Hi all, I will be first to admit I know very little about solar. I am in the market for a portable solar setup around 200W. I want to parallel it onto the existing circuit. Firstly is there an array that is robust light and powerful enough for what I want? Secondly hooking up in parallel sounds like the way to go. I will use the best regulator and with any luck it will do a great job. 

Thanks for your advice. 

Cheers

Hi Phil,
My two cents worth. A unit that has 200w panels or even one panel is heavy and big. Look at that before you buy. Also look at where you will store them conveniently when travelling.

i use seperate 80w panels which are easy to handle and fit nicely on my rear box. They have seperate cables with two pin plugs. Easy to get out and set up. I had two panels hinged together first up but they were too heavy and difficult to handle.

The regulator is mounted near the battery and has some sockets for the panel plugs in a easy to reach spot from out side.
Jaahn

I bought some portable folding 220w panels but they are so big and heavy to set up and store that they stay at home and the 120w get to come with me. Great to go on a roof but difficult as portables is my experience.

I agree with Jetj, any bigger and they are hardly portable any more. I dont know your application, but a 200w panel is physically large and awkward

This is a copy of a post I made a couple of months ago.

Just bought one of these, 140 watt, weighs approx 14 kg including cables, bag etc, easy enough to handle and stow, however would not need to be much heavier.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/360466559785

from Bit_Deals.

Good service and communication, shipped promptly, $249 delivered to the door in country SA.

Have yet to put it into service so cant comment on performance.

So far the only criticism I have is of the " new improved leg system" if this is the new improved leg system, a short length of aluminium angle pop riveted either end with a bit of heat shrink on the end of the leg (anti slip) legs, I'm wondering what the old legs were like? a small thing really, won't be difficult to devise an even more improved leg system.

Have trialed the panels at home , they seem to do a good job, although have yet to put them to the test out in the field.

Phil, I am a bit different to the others so far. But some would say I am very different to others. I got a panel that would normally be fixed and changed the wiring to heavier cable so I could use it as a portable panel. That is then connected to a Anderson Plug on the back of the Den that is connected to a separate 30amp Regulator from the main system then to the battery. That regulator is only used for assisting with charging nit for running anything. 

The separate regulator is fixed next to the Batteries. That way the panel doesn't come out unless really needed. I have 450w fixed flat on top of the Den for every day use.

I store the now portable panel under a false floor I put in the back of the Tug. It would even work in a Ford mate. Although you might have to "Fix Or Repair Daily" 

All works for me anyway but might not suite you or others.

Hi Guys

I'm not aware of your financial situation but have a look at these.

http://www.kulkyne.com/au/110W-Flexible-Solar-Panel.html

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PROJECTA-120W-WATT-FOLDING-SOLAR-PANEL-BATTERY-CHARGER-SPM120K-BONUS-INVERTER/291221093380?_trksid=p2054897.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3D2896bea1160047ce83aaa83a0cad273c%26pid%3D100204%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D29%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D251908949751

and if you have a truck load of cash

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/251908949751?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=107&chn=ps

These may provide a solution for storage etc.

Rgds

Peter

Thanks folks, I may downgrade to a 80W for weight and ease of setting up. We have a 150W on the van and 2 x 100AH house batts. Sounds like I will get the 80W before I go the Perth next year. I assume it will piggy back straight onto the existing array.

Thanks again, BTW Dougwee my "fix or repair daily" has never been recalled. Love you Dougweeeeeeeeeee.

Cheers

Phil C wrote:

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~~~SNIP Thanks again, BTW Dougwee my "fix or repair daily" has never been recalled. Love you Dougweeeeeeeeeee.

Cheers

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Gday...

I will state it upfront .. I am a Ford man ... have ALWAYS been. I have never owned any GMH product - never will. I have driven a few but would not own one.

I do drive a Land Rover Discovery now .. but it has a "Ford" motor - that must count for something ... SURELY  

BUT Phil   ... before ya make bold statements  ya should read this (in particular years 2010/2011/2012)

https://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/952864

Cheers - John

Flexible/ semi flexible panels = far more expensive, and from what I've read, a lot less efficient( my read on them) , could easily be wrong. IMO, better to roof mount larger panels for the same money and also extra battery

Bent Axle Bob wrote:

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Flexible/ semi flexible panels = far more expensive, and from what I've read, a lot less efficient( my read on them) , could easily be wrong. IMO, better to roof mount larger panels for the same money and also extra battery

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Agree here also Phil. Portable panels are only as good as the time you have to move em IMHO. Why not add another panel to roof and forget it???

 Our experience with flexible solar panels is very good. We have 4 X 90 watt panels bonded to roof of van for a total weight of about 14 Kgm. Last week in east gippsland in non ideal conditions noted an output of 19.6 amp at 13.6 volts (. This equates to 74 percent of maximum theoretical output. I don't think the heavier conventional panels would perform much better.

Alan

Phil C wrote:

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Thanks folks, I may downgrade to a 80W for weight and ease of setting up. We have a 150W on the van and 2 x 100AH house batts. Sounds like I will get the 80W before I go the Perth next year. I assume it will piggy back straight onto the existing array.

Thanks again, BTW Dougwee my "fix or repair daily" has never been recalled. Love you Dougweeeeeeeeeee.

Cheers

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 Hi

Get two 80 w panels.

Santa said their panel weighed 14 KG. I would not like to lump that in and out much. Or lift it to put it somewhere.  But I am old now !

Jaahn

Jaahn wrote:

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Phil C wrote:

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Thanks folks, I may downgrade to a 80W for weight and ease of setting up. We have a 150W on the van and 2 x 100AH house batts. Sounds like I will get the 80W before I go the Perth next year. I assume it will piggy back straight onto the existing array.

Thanks again, BTW Dougwee my "fix or repair daily" has never been recalled. Love you Dougweeeeeeeeeee.

Cheers

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 Hi

Get two 80 w panels.

Santa said their panel weighed 14 KG. I would not like to lump that in and out much. Or lift it to put it somewhere.  But I am old now !

 

Jaahn

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 I ain't no spring chicken Jaahn, 73 summers behind me, perhaps I'm just fortunate, I can still manage to lift 14 kg without any effort, compared to a 16 inch spare wheel its a doddle.

KFT wrote:

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G'day Phil, hope you are well mate. We are.

I would be looking to arrange the connection point for your portables so they connect in parallel with your existing panels on the input to the regulator you already have. Provided of course that the likely current from that "array" will not exceed the rating of your reg.

The portables you get may have a reg on the back of the panel so you will need to bypass that.

frank

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 Thanks Frank, we are fine mate, thanks for asking. Off to the quack on the 20th to have a look at my hips. I'm rather hoping he will belay any operation I may need. Walking 2Kms a day or until it hurts too much. 

Rough calculations tell me I'm up to 25 amps with the twin 80 watters and the 150 I have on the roof with any luck the reg will hold out on a sunny day. 

Cheers again mate.