On Line Australian Company is offering the panel below at $229. I know you get what you pay for but what do you think.

This high quality 130W folding solar kit is designed to provide free power for charging 12V batteries in a camper, caravan and boat or any other 12V system. You can start using the kit in seconds - just connect it to your battery and place in a sunlit area (the kit also works well in daylight, but the output in direct sunlight will be higher).

The kit comes with a stand which is very easy to set up and fix. A handle and latches ensure ease of storage and portability. In addition, the corners of solar panels are protected by plastic which reduces the risk of damage and makes the design look beautiful.

SHARP solar cells have excellent performance characteristics even in low light conditions (good output even without direct sunlight!) and higher efficiency and reliability compared to many other solar cells.

The kit Includes a carrying bag, individual stand, 6m length 40A twin core cable, crocodile clips and sturdy protective carrying waterproof bag. The kit is very easy to set up - all you need to do is to connect it to your 12V battery or battery bank.

A 20A MPPT solar charge controller is included with the kit and will protect your battery from over-charging. It has many other protection functions, such as stopping reverse current at night (from the battery back to the solar panel) and incorrect polarity protection. The kit is suitable for sealed, gel and flooded 12V batteries.

• High-power module (130W) using 155mm square multi-crystal silicon solar cells with 13.1% module conversion efficiency
• Photovoltaic module with bypass diode minimizes the power drop caused by shade
• Anti reflection coating and BSF (Back Surface Field) structure to improve cell conversion efficiency: 15.0%
• White tempered glass, EVA resin and weatherproof film, plus aluminum frame for extended outdoor use
• Nominal 12 volt output for battery charging applications
• Output terminal: Lead wire with waterproof connector
• Weather and waterproof foil back
• Sturdy fully closed aluminium frame
• Frame screwed at end faces
• Simple installation
• Multi-contact (MCIII) plug connectors
• High quality finish
• Optical, mechanical and electrical module testing during production and post production
• Automated production line ensures consistently high level of product quality
• 25 year warranty on 80% of the rated output
• Certifications: IEC 61215
• SHARP modules are manufactured in ISO 9001 certified factories

Specification:

• Peak power: 130W
• Maximum power voltage: 16.88V
• Maximum power current: 7.22A
• Open circuit voltage: 20.91V
• Short circuit current: 7.683A
• Power allowance: +/- 5%
• Dimensions: 758x670x25 mm (open) or 758x670x50 mm (folded) approx
• Package size: 780 x 680 x 35 mm

If you work on about 50% capacity, you can't go wrong, the MMPT charger is at least the latest technology, for the price you can't go too wrong in having a go with it.

Kevin

My thoughts exactly Kevin. I also have a 50w panel on the Avan so I should be ok. Delivery is only $10.

Terry

Terry,

 I have a couple of installations of solar, home (shed) and home, camper, all with chinese made panels, all have been very reliable and easy to connect and set up, are you using this one as a mobile unit to charge the van batteries? if so make sure you give yourself plenty of length with your lead, with an Anderson 50amp plug either end, it'll be great, good luck.

Kevin.

It will be portable. I'll upgrade wiring the same as Dougwe's setup including a good length of better quality cable.

Terry

See you on the road sometime.

Kevin.

I don't put links up re retailers as in the past I've been told by Cindy that it's not allowed.

But here goes  http://www.esold.com.au/miscellaneous-c1/

I have probably gone overboard on my MH but I have 2x300w panels mounted on the roof, 2/100ah house batteries, 1000watt inverter. I free camp a lot and have been camped for up to 5nights using all electrical stuff as usual with most of that time overcast or raining and had no trouble at all. Also carry kipor 2600 gen that have used once - to run A/C . All  equipment is RedArk but panels are made in China as are most on Aust market. Wasnt cheap to set up but as far as I am concerned worth the expenditure.

Edited for my lousy typing. should read through before I post LOL.

Buffy61,

 I've bought quite a few panels, batteries, regulators, etc off the net, no problem so far but have stuck to sites that have shops as well, solaronline has been good, Newcastle, delivery rates very good anywhere in Aus,pricewise and quality as well, poly & mono, refer to the type of solar cells and will correspond in price accordingly, mono seems to be the most efficent with partial shading performance, do a Google on mono & poly to satisfy your own mind.

Kevin.

Scotty,

 I don't think you can over do the power supply, the size panels you have certainly don't allow the batteries to get down too low, this prolongs the life of the batteries, I have 500amh batteries and wish I had put more than the 2 x 130 panels on the roof but they do O.K. I have similar length of stay as you and have sold my 2Kva honda as surperflious, very rarely used it, if I need to recharge, I turn the diesel motor on, with a 190amp alternator, the best charger there is.

Kevin. 

This looks like excellent value but it will pay to check the cable size. "40Amp cable" means nothing, it needs to be specified in sq mm of copper. 40 Amps is probably what the cable can carry before it melts!

The issue I've had with folding panels (I have two 120 watt folding panels from Jaycar) is the regulator is on the back of the panels and the cable is too thin. This causes a large voltage drop and you get very little power into the batteries. The regulator thinks the battery is changed because the voltage at the regultor is higher than the voltage at the battery. I removed the regulator from the panel, changed the cable to a much heavier cable (6 sq mm) and installed the regulator near the battery.

I now get the full 240 watts into the battery until it has finished the "bulk" charge phase.

An MPPT regulator is the only way to go, it is the only way you'll get the full output from the panels. It automatically works out the voltage at which the panel produces it's maximum output and loads the panels to achieve this voltage. It then converts the panel voltage to the correct voltage to charge the battery.

The regulator I'm using can take an input of up to 150 volts so I have rewired my panels so they are in series which gives me about 70 volts from the 4 panels (4 60 Watt panels in two folding units) at about 3.4 Amps. This reduces the effect of the voltage drop on the cable from the panels to the regulator. It will charge the batteries at around 19 Amps in full sun. I have quite long cable so I can park in the shade and put the panels in full sun.