Locate budget inverterl solar system on caravan

Allyoops · Veteran Member

Locate budget inverterl solar system on caravan

dragonfly1 · Senior Member

That is similar to our set up keep your controller close to battries use heavy cables and keep inverter close to battries with short cables and fit a big 300 amp fuse between battries and inverter and only use one thing at a time

Dragonfly1

swamp · Senior Member

HI
experience says that 4 x high out put batteries would be better with big cables also
U need the output spec for the batteries
USE At least the size of cable the invertor comes with or use there recommendation as a minimum GO BIG

U need to find out first if your items can run thru an invertor and how much strain that will place on your batteries
POWER AUDIT

The solar u have would be minimum another 160/200watts would be good portable ??

Wiring route, junction box on the roof, power post/busbar on the roof 1x neg 1x pos then run single of each [+][- ] down inside the van to controller .
Have another solar input Anderson plug on the A frame wired to controller

macka17 · Guru

Chasing your arses trying to shuffle that lot around.

Just get a Genny with 40a AC Charger to top battery's and run Microwave, Kettle, Air-Cond.
and tools.

Nice and comfortable.

After 50 odd yrs. Do it simple.
350w panels. 2 x 110aAGM. 3.8kva Genny., and 40\25a AC Chargers.
25a IN van. 40a mobile.

with one or two 80\85w panels on roof of ute for top up.

We lived 3 ish months a yr, every yr mostly.
Never ran out.

Fergit the coffee thing.
Drink tea or those Cappuchino\Caramel mix packets I use.

There's NOTHING to beat a nice clean black unsweetened cuppa tea.

Just make sure you have enuff panel power to float battery's.
Or they won't last long. (Or buy a genny)

DAVEY123 · Veteran Member

lots of Nat Parks are generator free (thank god) we have 600 watts on roof ,3k inverter and use microwave etc

Allyoops · Veteran Member

Thanks everyone
Davey 123 and dragonfly 1 what sized batteries are you using. I have 2 x 100a calcium.
Ally

macka17 · Guru

Davey.

Wait till the day you get a week or more of rain\cloud.
Hope you have pedal power.

We just crank up Genny.

iana · Guru

That's a neat installation Davey 123. Just be aware when installing solar panels, a shadow over one or two cells can take out the entire panel, I have made the mistake of installing a panel too close to the air con.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Trouble is with generators . Some in past have been tragically noisy and smelly 2 stroke $300 specials . A good quiet brand and used at appropriate times are fine . Just some care etc for others . But it's strange how a geni can stir people up !! He's got what I want !! Comes to mind ?

macka17 · Guru

Run till 8.30 ish at night. and nothing b4 7 in AM was most agreements.
Yrs ago. Probably the same still.
Apart from the whingers. Accept it mate.

As Kiwi says. the old 2 strokers were a problem.
BUT.. ALL 4 strokers can be given EXTRA silencing. Wet or dry to suit.
There's no excuse not to.

Just remember.
A lot of older people have breathing\Sleeping problems.
HAVE to use Genny's for guaranteed power off grid to stay alive virtually.

Huuuge panels look nice.

Just Remember.
Lose a tiny square of reflection area.
YOU lose 90% of the whole panel output.

THAT's why I always say go for several smaller ones.
Plus the possibility of flex damage over larger areas.

One TV arial MAST shadow. NO or minimal Power input.

I've always run my panels in Parallel on roof. Wire to wire. down each side.
With one wire crossing roof on a seal line. to a Junction box.
Filled with silicon. Two into box.
ONE wire down through roof to Regulator hence to battery bank. as close as possible.to.
Without having to lie on floor to see it.
Closer the better .
Multiple 80\130w panels give more General power over the 24 hr cycle.
On aveage.
Unless kept out of cover full time.

I had my vans roofs triple coated with heat reflective paint Plus panels shielding it.
Plus carport shade one side. Roll out t'other.
and kept van OUT of shade 24\7.
Never in shade.
Decent air cond. Never hot inside.

DAVEY123 · Veteran Member

200 A/H GEL battery Allyoops , even in rain we get 4.5 amps never run out of power so far , one thing worst than generators is the second battery 4x4 brigade running a v8 diesel land cruiser to charge a battery is mind numbing, and is just a lack of respect to other bush campers ,

Iana yes take your point they are in parallel used to be in series as i use MPPT a shadow would kill it in that mode , try to point N/W if i can .

-- Edited by DAVEY123 on Thursday 21st of September 2017 07:58:05 PM

-- Edited by DAVEY123 on Thursday 21st of September 2017 08:03:36 PM

macka17 · Guru

""200 A/H GEL battery Allyoops , even in rain we get 4.5 amps never run out of power so far""

--------------------------------------------------

Heavy. Solid rain for a week or more

Solid clouds that Sat signals don't Penetrate. for the same period.

Like we get up here in the Wet, for months?.

Don't think so mate.

Maybe down below Brisbane.

And a little 4.5 ltr V8 Ticking over.

You must have ears like a bat.

They a loverly sound with dual 3in pipes,
or 1 x 4in outlet.

Soothe you to sleep even.

Chill out people.
We ALL on relax time. Share it.
And appreciate life.

