Solar Power

stricko · stricko

ive just bought a motorhome for the first time. Being a complete novice, I was hoping for a little advice about solar/ 240v power/ inverters/batteries. My Ford Transit h a 120w solar panel, 2 house batteries and controller. No inverter. Therefore the only way to utilise 240v power points is to connec...

Warren-Pat_01 · Warren-Pat_01

Hello members, I did a bit of searching earlier this evening after testing today on the subject of solar panels mounted on an angle or flat on the roof. TI Terry took macca17 to task nearly two years ago with this comment - "Fairly obvious this opinion is not base on actual testing. Fact is the input is app...

shaft · shaft

Gday Just hoping someone has replaced the little rectangle red lite that indicates gas hot water heating up. $50 or so to buy the whole thing. Has anyone been able to buy just the little light separately? Thanks (havent done this before)

denmonkey · denmonkey

Hi all, I'm about to install some permanent panels on the roof of the van and have now come up with a mounting plan based on research. The pop up roof offers its own challenges. The panels have an open circuit voltage of around 40v and are rated 235w. Of course I'll be using a suitably rated mtttp contr...

Woody n Sue · Woody n Sue

Well we took the camper for a run to Ararat on the weekend to Green Hill Lake meet up with two friends so we circled the wagons we got the south side so the solar panels were facing south they are mounted on the boat rack so they are also Verticle they got no direct sun and the day was mostly overcast anyway so I...

aussie_paul · aussie_paul

I am probably having to upgrade the controller now as we more than doubled the roof panel area. Aussie Paul.

Bas + Eve · Bas + Eve

When fitting mounting brackets to the solar panel frame, is it better to use a metal screw or bolt and nut? Looking at ease of removal if necessary for any reason. Also what size screw or bolt/nut. As the frames are aluminium should the fasteners be aluminium as I hear s/s corrodes aluminium??? TIA for a...

Just wingin it · Just wingin it

Hi everyone My hubby and I are going travelling soon and we need a bit of advice on solar. We have a camper trailer and want to buy a solar set up, but we have absolutely no idea about it....total solar virgins!!! Can anyone help with what we should get??? Thanks heaps Wendy

Cyclops · Cyclops

Apologys in advance if this has already been covered and my lack of knowledge re solar. I have a tri star 60a pwm controller which hasnt got the the monitor module. I have installed a victron bmv 700 and I am very pleased with it. Do I need to install the add on monitor to the Tristar side of the system to pro...

Farmhat · Farmhat

G'day. Looking for recommendations for a quality 40 or 50 amp PWM Solar Controller please. Joe

Peter and Jian · Peter and Jian

I'm connecting 2 x 120 AH AGM 12v batteries in parallel, I'm worried about voltage leveling in case one of the batteries goes bad and I don't realise it. I have heard about Zener Diodes. has anyone installed them if so ..what size, how to, where to get. etc etc..Thanks -- Edited by Peter and Jian on Su...

Baz421 · Baz421

Hi all Just a hint to others about a problem we had recently. Batteries were either not charging fully on solar or not giving up full power (aH) ,,, ie "something" was wrong. The 11 year old solar controller started to charge batteries about 2 amps ABOVE THE VARIABLE LOAD rather than say 7-10amps abov...

Ron-D · Ron-D

Australia direct 4wd drive and camping everything 12 volt related, I just watched a little vid on this site called, PWM vs MPPT charge controllers educational video,but. I cant post the link if anyone can find it and post it here I think it would be a very good thing thanks ....

Bas + Eve · Bas + Eve

we are adding a 200w panel to supplement the 2x80w panels insitu at the moment. I have to lift one 80 to connect the 200 so am I better off lifting both 80s and replacing them with 1x160 or keep the 2x80s. one way I have 3 panels connected and the other way 2 panels connected. thanks for your help Bas

Trew · Trew

Could someone please advise if 130 watt solar panel is adequate to keep second battery charged? Just intend to run lights and small items off it. Maybe 1000watt inverter. Thanks.

laurieoz · laurieoz

Can a member recommend a good quality folding 200 watt solar panel I want it for my daughters new caravan The ones I have looked at have a smaller surface area than a fixed 200 watt panel so I guess the quality is not realy 200 watt Laurie

dickymate · dickymate

Hi guys new here and would like some help please .Ok here we go I have 300watts of solar panels on the roof of my van feeding 2x120amp agm batteries with a 30amp tps 1230 pwm controller that gets very hot to touch is this ok or should I purchase a new one with higher amps also what is a good brand to buy ???? Also...

meetoo · meetoo

For those of you that do not have a battery management system, (probably most of you) and say that your batteries are fully charged by solar by lunch time, how do you tell and know for sure that the battery/ies are fully charged back up? Thanks. Cheers, John.

