solar panels on top of the van

magraret · Senior Member

solar panels on top of the van

stumpie · Newbie

2x120 panels. 2x150 batteries lasts 3 days without sun, that's also running a 65lt portable freezer.

Big Gorilla · Guru

I think you'll find most have solar panels on the roof except those using portable panels. It's the only place to put them... I'll tell you what I have in my motorhome. A ref running on 12 volt 24/7; TV/DVD; Water Pump; CD Player; 300 watt Inverter; UHF Radio; lighting.

I have 235 watts solar, 2 x 80 watts and 1 x 75 watts. 2 Century Deep Cycle House Batteries both 6 volt connected in series to give 12 volts, each being 235 amp/hours.

Hope that helps..

-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Monday 6th of October 2014 02:04:58 PM

aussie_paul · Guru

magraret wrote:
Question how many of you guys have solar panels on the top of your van if so how many, what size and are they ok only want to top up battery so can change phone and watch TV as we run the fridge on gas and we only free camp up to 4 days so not sure which way to go at least if the panel is on the roof they are getting charged

This is probably a great buy, http://groupbuy.ebay.com.au/

Aussie Paul. smile

Blue · Senior Member

ok,

you are on the right track with "Rooftop" solar panels

for what you are saying that you need you could run just one solar panel around 115w to 120w

you'll also need a Solar Battery regulator.. click on the link below and you'll get both in one buy with the regulator being thrown in for free.. also watch the youtube on this page

it is a lightweight Flexible 115w Solar Panel that you can just silicone to the top of your van.. no drilling or brackets...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221564027756&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

from here all you need is 100ah ONE battery - don't go cheap on this - you need a "FULL GEL" battery as they don't give off a gas and safe to put inside your van under a bed

once you are set up like this you can get inverters that will step up to 240 Volts, 150watts and also with a usb charger in them - oh, make sure you get a "pure sine wave" inverter if you are running laptops and other sensitive electrical equipment...

one more thing... if you find that in the future that you need more power then you can simply add another 100ah battery and another solar panel of the same wattage and amp hour.. all you do is connect them in parallel and you double your Watts, amps of your solar panels and double your amp hour of your batteries as well... start small and build up from there... you don't have to go "ALL OUT" when you first start off... smile

-- Edited by Blue on Monday 6th of October 2014 01:33:52 PM

-- Edited by Blue on Monday 6th of October 2014 01:41:20 PM

Blue · Senior Member

btw.. the folding panels are ok.. but I call them "SUN CHASERS"

you always see folk chasing the sun with them at the end of the day as shadows are moving fast and keep covering up their panel so they have to keep moving them to chase the late afternoon sun.. biggrin

put one on the roof of your van and you'll get charge all day smile

exa41 · Guru

Yep , seems to be a fairly common install , we have 2x 180watt panels and 2 x105 Ah batteries with genny backup if needed.

Sharke · Senior Member

1 x 200 Watt panel mounted on roof 30 AMP MPT Controller with 1 x 120 amp Ritar AGM battery.
cheers
Jeff

Radar · Guru

Margrarat hi

We have medium van run lights, water pump, rarely the radio, only when we need to electric toys phone, computer.

We have on the roof 120 solar, 120 battery we are mostly good for 3 days. Most times with 80 litres of water that runs out first. At Barbinda we all know it rains there we were still good with battery after 4 days. As we don't run TV I think that is one of my saviours as we like to be out doors in the playground. Ralph.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

How,

I am getting two 150w panels on roof and two 110ah batteries fitted to the new Den. I will run LED lights, TV, Sound System and charge laptop, iPad, iPod and iPhone plus a few other items. I also have a 120w portable panel that I use now and will be used as needed with the new Den.

magraret · Senior Member

Thank you every one for your input have taken all on board

Bryan · Guru

Sharke wrote:
1 x 200 Watt panel mounted on roof 30 AMP MPT Controller with 1 x 120 amp Ritar AGM battery.
cheers
Jeff

Zaccari like my set up. Works well.

TopCat · Veteran Member

Hi all,
Has anyone heard of and had the use of portable solar system on a swivel?
I was looking at putting 2x120 panels on the roof and this electrician from Perth
suggested I should go with one 150w panel on a swivel as they collect up to 96% of the daily sun
by tracking it from sunup to sundown whereas the fixed panels attract around 35%.
He is based in Bacutta and said it would cost me around 6-800 fitted.
He has one setup in his premises and I will be checking it out when finish this house sit.
cheers
Terry