Solar Power

Treecrest14 · Treecrest14

Good article on Solar Panels in issue 238 Caravan & Motorhome mag. Check out their website and look for issue 238 - http://www.candm.com.au/

Dave Jezza · Dave Jezza

Hi all Just a quick question. I have one of those small 1.5amp solar battery trickle chargers to keep up my van battery when it's parked at home. With no 240v connected to the van, but all wiring still on the battery, will it harm anything leaving the little solar charger on all the time? Or should I disco...

gandk · gandk

Hi All Wondering if anyone has had to have repairs, additions etc in Townsville or Mackay? We seem to have a problem with - maybe - the regulator. Not sure Kim

mr glassies · mr glassies

well my 400 amp lithium pack is up and running taken a wile but it's alive now.

daffyfrancis · daffyfrancis

If my batteries have a rested voltage of 12.8v & I connect the solar panel on a cloudy day, the regulator then shows 13.2v (not enough to charge or reach float v) & I connect a light load with the regulator still showing more than 12.8v does this mean that I am not discharging the battery but onl...

Colin Penrose · Colin Penrose

Hi all. I have just put a 200w solar panel on my caravan roof. Question is will a caravan cover scratch or damage it in any way ? When the wind blows you often see covers lifting and moving. Just thinking of options and precautions..

mixedup · mixedup

Re deciding what strategy re solar panels, i.e. mount on caravan roof vs portal ones, is there in fact panels that lend themselves to mounting onto the roof for when at home and traveling, but easily removing for use as portable when at a camping site? Anyone do this? If yes, any advice re which panel...

maroon13 · maroon13

Hi Fellow Gromads I have been recently online to buy 6mm electric cable to run a 5mt cable from my caravan battery to a socket for my Waeco cfx40 and the wide range in prices leads me to the suspicion that some descriptions might lead me astray. Is 6mm2(thats cubic mm) the same as 6mm thick wire? I have bee...

Bass · Bass

Hi guys, a few of us were free camping at the weekend when I noticed the solar panels on the other vans were raised about 1/2" off van roof, my panel is mounted hard on the van roof. one of the guys said that I would be losing efficiency another said not, its an easy job to raise it but do I need to ?. on another po...

WoolgoolgaRob · WoolgoolgaRob

Hi all, I've been reading up on these monitors for caravans that need a brake safe installed, apparently if you live or travel through NSW you need a monitor installed into a position that the driver can see and hear warning that the battery for the brake safe is sufficientently charged (what they are s...

Shogun · Shogun

Hello all i have a 120watt panel on the roof of my new manta ray van and a 100 hour battery, my question is if I get another battery will I get 200 hours of storage? all I need is a very simple answer, I understand it will,depend on what I use etc but just keep it simple. Brett

fokesy · fokesy

Hi people, i'm just looking into portable solar panels and it's getting a bit confusing, should i get foldout ones, solid ones, attach them to the van ones 200w,160w,120w the list goes on!! need some advice please.

TeamBernian · TeamBernian

Hi all. We are looking at portable solar for our van. We have had a 100ah deep cycle wet cell battery installed and have used the spreadsheet I put up on here yesterday to try and gestimate usage. We want to be able to free camp tops at this stage is 4 days (both still working full time) Our van 12v Lights are L...

gandk · gandk

We had a loose wire going into the regulator PLUS I was reading the little meter wrong. I thought it showed me what was going into the battery - NO it is what is coming out of the .!!!!!!!!!! Learnt a lot from a fellow caravanner. He sorted it and my thinking. Cheers all for input.

Phil C · Phil C

Greetings all I may have been a tech many moons ago, BUT rather dumb about solar and the controllers that run them. We have 2 AGM 110AH batts, what I believe is a PWM controller hitched up to a single 120W panel. My question is that during the day (sunny) Im reading 14.3V at the peak of the charge, at night on...

gandk · gandk

Hi Our solar system (2x100w panels with a new1x 120agm battery) was working fine. We did a 9 day free camp last year with helping out with a genie of course and all went well. Then last week we had full sun and it was only going up to 12. Put genie on went up to 13 only then when we turned genie off it droppe...

charles · charles

can some one tell me what size portable solar panels I would need to charge 2 x 97 amp batteries for our 21ft fusion van hope to here thanks

Bazza2 · Bazza2

When I go camping it,s to a town with campround a short bike ride from where train drops me [Echuca a favorite] But I usualy get unpowered site and use camp kitchen --sure there is power there but I dont feel like plugging in then leaving my stuff un attended[& also sit there waiting Is there some por...

