im thinking of getting 180w folding panels ,if i did could they be plugged into anderson plug on tow vehicle so it would charge back up battery while we are parked? (not tec minded) any advice appricated
bill12 said
11:48 AM Jan 15, 2012
Definately! but you would need a regulater so as to not over charge the batterys in the vehicle.180W will run some fiarly large stuff.
justcruisin01 said
12:11 PM Jan 15, 2012
sullyrs wrote:
im thinking of getting 180w folding panels ,if i did could they be plugged into anderson plug on tow vehicle so it would charge back up battery while we are parked? (not tec minded) any advice appricated
If you buy folding panels they will have a cheap regulator on the back of the panel with very thin wiring , which is wrong for the best performance.
Buy them as single panels hinge them together as required with support legs, [easy to make from some alloy & a pair of hinges & then buy a good quility regulator & mount it as close as possibile to the batteries you need to charge. This way you will not have any voltage drop which means more charge into batteries. Can still be assembled with the anderson plugs , I use the 32volt 15amp T-plugs on every thing & have not had on fail in many years of service. Available from elecrtical whole sales. Use 6mm wire, nothing less.
JC.
sullyrs said
12:20 PM Jan 15, 2012
was looking on ebay 180w suntech with regulator for $659 would they be any good.
justcruisin01 said
12:34 PM Jan 15, 2012
sullyrs wrote:
was looking on ebay 180w suntech with regulator for $659 would they be any good.
I use Suntech panels & are very good & that sounds cheap. Mine ware folding but the projector brand regs were hoples.
I remoned all wiring from these & fitted a length of heavy wire ,with plugs attached to a better reg mounted as stated earlier, they now do better than the original specs stated.
I didn't buy mine from E-Bay & have read on here where some have & didn't get what was advertised. Just make sure what you getting & backup if needed.
JC.
sullyrs said
12:42 PM Jan 15, 2012
once again thanks for all your help i have about 12 months work to do (if i feel like it) then we plan to start retirement may catch you at a camp one day soon
lilly31 said
03:36 PM Jan 16, 2012
what is the lowest watt you shoud get to run the basis ..i have been told not to go any lower then 120 watts
sullyrs said
04:59 PM Jan 16, 2012
ive been told 120 also but bear in mind im VERY VERY green on tech stuff
03_troopy said
06:39 PM Jan 16, 2012
It all depends on your load, but much under 120W is pretty well only a bit of a top up between full charges. Having said that, with something like a 40L engel and some LED lights and a radio for entertainment, and a 120AH battery to draw from, you'd get 3 to 4 days in the bush depending on outside temps and sunlight etc, and of course how many times you opened the fridge.
sullyrs said
08:50 PM Jan 16, 2012
thanks troopy im thinking of 180w would that improve things much
Smokeydk said
10:02 AM Jan 17, 2012
I have an 80watt panel....I connect via anderson plug on drawbar..charges a 105amp hour battery in my van
I'm not a heavy user........40lt waeco....LED lighting..water pump....
Esmeralda said
10:20 AM Jan 17, 2012
Hi Smokey - this sound like what I am having done at the moment.
Smokeydk said
11:56 AM Jan 17, 2012
I think we chatted somewhere before about it........panels on van roofs are great till you park in the shade
looking to set up my Toyota High Top camper.sorry posted a random pic,with solar(looking for help/advice)Perth WA
Thanks
Paul
melpal said
11:08 PM Sep 1, 2018
melpal wrote: Hi i am Paul,looking for advice/help to put solar on my Toyota High Top.Many Thanks for any tips.Regards Paul
Jaahn said
08:42 AM Sep 2, 2018
Hi Paul:),
You have pulled up a 6yr old thread. I suggest you find the SOLAR subforum and look there for some ideas.
However your roof is small on that ToJo so you might be better with portable panels but they do take space also. What ever you do choose remember that heavy gauge copper is required in the wiring and a proper regulator/controller that has 3 stage charging is important. Many cheap set-ups particularly folding sets are crap made. The panels are OK but the rest is rubbish. Just buy panels from Ebay from places that have been suggested.
Jaahn
yobarr said
08:54 AM Sep 2, 2018
melpal wrote:
Hi Guys,
looking to set up my Toyota High Top camper.sorry posted a random pic,with solar(looking for help/advice)Perth WA
Thanks
Paul
Sikaflex a couple of aluminiun bars across the roof and bolt a 190 watt panel to them.Measures about 1500mm x 900mm and will help keep the car cool as well.I have 9 x 190 watt panels on my van and they keep it a lot cooler. Cheers.
-- Edited by yobarr on Sunday 2nd of September 2018 08:55:33 AM
im thinking of getting 180w folding panels ,if i did could they be plugged into anderson plug on tow vehicle so it would charge back up battery while we are parked? (not tec minded) any advice appricated
If you buy folding panels they will have a cheap regulator on the back of the panel with very thin wiring , which is wrong for the best performance.
Buy them as single panels hinge them together as required with support legs, [easy to make from some alloy & a pair of hinges & then buy a good quility regulator & mount it as close as possibile to the batteries you need to charge. This way you will not have any voltage drop which means more charge into batteries. Can still be assembled with the anderson plugs , I use the 32volt 15amp T-plugs on every thing & have not had on fail in many years of service. Available from elecrtical whole sales. Use 6mm wire, nothing less.
JC.
was looking on ebay 180w suntech with regulator for $659 would they be any good.
I use Suntech panels & are very good & that sounds cheap. Mine ware folding but the projector brand regs were hoples.
I remoned all wiring from these & fitted a length of heavy wire ,with plugs attached to a better reg mounted as stated earlier, they now do better than the original specs stated.
I didn't buy mine from E-Bay & have read on here where some have & didn't get what was advertised. Just make sure what you getting & backup if needed.
JC.
once again thanks for all your help i have about 12 months work to do (if i feel like it) then we plan to start retirement may catch you at a camp one day soon
ive been told 120 also but bear in mind im VERY VERY green on tech stuff
thanks troopy im thinking of 180w would that improve things much
I'm not a heavy user........40lt waeco....LED lighting..water pump....
Hi Smokey - this sound like what I am having done at the moment.
Hi Guys,
looking to set up my Toyota High Top camper.sorry posted a random pic,with solar(looking for help/advice)Perth WA
Thanks
Paul
You have pulled up a 6yr old thread. I suggest you find the SOLAR subforum and look there for some ideas.
However your roof is small on that ToJo so you might be better with portable panels but they do take space also. What ever you do choose remember that heavy gauge copper is required in the wiring and a proper regulator/controller that has 3 stage charging is important. Many cheap set-ups particularly folding sets are crap made. The panels are OK but the rest is rubbish. Just buy panels from Ebay from places that have been suggested.
Jaahn
Sikaflex a couple of aluminiun bars across the roof and bolt a 190 watt panel to them.Measures about 1500mm x 900mm and will help keep the car cool as well.I have 9 x 190 watt panels on my van and they keep it a lot cooler. Cheers.
-- Edited by yobarr on Sunday 2nd of September 2018 08:55:33 AM