Purchasing a solar blanket (not panels) for my caravan
Nomad2019 said
05:02 PM Apr 23, 2022
Am researching the purchase of a solar blanket to supplement the 2x150w panels on the roof of my caravan as the current situation means I run out of power after say three days off grid. Any information would be very much appreciated as I understand it's not as easy as taking the blanket out of the box and plugging it into the Anderson plug on the caravan. Thanks in anticipation.
Whenarewethere said
08:57 PM Apr 23, 2022
Are the 2 panels in series of parallel?
Jaahn said
06:19 AM Apr 24, 2022
Nomad2019 wrote:
Am researching the purchase of a solar blanket to supplement the 2x150w panels on the roof of my caravan as the current situation means I run out of power after say three days off grid. Any information would be very much appreciated as I understand it's not as easy as taking the blanket out of the box and plugging it into the Anderson plug on the caravan. Thanks in anticipation.
Hi Nomad
You have 300W on the roof, that is more than I have so not sure why you run out so fast. Possibly you need to tell us more about what you are using in the van and your battery. It has been raining a bit lately so that might be significant too.
Have you checked that your charging system is working at 100%. Some panels are poor quality and badly installed and some regulators are crap with thin cables. How do you monitor your system? Do you have a way to charge from your car ?
I would also read the comments here about solar blankets. Some people are disappointed in the output they get for the often excessive price. Others are happy so some research is a good idea. Personally I would just put another similar fixed panel on the roof and get them working well. Set and forget. Or just get some smaller normal panels, 80-100W each, easy handled, and set them up as portables instead of a blanket. I did that for some years, 4x80W with a MPPT regulator and individual plugs on the cables, and it worked well.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 24th of April 2022 06:24:25 AM
Bicyclecamper said
12:14 PM Apr 25, 2022
When we had our van, we lasted avg 7 days on a 100 ah agm, and an 80 watt portable panel. with TV, computers, all the led lights and an 14 lt, portable fridge/freezer as a freezer. We could last longer but usually 7 days we were out out max. trips.
Nomad2019 said
04:23 PM Apr 28, 2022
Thanks everyone!!
I would hope the solar panels on the roof are parallel, unable to climb a ladder to check but will bear that in mind and ask someone to do it.
The more than likely culprit is my 190 ltr compressor fridge and I'll be turning it off overnight to squeeze more power time.
I have 2x125amp deep cell batteries new in June 2021.
My vehicle has a dual deep cell battery setup and the caravan connects to the vehicle with an Anderson plug.
I'm trying to stay away from the panels because I have arthritis and am not very strong. The ones I've seen also take up a bit of space.
I'll read the solar blankets comments and thanks for the tip.
Kind regards from Merrill
TimTim said
06:02 PM Apr 28, 2022
Nomad2019 wrote:
Thanks everyone!! I would hope the solar panels on the roof are parallel, unable to climb a ladder to check but will bear that in mind and ask someone to do it. The more than likely culprit is my 190 ltr compressor fridge and I'll be turning it off overnight to squeeze more power time. I have 2x125amp deep cell batteries new in June 2021. My vehicle has a dual deep cell battery setup and the caravan connects to the vehicle with an Anderson plug. I'm trying to stay away from the panels because I have arthritis and am not very strong. The ones I've seen also take up a bit of space. I'll read the solar blankets comments and thanks for the tip. Kind regards from Merrill
Hi Merrill,
If you are running out after 3 days then you are not getting your batteries fully charged each day so yes a solar blanket can help you. I was going to buy an XTM solar blanket next week and do a full test on it to see the output and put the results up on this forum. Unfortunately, BCF decided to up the price another $30 and as I don't really need one I will wait until they come up with their special price again. Hopefully that wont be too long away.
Are the 2 panels in series of parallel?
Hi Nomad
You have 300W on the roof, that is more than I have so not sure why you run out so fast. Possibly you need to tell us more about what you are using in the van and your battery. It has been raining a bit lately so that might be significant too.
Have you checked that your charging system is working at 100%. Some panels are poor quality and badly installed and some regulators are crap with thin cables. How do you monitor your system? Do you have a way to charge from your car ?
I would also read the comments here about solar blankets. Some people are disappointed in the output they get for the often excessive price. Others are happy so some research is a good idea. Personally I would just put another similar fixed panel on the roof and get them working well. Set and forget.
Or just get some smaller normal panels, 80-100W each, easy handled, and set them up as portables instead of a blanket. I did that for some years, 4x80W with a MPPT regulator and individual plugs on the cables, and it worked well.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 24th of April 2022 06:24:25 AM
I would hope the solar panels on the roof are parallel, unable to climb a ladder to check but will bear that in mind and ask someone to do it.
The more than likely culprit is my 190 ltr compressor fridge and I'll be turning it off overnight to squeeze more power time.
I have 2x125amp deep cell batteries new in June 2021.
My vehicle has a dual deep cell battery setup and the caravan connects to the vehicle with an Anderson plug.
I'm trying to stay away from the panels because I have arthritis and am not very strong. The ones I've seen also take up a bit of space.
I'll read the solar blankets comments and thanks for the tip.
Kind regards from Merrill
Hi Merrill,
If you are running out after 3 days then you are not getting your batteries fully charged each day so yes a solar blanket can help you. I was going to buy an XTM solar blanket next week and do a full test on it to see the output and put the results up on this forum. Unfortunately, BCF decided to up the price another $30 and as I don't really need one I will wait until they come up with their special price again. Hopefully that wont be too long away.