Ronaldjd · Ronaldjd

Hi , Has anyone done the Gibb River Road on airbag suspension ? & on tamden axles how often are the hinge points to be greased. Also tyre pressure over dirt roads. I watch the Retreat Caravan 10 part video on YouTube and he's talking 35 to 40 psi ? Any suggestion ?

goldenyears · goldenyears

Hi would like more reviews on the Rich solar panels bought from bit deals in Derrimut Victoria. Cheaper panels but sometimes work just as well as the more expensive ones ? thanks

Topic		Started By	Replies	Views	Last Post
	Good article on Solar Panels in issue 238 Compare Solar Panels (Preview) Good article on Solar Panels in issue 238 Caravan & Motorhome mag. Check out their website and look for issue 238 - http://www.candm.com.au/	Treecrest14	17	1876	12:55 PM Oct 14, 2016 by T1 Terry
	Permanent or not? (Preview) Hi all Just a quick question. I have one of those small 1.5amp solar battery trickle chargers to keep up my van battery when it's parked at home. With no 240v connected to the van, but all wiring still on the battery, will it harm anything leaving the little solar charger on all the time? Or should I disco...	Dave Jezza	6	1260	03:29 AM Oct 7, 2016 by swamp
	Solar repairs ?? (Preview) Hi All Wondering if anyone has had to have repairs, additions etc in Townsville or Mackay? We seem to have a problem with - maybe - the regulator. Not sure Kim	gandk	1	941	07:47 PM Sep 29, 2016 by Warren-Pat_01
	Lithium so up and running (closed) (Preview) well my 400 amp lithium pack is up and running taken a wile but it's alive now.	mr glassies	24	2217	08:40 AM Sep 27, 2016 by Webmaster
	Overcast weather & power useage (Preview) If my batteries have a rested voltage of 12.8v & I connect the solar panel on a cloudy day, the regulator then shows 13.2v (not enough to charge or reach float v) & I connect a light load with the regulator still showing more than 12.8v does this mean that I am not discharging the battery but onl...	daffyfrancis	3	1045	11:28 AM Sep 24, 2016 by Peter_n_Margaret
	Caravan covers (Preview) Hi all. I have just put a 200w solar panel on my caravan roof. Question is will a caravan cover scratch or damage it in any way ? When the wind blows you often see covers lifting and moving. Just thinking of options and precautions..	Colin Penrose	2	1194	12:14 AM Sep 20, 2016 by Aus-Kiwi
	solar panels on roof but dismount as portable on site? is this a practical option? ( 1 2 ) (Preview) Re deciding what strategy re solar panels, i.e. mount on caravan roof vs portal ones, is there in fact panels that lend themselves to mounting onto the roof for when at home and traveling, but easily removing for use as portable when at a camping site? Anyone do this? If yes, any advice re which panel...	mixedup	32	3117	01:13 PM Aug 26, 2016 by Cruising Cruze
	6mm cable size (Preview) Hi Fellow Gromads I have been recently online to buy 6mm electric cable to run a 5mt cable from my caravan battery to a socket for my Waeco cfx40 and the wide range in prices leads me to the suspicion that some descriptions might lead me astray. Is 6mm2(thats cubic mm) the same as 6mm thick wire? I have bee...	maroon13	14	11411	12:50 PM Aug 3, 2016 by PeterD
	solar panel height. (Preview) Hi guys, a few of us were free camping at the weekend when I noticed the solar panels on the other vans were raised about 1/2" off van roof, my panel is mounted hard on the van roof. one of the guys said that I would be losing efficiency another said not, its an easy job to raise it but do I need to ?. on another po...	Bass	12	1671	11:52 AM Jul 28, 2016 by Aus-Kiwi
