Cost of solar panel set up

MaryJane · Senior Member

Cost of solar panel set up

Yuglamron · Guru

As with anything RV, MJ it's not an easy answer. A lot of the cost is in the labour to do the job. Buying the items yourself can save a fair bit of money but it's the expertise and knowledge along with experience that will cost you for the fitting. Unless you live near one of our knowledgable friends on the site who is willing to install them for you it's a buyer beware setup.

There are so many reputable companies who will do the job and as usual some very shonky ones. The market is still saturated with some leftovers from the Governments Solar panel days. Some of the shonks still operate.

I am sure someone on the forum with knowledge about the purchase and fitting of a solar system will give you some good advice.

Good luck and I hope you get sorted.

chopit · Senior Member

The cheap way to go solar is probably with the folding panels available from many,many places.
If you trawl the ebay stores you will find plenty of enticing prices.
But do the research and buy from an Oz trader.
We bought from outbaxcamping because of recommendations from others.
A bit of fiddling setting them up. I just use alligator clips onto whichever battery I want to charge.
Easy-peasy,really.
There are far more enlightened ones than I on the subject but I did my research,hunted for prices & crossed my fingers. So-far,so-good for our cheapies.
We got a 160 W folding pair to charge 2 separate 100AH batteries.
We too, have a genny if needed.

oldbobsbus · Guru

MaryJane wrote:
I am curious to know how much it cost people to set up with solar?
I have a 3way fridge, always on gas free camping, will happily use a torch to save on lights and can go a good four days on 100amp battery,,using tv a little, no music and charging phone and ipad. But I would like some freedom, so......
I've been getting quotes for a solar panel. So far I've had :
Approx $1,100, 150wt panel (on roof, wired etc)
approx $1,500, 80wt panel (on roof, wired etc)
free standing panel, 80wt, need to get Anderson plug fitted, over $600.
also, if I get Anderson plug fitted, will I then have to get brakes wiring adapted, and the battery/ fridge etc while driving to charge?
can anyone tell me their costs? Or how I may be able to do it cheaper?
all quotes from 3 different rv places.
i do have a genny for back up, but solar would be lovely too.
thanks in advance,
MJ

I am happy to talk to you and give you some pointers if you would like.

There is no doubt that the quotes you have been given are from firms in the business of making money from what they do and that6s fine for them but I believe that even you can get out of it for considerably less if you are willing to do a little for yourself..

Chopit has given you a hint with his suggestion re alligator clips but without knowing what you already have it is hard to advise..

again as others have said some members here have lots of knowledge of electricity and what is a perfect setup but then sometimes it isn't a perfect setup that is needed..

Anyway if you would like to have someone to talk to that has nothing to gain from giving a bit of advice my mobile number is on the website below..

MaryJane · Senior Member

Ok. Brilliant, thanks for replies.

Can I assume alligator clips need to run from the battery under the bed to the folding panel? I ask this question as Chopit, you made it sound so easy!! I like easy. But I suspect not so simple? Is there other wiring that needs to be done?

Also, as mentioned, actually, I forgot to mention, I have a 7 pin flat plug that charges battery and fridge while driving, and is great. I assume that also operates my caravan brakes.

So, my logic says, if I have a free standing solar panel, that I run to my battery, I don't need to change my 7 pin and I can just run a lead, or wire or whatever???!

I am probably sooo wrong. Or the $600 quote would not be justified.

Thanks oldbobsbus, I will likely contact.

Thanks again,

MJ

(Ps, pls remember, I am of the fairer sex, leaning towards very blond, so technical jargon is a major challenge )

Friar Park · Senior Member

Hi Mollyjane I have just gone thro purchasing items for a solar setup

For a 120w folding panel with 4m leads with alligator clips $330.00 from local rv supplier

For 2500/5000w inverter $290.00

I also thought i needed to add another 100a/h battery - $210.00 I will dop all the installation (not that much really) under the guidance of a qualified electrician but as you can see shop around you will save heaps

Regards

Friar Park

TAJ · Senior Member

HELLO MARYJANE i got my kit from MARSOL (GOOGLE) 120 w folding for

$319 all leads ready to go worked well with nothing

to do any queries or complaints no trouble to ring them

some will say you need thicker wires and 30 amp box

but can be done later if needed

hope it helps suenray

chopit · Senior Member

A proper folding panel set-up will come with a 12V charger/voltage regulator.
Put the panels facing the sun. Run the lead to the battery.
Alligator clips ( spring loaded clamps) on the ends of the leads connect to the battery terminals.
Red for +. Black for -.
As above, We got ours from outbaxcamping on Ebay.
160Watt with charger/regulator,lead & clamps. Delivered super quick for $245 all up.
Several friends recommended them & we are impressed.
Everything we have runs off 12Volts ( Tv,laptops,Mp3 player,radio,all LED lighting).
We have 2 deep cycle AGM batteries. A 100AH in the back of the tug for caravan lighting, tv,water pump,etc.
And a 35AH in a portable case for "entertainment",radio,Mp3 player,laptops.( smaller, therefore lighter to move about.)
The small one gets a dose of sunshine every day. The big one every few days.
Can play a bit of "mix n match" between the batteries as required.