Dougwe · Dougwe

Morning all, I tend not to hang out in places with really bad weather that produces hail stones but yes, they can happen anywhere really. I am currently in south west gippsland for winter and got thinking about hail stones hitting the solar panels on the roof of the aluminium teepee, after a big storm we...

Dougwe · Dougwe

How, everyone, Please be gentle. I am changing from a 30a regulator to 40a. Should I go MPPT or PWM and why. Edit. .. I have 3X150W panels on teepee roof. 2x110AH Batteries. -- Edited by Dougwe on Tuesday 13th of March 2018 03:14:01 AM

Topic		Started By	Replies	Views	Last Post
	solar power (Preview) ive just bought a motorhome for the first time. Being a complete novice, I was hoping for a little advice about solar/ 240v power/ inverters/batteries. My Ford Transit h a 120w solar panel, 2 house batteries and controller. No inverter. Therefore the only way to utilise 240v power points is to connec...	stricko	24	2350	01:10 PM Sep 22, 2018 by T1 Terry
	A cat among the pigeons, a can of worms? Interesting discussion? (Preview) Hello members, I did a bit of searching earlier this evening after testing today on the subject of solar panels mounted on an angle or flat on the roof. TI Terry took macca17 to task nearly two years ago with this comment - "Fairly obvious this opinion is not base on actual testing. Fact is the input is app...	Warren-Pat_01	23	2515	02:02 AM Sep 21, 2018 by Reed
	Hot water indicator light (Preview) Gday Just hoping someone has replaced the little rectangle red lite that indicates gas hot water heating up. $50 or so to buy the whole thing. Has anyone been able to buy just the little light separately? Thanks (havent done this before)	shaft	2	1694	04:00 AM Sep 15, 2018 by greyhoundtom
	Panels series vs parallel 80v vs 40v benefits ? (Preview) Hi all, I'm about to install some permanent panels on the roof of the van and have now come up with a mounting plan based on research. The pop up roof offers its own challenges. The panels have an open circuit voltage of around 40v and are rated 235w. Of course I'll be using a suitably rated mtttp contr...	denmonkey	17	2555	01:43 PM Sep 5, 2018 by T1 Terry
	Too much solar no it was just Kellog (Preview) Well we took the camper for a run to Ararat on the weekend to Green Hill Lake meet up with two friends so we circled the wagons we got the south side so the solar panels were facing south they are mounted on the boat rack so they are also Verticle they got no direct sun and the day was mostly overcast anyway so I...	Woody n Sue	7	2071	11:05 PM Aug 30, 2018 by happy bob
	PWM or MPPT controller? ( 1 2 3 4 ) (Preview) I am probably having to upgrade the controller now as we more than doubled the roof panel area. Aussie Paul.	aussie_paul	100	12701	08:29 AM Aug 30, 2018 by Ron-D
	Screws or bolts (Preview) When fitting mounting brackets to the solar panel frame, is it better to use a metal screw or bolt and nut? Looking at ease of removal if necessary for any reason. Also what size screw or bolt/nut. As the frames are aluminium should the fasteners be aluminium as I hear s/s corrodes aluminium??? TIA for a...	Bas + Eve	10	2026	03:28 AM Aug 25, 2018 by Reed
	Need advice - first time buying solar (Preview) Hi everyone My hubby and I are going travelling soon and we need a bit of advice on solar. We have a camper trailer and want to buy a solar set up, but we have absolutely no idea about it....total solar virgins!!! Can anyone help with what we should get??? Thanks heaps Wendy	Just wingin it	7	2903	09:49 PM Aug 21, 2018 by Jaahn
	Tristar 60 (Preview) Apologys in advance if this has already been covered and my lack of knowledge re solar. I have a tri star 60a pwm controller which hasnt got the the monitor module. I have installed a victron bmv 700 and I am very pleased with it. Do I need to install the add on monitor to the Tristar side of the system to pro...	Cyclops	1	2624	01:13 PM Aug 10, 2018 by T1 Terry