DAVEY123 · Veteran Member

Don't seem to get that sort of weather in WA Macka , sorry if i hit a nerve, stay cool .

dragonfly1 · Senior Member

We have two 120 ah battries and have never run out of power even when raining we have a generator but don't take it any more

Dragonfly1

Allyoops · Veteran Member

Hi Dragonfly

What size solar controller and inverter do you use?

Which appliance has the highest current requirement?

Thanks Ally

macka17 · Guru

""Don't seem to get that sort of weather in WA Macka , sorry if i hit a nerve, stay cool""
----------------------------

Don't worry about me mate. ALWAYS cool. I'm an old fart, remember.
Just bite back at some of the dork's. Sometimes..

Yea. We get no rain for up to 8 months a yr up here. But when it does.
It all comes in one big lump basically.
Runs down our street 6 in deep, No kidding. Washes you off your feet.

With a coupla Cyclones thrown in to blow away the loose junk.

Most Southerners come up here and Territory.
Not realising the long wet patches we get at times. Where NO solar gets through at all.

Jumping the gun. Sorry Thought u wuz won of 'em. Drrrrr.

Plus the genny is for Air cond. Microwave. stove kettle. grinder. drill, whatever.

TOO useful to leave behind, a lot of us reckon.
Some even tale electric chain saw instead of SKIL like me.

Regards.

-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 25th of September 2017 02:50:24 PM

Allyoops · Veteran Member

Hi folks
I am still researching solar controllers and find some of the information confusing.
I am looking at a victron 50a controller but the discription says the controller needs a minimum of battery voltage (12v) + 5 volts giving total of 17 volts current from panels in order to start the controller. The 3 panels (200wx2 + 170wx1) total 570w show an open a max open circuit voltage of 22.6v and a max power voltage of 18.7v.
Can anyone explain if this controller will be suitable for my system?
Thanks in advance.
Ally

macka17 · Guru

If you have a load of panels on larger roof.

Maybe think of 2 x reg's. Smaller.
2 x 30a maybe.

gives LESS loss of input from shadows.
IE. Shadow only turns off one side.

PLUS. (a big one)
One half goes for any reason.
The other half still getting you home.

I did that on 2 x yachts.
Over stern rail with Wind Genny, and on forward coach house.
Only losing 50% when sailing or swinging on pick.

Wind genny great for boosting battery amp's at night.
Often made the difference.
Should stick the one in shed back up Hey.
If it still works. been sitting there for 16\17 yrs.

-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 1st of October 2017 11:34:33 AM

Allyoops · Veteran Member

Thanks Macka I hadn't thought of that, I will give it some serious thought.
Ally

Cruising Cruze · Guru

@ Macka

We live in QLD for the last 24 years and we never seen rain for a week
My solar hot water as long as we have it was only once on 240 power due lack of sun

Cheers John

macka17 · Guru

Hi Cruzin.

I think the longest session we had a coupla yrs ago was 9 or 10 days with one sprinkling day. All others raining.

Cyclones usually give at least 5 days wet.
2 or 3 days b4 and after centre.
We often get 4 or 5 day sessions, with no reception from Sat.

One thing about the Evac Tubes HWS. as long as the air warm\hot. It heats the water in tubes.

I checked first. MUCH more efficient than the Plate units with tank alongside.

Ours sits on roof like a shag on a rock. Several Cyclones over 9 ot 10 yrs.
so far, still good. 315 tank in garage, under it.

It's just kept 5 adults 2 showers a day. plus normal running of home. on itself.
NO heater turned on.
2 plus the cat. It's a doddle.

Which reminds me. Cat due for monthly bath tomorrer.
Fun all round hey.
At least he just stands and whinges now. First coupla yrs
we fought the while way through.

Hey.
Foregone conclusion on game we know.
But they fought to the end.

GREAT team.

At least they had Queensland players in team.

According to Gus.
Melb had everyone BUT Victorians in theirs.
Queenslanders. Islanders, Fijians, and Aboriginal.
NOT one Victorian player.

Plus.
The game held in NSW and playing that queer song. Provided plenty of empty seats too.
What's wrong with an Australian artist then.
None up to scratch or sumfin??.

They gave plenty tickets away apparently. and still had around 30k not filled it said
430 comments on net after. Not many for.

Tells you something hey.
More and more large screen TV's. better coverage at home in own chair.
They cutting their own throat with this political bullpup.

PS.

Where do you call Q'LAnd. down the South East. or up here above Gladdy

where the tropics actually start.

Don't forget Q'land don't start till you get croc's in your creeks and offshore

plus Toadies to splat in back yard.

-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 2nd of October 2017 12:47:54 AM

-- Edited by macka17 on Monday 2nd of October 2017 12:52:58 AM

mr glassies · Guru

I think some times . The people that say they have so much in batteries and never run out of power . What do you realy run of your batteries now be honest

Dibs

macka17 · Guru

Dibs.
I have 1 x 85w AGM in Coromal. With 1 x 85\1 x 80w Wet cells in tray.
Will never run out.

Mt Genny fixes me. along with a 40a AC Charger, floater.
plus 10a installed in van, plus 7a in tray.

3.85KVA runs Aircond plus full van. Comfortably.