Thanks Bob
I did look on the Search button and started reading some of things that have been written but thought because this is a techie site you were all talking above my head.

It is not as easy or simple as l thought to have solar with the caravan

Barb

barbandprairie wrote:

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Hi all doing a newsletter for our caravan club in North Queensland.  Would like to do a basic article for those (like me) who does not understand solar and caravans.  So your input would be greatly appreciated.

 

What do you need to start?

How is easy is it to set up?

Can this be done by people like me who know nothing

and what will work when all set up.

 

Thanking you in advance

 

Barb

---

 here's a basic package that you need to start with

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/120-watt-Flexible-Caravan-Solar-Charging-System-with-300watt-Inverter-and-/221581121738?pt=AU_Solar&hash=item33974398ca

One Solar Panel

One Solar Regulator

One Battery - 100ah or Higher

One 12v to 240V inverter to run items off your battery in your van

such as

TV, DVD, Computer, Diesel Heater, Sleep Apnoea Machine, charging phones and ipods etc etc etc

You will note that the 300Watt inverter is "Pure Sine Wave" ... don't get one that isn't or you risk blowing up your products..  

HI Barbara
I would suggest you get advice from someone who is not a Ebay seller pushing their line
Especialy when they do not realy know much about solar!

I do not think simply indicating a stock kit is the answer to your question

Also, an inverter should be very low on the list due to the potential dangers of using multiple 240V Class1 appliances [have 3pin plugs]at the same time.

Best & safest to stick to 12V wherever possible & more efficient use of available power.

It is rather difficult to give All the needed details on a forum such as this.

AS each case will be dependent on many factors such as;

Equipment rating [WATTs]

Expected hrs of use of each  per day

Period of "off" mains use [no mains charging]

Possible alternative charging for long spells of bad weather for solar charging

But the basic set up simply consists of:

Solar panels [size dependent on above factors]

Solar regulator, depending on panel arrangement[ 12v or 24V] size req, & available roof space, a simple PWM reg or a MPPT reg

Deep cycle battery, size dependent on daily use requirements, no of days that it may be required to supply  without recharging.     

but i would suggest that your readers get some of Collyn Rivers Books on the subject.

They are quite comprehensive & are not overly technical[well not to mel]

Other than that refer them to this or other RV/  Caravan style forums where they can ask questions specific to their reqs & will get plenty of advice, but may have to sort the wheat from the chaff.

PeterQ

 

 

 

 

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 20th of October 2014 11:37:21 PM

Hi Blue
Your information has been great information to pass on to fellow caravanners who are new to solar

Barb

Gday

For some guidance, check out these guys website - they have had simple articles on Solar..
Do a google search for Aussie Batteries & Solar The look at past articles..

Glen

this picture will help you visualise how a solar charging unit is set up.. demystify it a bit

as you can see, in this pic they are running the light straight off the solar controller unit..

you do not have to do this, you can run items straight off the battery as long as you run a fuse on the positive side..

inverters will have an internal fuse, usually at the back so that you can just take a cap off, or if its a 12v car inverter with a cigarette lighter plug it'll have a fuse inside the plug..

I run my diesel heater straight off the battery with a fuse in the positive supply power wire...

 

HI Mary Jane 

Yes, if someone wants just a portable panel [ low capacity,] that is OK

Just go out & buy a portable unit from any REPUTABLE seller

Place facing direct into sun & connect to battery move from time to time to ensure it is facing direct into the sun for MAX charging, very simple. 

But It would not be considered a Solar system" installed" in a van 

I believe that is what the OP was asking about

One point I should make is, all vans with a heavy use of 12V from the van battery should ensure they have a low voltage battery cut out fitted

This protects the battery from over discharging, which leads to short battery life

PeterQ

oldtrack123 wrote:

---

Blue wrote:

---

this picture will help you visualise how a solar charging unit is set up.. demystify it a bit

as you can see, in this pic they are running the light straight off the solar controller unit..

you do not have to do this, you can run items straight off the battery as long as you run a fuse on the positive side..

inverters will have an internal fuse, usually at the back so that you can just take a cap off, or if its a 12v car inverter with a cigarette lighter plug it'll have a fuse inside the plug..

