"The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you're finished" - Benjamin Franklin

EilsnAlby · Veteran Member

What size solar panels do most of you use?

blaze · Guru

For that load with a 100ah battery an 80 watt panel would do but a bit of over kill with 120 will allow for cloudy days
cheers
blaze

vk6tnc · Guru

Have look at this website, they have been doing solar for years....

http://www.rpc.com.au/solar-systems/motor-homes/system-examples.html

jimricho · Guru

Stand-alone panels offer the advantage of being able to park in the shade and put the panel(s) out in the sun. They can set at the optimum angle to the sun and be moved during the course of the day to follow the sun.

johnnz · Senior Member

I run about what you asked, using a rooftop 85watt panel, which is fine. But I'm thinking of also a mobile panel for those times the sun is low and hidden by trees.

Scotty01 · Senior Member

I have 2X300w panels mounted on the roof and 2 X 100ah batteries, I run laptop, 12v freezer, ph charger, TV and also 1000w inverter to run electric toaster and grill press. It does well so far. Naturally not all are running at the same time.

villatranquilla · Guru

we have 60w on the van roof (not enough) with 2 100amp batteries plus a 120w fold up that can be used for the engel in the car or top up the van. Interestingly the foldup early morning is often charging before the rooftop one -I guess due to angled directly toward the sun. Will get another foldup as they appear more efficient and as we like to park in the shade this will increase our options - but have still used the generator after a couple of consecutive cloudy days as I don't want the batteries to run down too far - takes too much to recharge.

EilsnAlby · Veteran Member

Thanks to everyone for your very helpful replies. Have gone to ebay and ordered a 240w folding setup, this should fit our needs, I hope. Now we need a second battery, they are are very expensive, so will have to save up some more pennies! We are hoping to get the panels wired in to the van, so we only have to plug them into an "anderson" plug on the outside of the van.

beiffe · Guru

240w panels will be heavy if they are 2 x 120w. I prefer to keep to 120 total so 2 x 60w.

We are all different as I have heaps of solar but use heaps of power as I am all 240v.

With the portables you can make a y lead and join the individual panels into the one lead to enter your vehicle. you can also just add the panels in a line if you wish bu having a extra lead from each panel for the next to connect.

Portables will always produce more than fixed as long as you shift during the day. When I used mine I move about 4 times a day.

Regards
Brian

EilsnAlby · Veteran Member

Thanks beiffe, great info...

GaryKelly · Guru

I rather like the idea of portable panels but I'd hate to arrive back at the camp site to find they'd been nicked.

Cruising Cruze · Guru

connect a steele cable to it