Whats the best solar panel to get ?

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

I have one of these in my car:

http://itechworld.com.au/products/30...rce=newsletter

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

Hi krypto, I've got one of these after reading some great reviews. They are poorly designed for a solid mounting though - can you recommend a good way to mount them?

I used the existing mounting. For a more solid mounting you could mount the regulator on a plate and then mount the plate

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

I have one of these in my car:

http://itechworld.com.au/products/30...rce=newsletter

Thats pwm, not mppt.

[Brisey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brisey]

I'm currently eagerly awaiting delivery of a 200W Foldable Panel from iTech World, when it's received I'll post a report.
Best price I could find including an MPPT Controller - $399 + post.
I quizzed them as to how they could achieve that price, was told it's because they make the systems so no middle man, 25 years warranty on the panel and 1 year on the controller. They absolutely assured me the controller was MPPT when I quizzed them.
Specifications
Max Power: 200w
Max Voltage: 18V
Max Current: 10A
Open Circuit Voltage: 22V
Size (L/B/H): 810 x 540 x 70mm
Aluminium Fame
Weight ~12kg
2 x 100W High Quality Monocrystalline Solar Panels
Heavy duty zip up padded carry bag
5m alligator clips
12V DC Regulator & Solar Charger NEW DIGITAL MODEL.
Fold out support stand.
They also did a deal for me on post cost and threw in an Anderson Plug.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Max Voltage: 18V
Max Current: 10A

= 180W??

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

All mumbo jumbo to me. Fact is, that running 2 x Engels from my CT, with the 200w Itech panels and roof mounted 2 x 50w panels, my batteries are usually floating by 10 - 11am in the WA sun = lots of cold beer and the meat stays frozen.

[Brisey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brisey]

I'm currently eagerly awaiting delivery of a 200W Foldable Panel from iTech World, when it's received I'll post a report.
Best price I could find including an MPPT Controller - $399 + post.
I quizzed them as to how they could achieve that price, was told it's because they make the systems so no middle man, 25 years warranty on the panel and 1 year on the controller. They absolutely assured me the controller was MPPT when I quizzed them.
Specifications
Max Power: 200w
Max Voltage: 18V
Max Current: 10A
Open Circuit Voltage: 22V
Size (L/B/H): 810 x 540 x 70mm
Aluminium Fame
Weight ~12kg
2 x 100W High Quality Monocrystalline Solar Panels
Heavy duty zip up padded carry bag
5m alligator clips
12V DC Regulator & Solar Charger NEW DIGITAL MODEL.
Fold out support stand.
They also did a deal for me on post cost and threw in an Anderson Plug.

Well my 200W (maybe 180W) panel arrived, just in time for dusk
Tomorrow!!
Oh - and they threw in 2 Anderson Plugs.

[vk2ss55 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vk2ss55]

Hey LeighW ......PV cells behave a little like a constant current source , if you short the output of a 190w panel you might get 5A or so . PV cells have a sweet spot of volts and current where they'll give max power and that's what MPPT controllers look for to give the max power output . Temperature also has an impact on power output as they may be rated at 25deg but in full sun it may be 60deg on the panel so output will be considerably reduced .
Cheers Ross

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Brisey has listed the specs as:

Max Power: 200w
Max power Voltage: 18V
Max power Current: 10A

Max power = Max power voltage x Max current, 18V x 10A = 180W not 200W so
it would seem there is an error somewhere.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

Hey LeighW ......PV cells behave a little like a constant current source , if you short the output of a 190w panel you might get 5A or so . PV cells have a sweet spot of volts and current where they'll give max power and that's what MPPT controllers look for to give the max power output . Temperature also has an impact on power output as they may be rated at 25deg but in full sun it may be 60deg on the panel so output will be considerably reduced .
Cheers Ross

Yes, which is why you should run two or more 12v panels in series so as to eliminate both temperature, and cable size limitations. An MPPT will lose very little output with 24+v panels, there is no comparison.

[Brisey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brisey]

Brisey has listed the specs as:

Max Power: 200w
Max power Voltage: 18V
Max power Current: 10A

Max power = Max power voltage x Max current, 18V x 10A = 180W not 200W so
it would seem there is an error somewhere.

Dunno Leigh? I just copy/paste from their website.
So long as they work

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Brisey has listed the specs as:

Max Power: 200w
Max power Voltage: 18V
Max power Current: 10A

Max power = Max power voltage x Max current, 18V x 10A = 180W not 200W so
it would seem there is an error somewhere.

Plus GST 188 + 18.8 = 206.8, but round to 200. seems legit

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I have one of these in my car:

http://itechworld.com.au/products/30...rce=newsletter

I wonder what "Intelligent PWM Charging Mode" is, they claim it's "the most up to date Intelligent Charging system available today it fully supersedes previous regulators". Curious as my Aldi panels (Bosch cells) only came with a PWM controller, wondering if I should swap it out for an MPPT or one of these.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

If it isn't broken don't fix it!

You may find unless your prepared to spend big money that any repalcement may not work as well as the one you have.

I recently purchased a very well known and highly respected AC charger, it claimed will recharge batteries 2 times faster than any conventional charger, advanced algorithums etc, found that it took two days longer to charge a battery.

On researching their website found it stated "we believe a long slow charge is better for the battery" and that is exactly what the charger did, a 30A charger that chargers at 3 amps isn't much good when trying to recharge your batteries quickly off a generator.

If you current charger is working ok your not likely to see much improvement even with a mulit hundred dollar MPPT if using a 12V 200W panel for instance.

Cheers

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

I wonder what "Intelligent PWM Charging Mode" is, they claim it's "the most up to date Intelligent Charging system available today it fully supersedes previous regulators". Curious as my Aldi panels (Bosch cells) only came with a PWM controller, wondering if I should swap it out for an MPPT or one of these.

PWMbis just a switch, nothing more.