installing solar panels from go to whoa

BnTnAnJ · Member

installing solar panels from go to whoa

DeBe · Guru

Hi BnTnAnJ, To run an aircon or a microwave you will need atleast 2600Watt Generator which is what i use to run those 2 items in my van. 280L fridge is this a household yype fridge? Daryl

BnTnAnJ · Member

Hi Daryl, Our bus has an 8KVA deisel generator...and yes the fridge is a household one...thanks Bob and Tania

DeBe · Guru

Hi Bob, considering what you want to run i dont think Solar is going to be the way to go. Just as an example i do have 100watt solar & 75 Ah battery powering an 80L waeco upright fridge & a few LED lights & a 12V LCD TV/ DVD player, The Solar seems to keep up with this load. But for my microwave & aircon i use the generator. Daryl

BnTnAnJ · Member

Hi Daryl, thank u very much for ur info could save me $$$$s we will keep looking into it.....Bob and Tania

jimricho · Guru

Keep in mind that there will be times when mains power is not available and the use of a generator is either inappropriate or prohibited. In these circumstances it will be necessary to forgo some luxuries such as the microwave, air conditioner, jug, toaster, hair dryer, etc.

I don't have hands-on experience with either solar or generators but it is my understanding that the 12v output on some generators is not suitable for recharging batteries directly. It may be a good idea to have a reasonably high current battery charger installed so that the batteries can be charged reasonably quickly from the mains or generator when solar is not available.

Those with hands-on experience may be able to give more information on this.

jonathan · Guru

.. Hi folks !

.. although its not an answer to the the exact thread 'inquiry' here, another suggestion would be to consider if you are able to swap your vehicles alternator to a higher capacity rated unit.

.. Even though I do have ample solar coverage to suit my needs, there are those times where you might be required to stay put for a longer period than you intended or the cloud cover etc has restricted most of your solar recharging ..

I have a 150 amp alternator .. allows me to run the motor if necessary for a short while to boost the battery a little .. and also when travelling, helps to charge up your battery/batteries in a shorter space of time ..

.. lot of folks on here could tell you more about this, and as I'm no auto-electrician, I wouldn't try to tell you how to set it up ..

food-for-thought!

Jon

BnTnAnJ · Member

Good morning
Thanks for the input Jimricho and Jon, every little bit does help we have an auto electrician who has just installed solar panels on his 4x4 he's not fully experienced with this scale.....we have since changed our mind on the fridge we r now searching for a domestic 240vt-12vt hopeing that will eliminate at least 1 of our probs..apparently we do have a lrg enough alternator..but not too sure on battery sizes or how many we should need....
Cheers and thanks again to all who have helped thus far..
Bob

BobnBev · Senior Member

BnTnAnJ, Hi We had a bus some time back and its the life, But what you want to run on sola power is a real big ask ..If you had enough room on the bus for that many sola panels to give you enough power, it would still be a big ask as the batt. that you would need is big as well . The inverter will run things but for a short time, there are some good books on what and how to set up sola systems.. The 12 volt fridge is A GOOD start.. the biggets is a 220 lt waceo I think.. We run a 190 lt 2 door and have around 320Watts and 2 120 amph AGM batt.
no micra wave.
You wont run a air con from a inverter??? the batties would be flat in 5 min.if it started.
The best thing is a genny much less costly as well, there are some nice quite gennys to day and some run on deisel...
Look carefuly do some reading and do it once is the best advice..
Hope this is some help, BobnBev

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Go and buy "Solar that really works" by Collyn Rivers.

Cheers,
Peter

jimricho · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

Go and buy "Solar that really works" by Collyn Rivers.

Cheers,
Peter

More info available at http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/books/index.htm

BnTnAnJ · Member

Hi everyone, thanks to all for ur helpfull input, we r off to buy a book... and hopefully on the road by Feb with my wife and kids ...
thanks again for ur help

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I should have said that I do have a NON commercial association with Collyn Rivers.
He used the avatar pic of the OKA on the cover of his new Campervan & Motorhome book and a couple of other pics inside and he sent me a couple of gratis copies.........

Cheers,
Peter

milo · Guru

what about these 12vlt mics

http://www.12volt.com.au/