I run my diesel heater straight off the battery with a fuse in the positive supply power wire...

 

---

 

Hi

The above is no more than a very basic diagram 

It lacks essential details for a safe reliable system!

Why bother taking the lights & other 12V loads? from the solar controller load terminals ?

They/ It may just as well be connected to the battery .!

I would hope no one takes that as all that is required 

Re"'you do not have to do this, you can run items straight off the battery as long as you run a fuse on the positive side.."

Why do only suggest a fuse in the 12Vt in THAT situation?& not in ALL pos cables connected to the battery??

Also no low voltage cutout for the battery

 

The correct set up shall have fuses to suit the actual cable rating in ALL positive leads as close as possible to the battery  

Failure to do that can lead to fires under heavy cable over loads or short circuits.

 

Again,I suggest readers take care with any tech info supplied on forums or the internet

While most is posted with good intentions, it may not be  correct  ,it may not apply to Aus standards .it may leave out crucial points.

Just remember 12V can burn your van down, if it is not done correctly

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 22nd of October 2014 11:41:38 AM

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 have you ever looked at a solar controllers ports for terminals and how small they are? if so, how many wires do you think you can get in there?

it also depends on the location of the solar controller and battery to the item you want to run...

yes that's what I said.. anything running off the battery should be fused.. what didn't you understand?

im yet to see a solar controller that didn't have low battery voltage cutout on them... even the dirt cheaps ones have them in it.. what kind of junk are you running?

yes... I can see why..  

 

Aus-Kiwi wrote:

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I would use 12v TV etc so no need for inverter.. Unless you have a decent solar system ? Batteries etc . Kiss works best..
Our old converted bus has 3000 watt inverter . It drained batteries big time.. Was much more efficient to start the geny for a few minutes.. Toast and hot water can use the gas .. Besides 12v is way safer.. Just use appropriate cables and fuses ..

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 22nd of October 2014 10:06:35 PM

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yes indeed.... our TV can run 12v (which is 99% of the time) but can also run with a 240v adaptor when in parks if you want to or the 12v lead fails

 

3000Watt is massive... just too big and will drain your batteries if left on... I've installed a remote switch on our 300w inverter that's under the bed so its only turned on when needed... like running the mrs Sleep Apnoea machine... other than that we use the inverter to Charge/Run computers or charging phones.. that's why we bought a Pure Sine Wave inverter...

 

out CVan lights run off our 12v batteries as well which was all installed when being built.. Diesel Heater 12v as well

 

The above is no more than a very basic diagram 

It lacks essential details for a safe reliable system!

Why bother taking the lights & other 12V loads? from the solar controller load terminals ?

They/ It may just as well be connected to the battery .!

I would hope no one takes that as all that is required 

Re"'you do not have to do this, you can run items straight off the battery as long as you run a fuse on the positive side.."

Why do only suggest a fuse in the 12Vt in THAT situation?& not in ALL pos cables connected to the battery??

Also no low voltage cutout for the battery

 

The correct set up shall have fuses to suit the actual cable rating in ALL positive leads as close as possible to the battery  

Failure to do that can lead to fires under heavy cable over loads or short circuits.

 

Again,I suggest readers take care with any tech info supplied on forums or the internet

While most is posted with good intentions, it may not be  correct  ,it may not apply to Aus standards .it may leave out crucial points.

Just remember 12V can burn your van down, if it is not done correctly

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 22nd of October 2014 11:41:38 AM

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[1] have you ever looked at a solar controllers ports for terminals and how small they are? if so, how many wires do you think you can get in there?

[2]it also depends on the location of the solar controller and battery to the item you want to run...

[3]yes that's what I said.. anything running off the battery should be fused.. what didn't you understand?