	Recommendations for quality 40 or 50 amp PWM Solar Controller (Preview) G'day. Looking for recommendations for a quality 40 or 50 amp PWM Solar Controller please. Joe	Farmhat	24	2272	05:18 PM Aug 7, 2018 by T1 Terry
	zener diodes (Preview) I'm connecting 2 x 120 AH AGM 12v batteries in parallel, I'm worried about voltage leveling in case one of the batteries goes bad and I don't realise it. I have heard about Zener Diodes. has anyone installed them if so ..what size, how to, where to get. etc etc..Thanks -- Edited by Peter and Jian on Su...	Peter and Jian	7	1616	02:15 PM Jul 30, 2018 by dorian
	SOLAR CONTROLLER PROBLEM - COOKED A BATTERY (Preview) Hi all Just a hint to others about a problem we had recently. Batteries were either not charging fully on solar or not giving up full power (aH) ,,, ie "something" was wrong. The 11 year old solar controller started to charge batteries about 2 amps ABOVE THE VARIABLE LOAD rather than say 7-10amps abov...	Baz421	7	1913	01:22 AM Jul 28, 2018 by Tony Bev
	Pwm vs Mppt ( 1 2 3 ) (Preview) Australia direct 4wd drive and camping everything 12 volt related, I just watched a little vid on this site called, PWM vs MPPT charge controllers educational video,but. I cant post the link if anyone can find it and post it here I think it would be a very good thing thanks ....	Ron-D	76	5758	05:09 PM Jul 26, 2018 by T1 Terry
	Panels (Preview) we are adding a 200w panel to supplement the 2x80w panels insitu at the moment. I have to lift one 80 to connect the 200 so am I better off lifting both 80s and replacing them with 1x160 or keep the 2x80s. one way I have 3 panels connected and the other way 2 panels connected. thanks for your help Bas	Bas + Eve	4	1819	04:21 PM Jul 11, 2018 by oldtrack123
	Size of solar panel (Preview) Could someone please advise if 130 watt solar panel is adequate to keep second battery charged? Just intend to run lights and small items off it. Maybe 1000watt inverter. Thanks.	Trew	9	2354	05:32 PM Jul 10, 2018 by laurieoz
	Folding Solar panels (Preview) Can a member recommend a good quality folding 200 watt solar panel I want it for my daughters new caravan The ones I have looked at have a smaller surface area than a fixed 200 watt panel so I guess the quality is not realy 200 watt Laurie	laurieoz	3	1873	09:45 AM Jul 10, 2018 by swamp
	Solar ??????? (Preview) Hi guys new here and would like some help please .Ok here we go I have 300watts of solar panels on the roof of my van feeding 2x120amp agm batteries with a 30amp tps 1230 pwm controller that gets very hot to touch is this ok or should I purchase a new one with higher amps also what is a good brand to buy ???? Also...	dickymate	20	4098	09:53 PM Jun 21, 2018 by Ron-D
	Battery State of Charge. (Preview) For those of you that do not have a battery management system, (probably most of you) and say that your batteries are fully charged by solar by lunch time, how do you tell and know for sure that the battery/ies are fully charged back up? Thanks. Cheers, John.	meetoo	11	1884	03:53 PM Jun 18, 2018 by swamp
	PROTECTING SOLAR PANELS FROM WEATHER ( 1 2 ) (Preview) Morning all, I tend not to hang out in places with really bad weather that produces hail stones but yes, they can happen anywhere really. I am currently in south west gippsland for winter and got thinking about hail stones hitting the solar panels on the roof of the aluminium teepee, after a big storm we...	Dougwe	31	3344	02:01 AM Jun 12, 2018 by Reed
	SOLAR REGULATOR (Preview) How, everyone, Please be gentle. I am changing from a 30a regulator to 40a. Should I go MPPT or PWM and why. Edit. .. I have 3X150W panels on teepee roof. 2x110AH Batteries. -- Edited by Dougwe on Tuesday 13th of March 2018 03:14:01 AM	Dougwe	14	2425	11:23 PM Jun 10, 2018 by oldtrack123
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