Hurls · Senior Member

Hi MaryJane,

I have 120w folding panels, from Ebay, and have exchanged alligator clips for an Anderson plug. With the Anderson plug you get a positive connection and no chance of reversing polarity. They can be fitted quite easily and can be purchased cheaply on Ebay.

Anybody with a soldering iron and a little 12v knowledge can do the job.

Good Luck

Hurls

PS Also have a genny for those non sunny days.

PPS I'm sure my panels cost under $200, plugs less than $20 for a 10 pack

MaryJane · Senior Member

Thank you All for comments. I'm leaning towards folding kit connected to battery. Bit messy, compared to roof top, but I have the time!!!

I would prefer not to mess with my current 7 pin set up so good to hear other feed back.

Appreciate your comments, and thanks Chopit for simple lingo ;)

Cheers,
MJ

beiffe · Guru

I would suggest getting a friend or Auto elect to instal either Anderson plugs "www.ebay.com.au/itm/SPECIAL-2-x-GENUINE-ANDERSON-PLUG-50Amps-B-NEW-/400375533690" (preferred) or Merrit plugs to your panels and then have a female connection to fit added to the van. This way it is as easy as plugging in the panel and away you go, No lifting beds etc and good secure connections and less voltage drop.
Check out ebay for panels "www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-80W-Portable-Solar-Panel-Folding-Kit-Monocrystalline-Caravan-Camping-Power-/161008546450"
Cut between quotes and paste in google to see examples.
Regards
Brian

moblet · Senior Member

If you go with portable rather than rooftop then you can generally get more output from any given panel, since you can position and orient it to catch the sun. If you park in the shade a rooftop panel isn't worth a great deal. Going portable saves you money by buying less capacity as well as the labour cost of fitting. Of course with portable you have the labour "cost" of getting them out and packing them away (some call that "exercise") and have to have somewhere to carry them.

If you can tell us how much charge is left in your 100Ah battery after four days we can more easily estimate what capacity panel you need, but my guess is that 80W would be plenty for your requirements. A single panel in that size is not too difficult to handle, is lighter and cheaper than a folding 2x40W arrangement, and you don't have to stuff around folding and unfolding it, so if you can just as easily handle and store a single panel go for that rather than a folding one. You might need something to angle and/or secure a single panel in the field, but that needn't cost much. My windscreen squeegee doubles as a panel prop.

grahos · Guru

I saw a guy near Darwin with a 30 mt lead for his twin solar panels,
Fortunately he had room to move them but he was often out full length to find the sun.
What length do you recommend as I am also looking to set up solar with my twin 100 amp batteries.

Bryan · Guru

The Caravan repair shop I use fitted a 150wt Redarc solar panel on the roof of my motor home for $1,500 which covered everything including a dc to dc charger which he used instead of a regulator.

With only the two way fridge and a couple of LED lights drawing 12v powder it keeps the battery topped up.

-- Edited by Bryan on Saturday 8th of March 2014 10:09:11 PM

moblet · Senior Member

grahos wrote:
I saw a guy near Darwin with a 30 mt lead for his twin solar panels,
Fortunately he had room to move them but he was often out full length to find the sun.
What length do you recommend as I am also looking to set up solar with my twin 100 amp batteries.

I started out with a 10m extension cable, have just bought another as I was finding myself in places where I was still a few metres short. Never really needed 30m although there have been places where I would have gotten higher productivity if I could have reached that far. If your system has enough spare capacity that you don't need high productivity (mine doesn't) then 20m should be plenty. If you require high productivity then maybe go to 30m, or start out with 10 or 20 metres and buy another extension cable if you're finding you need it.

beiffe · Guru

The longer the cable the more voltage drop so you need bigger cables for longer runs.
I have 10mtr cords for mine that can be joined but I use 6 B&S wire. The wire that comes with the panels is way to small so 6mm sq at least and preferable the 6 B&S. $100 on ebay with Anderson plugs already fitted.
Regards
Brian