[4]im yet to see a solar controller that didn't have low battery voltage cutout on them... even the dirt cheaps ones have them in it.. what kind of junk are you running?

yes... I can see why..  

 

---

 

 

Hi

[1]Yes I am well aware of the sizes  of  solar reg ports /terminals,  the size is somewhat dependent t on the solar controllers rating
If they are small & cannot accommadate all the load circuits, they are of little use as a low voltage cutout

Just as in the in the pic you supplied,that  low voltage cut will be of litle use

[2]WHAT depends on"the location of the solar controller and battery to the item/s you want to run.".  ????

[3]just that that pic showed no fuses, so not a good example of how it should be done, Nor did you give any other info on fusing.[sizes, location etc]AND it is not just what is running off the battery that should be fused!!

[4] It has nothing to do with what    I am running. 

Is that all your experience is based on? what  you have run?????

I am aware of many solar controllers which are incapable of handling the possible loads through their"load" terminals & are useless for low voltage protection. unless other steps are taken.and others that simply do not have a low voltage cutout feature 

In fact with the set up you have shown many features of better quality solar controllers would be lost or of little value!

 

Again I will point out the pic shown is a very basic idea of how the solar works

It certainly does not cover the info required to set up even a basic small solar system into a van,especially if you also have or wish to have mains charging & use all the features of the controller

 

Care should also always be used with ALL enverters

They can kill just a easily as mains 240V

That subject has been well covered in previous threads.

PeterQ

 

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 22nd of October 2014 11:18:20 PM

Aus-Kiwi wrote:

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Is this going to another ego tech thread ?? Sheesh !!

---

 Yes

it appear so, when half ****ed info is posted

Nothing worse , IMHO,  than info that could lead the less knowledgeable up the garden path.

But if some are not interested  or find it too deep, they do have a simple option

JUST DO NOT  READ IT 

Peter D & Old bob summed it up  & said early in this thread, it is not so simple 

Blue also seems to have a problem even knowing what he sells

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/120-watt-Flexible-Caravan-Solar-Charging-System-with-300watt-Inverter-and-/221581121738

Read this & there is more ,you will also see where the pic came from

"WM SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER

PWM solar charge controller PWM10-60: Compared with normal solar charge controller, this MPPT controller could increase efficiency by 10%-30%.

. This controller can charge and discharge at the same time.

. This PWM controller has perfect SOC function, control charge current, and supply power to the loads.

 

-

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Thursday 23rd of October 2014 12:33:38 AM

oldtrack123 wrote:

---

 

 

"WM SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER

PWM solar charge controller PWM10-60: Compared with normal solar charge controller, this MPPT controller could increase efficiency by 10%-30%.

. This controller can charge and discharge at the same time.

. This PWM controller has perfect SOC function, control charge current, and supply power to the loads.

 

-

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Thursday 23rd of October 2014 12:33:38 AM

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 This will only happen if all charge to the battery is through the controller, & all load from the battery is drawn from the controller. SOC is a mathematical calculation, not a direct reading from the battery.

Cheers Pete 

Hi All,
Just a reminder to keep posts respectful and friendly.  We would like to keep our forum a positive place, and, although we understand that people may have different points of view, we do not allow personal attacks.
Also, another reminder that although we do have many knowledgeable members offering technical advice, people should consult qualified technicians to ensure that their rigs comply with all safety regulations.

oldtrack123 wrote:

---

HI Mary Jane 

Yes, if someone wants just a portable panel [ low capacity,] that is OK

Just go out & buy a portable unit from any REPUTABLE seller

Place facing direct into sun & connect to battery move from time to time to ensure it is facing direct into the sun for MAX charging, very simple. 

But It would not be considered a Solar system" installed" in a van 

I believe that is what the OP was asking about

One point I should make is, all vans with a heavy use of 12V from the van battery should ensure they have a low voltage battery cut out fitted

This protects the battery from over discharging, which leads to short battery life

PeterQ

---

 

I will correct you. It clearly states "those that do not understand solar" etc. I didn't/don't understand it. But I'm using it and it works.