	Brake Safe Monitors Sorry wrong place (Preview) Hi all, I've been reading up on these monitors for caravans that need a brake safe installed, apparently if you live or travel through NSW you need a monitor installed into a position that the driver can see and hear warning that the battery for the brake safe is sufficientently charged (what they are s...	WoolgoolgaRob	1	927	11:51 PM Jul 20, 2016 by PeterD
	Will a second battery double my storage? (Preview) Hello all i have a 120watt panel on the roof of my new manta ray van and a 100 hour battery, my question is if I get another battery will I get 200 hours of storage? all I need is a very simple answer, I understand it will,depend on what I use etc but just keep it simple. Brett	Shogun	14	1590	09:01 AM Jul 18, 2016 by Shogun
	solar panels (Preview) Hi people, i'm just looking into portable solar panels and it's getting a bit confusing, should i get foldout ones, solid ones, attach them to the van ones 200w,160w,120w the list goes on!! need some advice please.	fokesy	10	1656	08:38 PM Jun 20, 2016 by Gary and Barb
	Waeco CF60 power usage (Preview) Hi all. We are looking at portable solar for our van. We have had a 100ah deep cycle wet cell battery installed and have used the spreadsheet I put up on here yesterday to try and gestimate usage. We want to be able to free camp tops at this stage is 4 days (both still working full time) Our van 12v Lights are L...	TeamBernian	10	7867	07:16 AM Jun 19, 2016 by Evie n Rhys
	Found problem to faulty solar system (Preview) We had a loose wire going into the regulator PLUS I was reading the little meter wrong. I thought it showed me what was going into the battery - NO it is what is coming out of the .!!!!!!!!!! Learnt a lot from a fellow caravanner. He sorted it and my thinking. Cheers all for input.	gandk	3	1139	04:30 PM Jun 7, 2016 by macka17
	Probably a silly question but..... (Preview) Greetings all I may have been a tech many moons ago, BUT rather dumb about solar and the controllers that run them. We have 2 AGM 110AH batts, what I believe is a PWM controller hitched up to a single 120W panel. My question is that during the day (sunny) Im reading 14.3V at the peak of the charge, at night on...	Phil C	10	1417	10:29 AM May 31, 2016 by Phil C
	Solar playing up? (Preview) Hi Our solar system (2x100w panels with a new1x 120agm battery) was working fine. We did a 9 day free camp last year with helping out with a genie of course and all went well. Then last week we had full sun and it was only going up to 12. Put genie on went up to 13 only then when we turned genie off it droppe...	gandk	12	1537	06:55 AM May 26, 2016 by Woody46
	what size portable panels (Preview) can some one tell me what size portable solar panels I would need to charge 2 x 97 amp batteries for our 21ft fusion van hope to here thanks	charles	4	1627	04:44 PM May 19, 2016 by swamp
	Solar to power tablet/phone at camp [no car battery assist] (Preview) When I go camping it,s to a town with campround a short bike ride from where train drops me [Echuca a favorite] But I usualy get unpowered site and use camp kitchen --sure there is power there but I dont feel like plugging in then leaving my stuff un attended[& also sit there waiting Is there some por...	Bazza2	16	1626	10:30 AM May 11, 2016 by 03_Troopy
	Cruise Master Airbag suspension (Preview) Hi , Has anyone done the Gibb River Road on airbag suspension ? & on tamden axles how often are the hinge points to be greased. Also tyre pressure over dirt roads. I watch the Retreat Caravan 10 part video on YouTube and he's talking 35 to 40 psi ? Any suggestion ?	Ronaldjd	15	1889	04:12 PM May 7, 2016 by Dhutime
	bit deals solar panels (Preview) Hi would like more reviews on the Rich solar panels bought from bit deals in Derrimut Victoria. Cheaper panels but sometimes work just as well as the more expensive ones ? thanks	goldenyears	9	5642	07:53 PM Apr 17, 2016 by Mad66
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