How do you get the solar panel cable from a Jaco Freedom poptop to the battery power system b) C...	ottg	3	2200	10:02 PM Nov 4, 2024 by TimTim
	Son's Jayco camper-trailer Solar problems (Preview) Hello everyone, My son who lives in Canberra bought a 2nd hand (2years old) Jayco Eagle recently. He found last weekend that while the sub was out, his battery was discharging. I suggested he may have a blown fuse, a dodgy joint somewhere. Today he did some testing including wriggling some wires &...	Warren-Pat_01	28	2992	08:18 AM Sep 2, 2024 by Peter_n_Margaret
	Seats for LC series 70 dual cab (Preview) Drive seat only	johno1944	1	2158	05:29 PM Jul 6, 2024 by Cupie
	Lithium battery in a s/h caravan II. (Preview) Hi all; two weeks to the day i finally bit the bullit and purchased a Lithium battery to replace my ageing agm's batteries. I had spent ages reading up on lithium batteries , the good and bad points, the do's and don'ts. The type of cells(?) bm's. I ended up with a 300 Ah lithium battery that was on special f...	valiant81	0	2489	11:04 AM Jun 20, 2024 by valiant81
	Lithium batteries (Preview) Hi I have a 200 ah lithium battery in our bus that looses it capacity quite quickly I have had it on charge by mains power and it still doesnt come up as showing full charged on my victron charger even after 10 hours of charge two days in a row with only the fridge on the battery is of a good quality brand abou...	The butlers	3	2963	11:30 AM May 19, 2024 by Dick0
	Changing to lithium what is required?? (Preview) I have been reading van magazines and they are saying that you can fit lith. In place of agm batteries without changing any equip eg solar controller, recharger. Any comments advice please.	jeepnudger	17	5709	05:41 PM May 10, 2024 by Radar
	Another Panel (Preview) Any recommendations on a reputable organisation between Carnarvon WA and Broome who could fit or supply and fit another solar panel to our rig?? TIA Bas	Bas + Eve	1	2437	01:57 PM May 9, 2024 by woolman
	Voltech error code (Preview) Hi, I really need help, our Voltech ISC3040 has a E5 code on the dial, operating book goes to E4. The 2x170 watts solar panels linked with 2x100 amp batteries has been working great since October 2016 but yesterday when I was up the caravan to my horror this message was on the screen. The batteries are hol...	Radar	6	5301	03:40 PM Apr 20, 2024 by Dick0
	Solar Panels (Preview) Hi All, Throwing a couple questions out there regarding solar. 1. Majority of the time do you wire your panels in series or parallel or series & parallel? 2. Anyone using residential solar panels to charge a 48V battery If so what Voc are you using? (I am assuming < 120V DC) Cheers	Ondway2grey	13	3579	01:20 PM Apr 18, 2024 by Peter_n_Margaret
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