Solar panels and what size is suitable

[baglimit2002 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baglimit2002]

well, here goes
due to the fact that I know not a thing about solar panels and watts that are need to charge a battery while you are wetting a line, so what do i need to keep a battery charged while the waeco is running keeping my beers cold and still charging battery with out draining the battery if you know what i mean

so let me know what solar panel you have and make --regards Andy sorry if this is not e correct place

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

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

There are a few posts in the various electrical sections (90 and 120 for sure) and a search should show these. Anyway to respond to your question I have a 100W panel I use when we go camping. It is a folding panel but I bolt it onto the roofrack and run the power leads from the regulator direct to the auxiliary battery. I have found that this will pretty much replace the power taken out of the auxiliary by the fridge (National Luna 50L weekender) which runs at -3C while we are on camp. I know of someone with an 80W panel and this cannot keep up with a 40L Engel but beware there are lots of types and brands of panels and outputs vary. Best recommendation is to work around the 100W size or even 120W and then see what is on offer. I went for a Kyocera panel and paid extra for that, my mate's 80W panel is an eBay two dogs brand so there may be the difference straight away.

By the way there is an added benefit to having the panel on the roofrack, it helps keep the car cooler in the sun. Used with a sun bling on the front and rear windows in 40C heat the car barely gets to 30C inside which is a dramatic improvement over no panel and/or blinds.

Michael

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

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

2 x 50w BP panels, 2 x deep cycle batteries, 10amp solar regulator. Engel chews around 4 - 4.5amps on hot day. The panels put in @ 6amps. Plenty left over to run a couple of accessories and charge phone, LED lights, torches, laptop, etc.

Be aware that some panels that advertise at 50, 80, 100 or whatever watts don't always provide decent amp output. This is especially so with those cheaper panels you see at some auto parts stores and ebay. Some don't even work in cloudy overcast conditions. You get what you pay for.

[baglimit2002 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baglimit2002]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

Many thanks , I dont mind paying the extra coin for the good panels Had a look at ebay still only get what you pay for Would you have any perticular brand to buy or people to trust on this , looked at a 120watt dont know what a cf 50 waeco would take out of a battery, better still would any body hire them so I could try before you buy

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

Hi baglimit2002

I have a solar panel on the roof of the Camper, but was looking for something to keep the Engel going in the back on the Prado, without having to go for a drive every second day, so last October I risked it and bought a folding 120W kit from LHP Power on Ebay (despite the warnings on http://www.myswag.org) and I have to say that after 2 weeks free camping on the North coast over Christmas in some pretty ordinary weather..... the Engel never stopped. For the price I paid (Never use the Buy-it-Now - I paid under $400) I am extremely happy. I had to redo the terminal connections, but they are a great panel, and will do everything I need it to..... food for thought.

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

Hi baglimit2002

I have a solar panel on the roof of the Camper, but was looking for something to keep the Engel going in the back on the Prado, without having to go for a drive every second day, so last October I risked it and bought a folding 120W kit from LHP Power on Ebay (despite the warnings on http://www.myswag.org) and I have to say that after 2 weeks free camping on the North coast over Christmas in some pretty ordinary weather..... the Engel never stopped. For the price I paid (Never use the Buy-it-Now - I paid under $400) I am extremely happy. I had to redo the terminal connections, but they are a great panel, and will do everything I need it to..... food for thought.

Hi Rob,
Do you have a link to the actual thread you refer to.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

Myswag Link to discussion on LHP Power ; http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=6066.0

Or Link to LHP Power on Ebay ; http://cgi.ebay.com.au/120-watt-Solar-P ... 0902719518

[2003GXL Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 2003GXL]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

I'm with you signature, I brought the same panel ( 120W folding) just over 12 months ago, from memory it was around the $400, I had to make a few offers ( same price) of different auctions they had and eventually they accepted. I have used it for 3 weeks when touring and a few weekends and have had no trouble at all with it keeping my waeco 80ltr running on second battery. The ones they sell these days have better hinges and cabling as ferw mates have seen mine and brought the same but for the price i'm satisfied with mine.

[toddy Member Find all posts View Profile Close toddy]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

Signature035,

Did the unit from LHP come with a regulator? so all you had to do is plug it in effectively?

Cheers,

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

Yep, Regulator installed on the back of the panels. It came with alligator clips, which I swaped for an anderson plug, so all I do is plug it into the anderson plug at the rear of the Prado, to charge the 2nd battery.

[toddy Member Find all posts View Profile Close toddy]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

no worries Signature thanks for the reply.

Just finished reading the myswag topic on these guys, interesting read isn't it.... :shock: :shock: :shock:

It appears they may have cleaned up their act if you and others have rec'd decent products.

Cheers,

[baglimit2002 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baglimit2002]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

Thanks signature ill have a look at the site --thanks for the help --andy

[luked Member Find all posts View Profile Close luked]

Re: Solar panels and what size is suitable

S**T!

I have ordered a folding 80W panel from solar energy store which I was hoping would race a 40L Engel on a dual battery system.. sounds like i'm being optimistic considering the efficiency of the panel is likely to be low. I'll measure some amps when I get it and see who is going to win the race.

Just goes to show I should have been spending more time reading stuff on Pradopoint!

[luked Member Find all posts View Profile Close luked]

As an update unfortunately I would strongly warn people away from the solar energy store/ lhp company.

After testing my 80W panel on several occassions in full west australian sun the most current I saw coming from it was 2A even when my battery was in much need of charge. The response from the technical staff there over the phone was that the panel was working properly. When arriving in Seven Hills NSW with the panel they had sent to Fremantle WA they quickly admitted the panel was faulty/didn't output 80Watts.

Now after 2 months of phone calls and lies about larger panels being sent to me the company has still not been able to give me a refund and I have resorted to writing comments like this on forums and a complaint to the ombudsman about theier lifetime warranty on power output.

So possibly if you go into their shop they might have better quality panels that might actually produce power close to whats specified but if they are sending it out to you and think there is slim chance you will return it you might get something as unreasonable as I have. I notice that my panels have bugger all solar cells on the panel (lots of white space) on the panel which is the same size as others panels which are full of solar cells.

So I have come to the conclusion that you get what you pay for, don't be tempted by the price and given some confidence by the fixed address, showroom being available and lifetime warranty like I did.

Also decided to try warn off other potential purchasers on ebay, wonder how long till I get reported? I have actually warned the company on two seperate occassions that if this wasn't resolved I would slander their company on the internet so they have had significant opportunity to avoid this....
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/120-160-2...item4cfc7d077c

[Caustic Soda Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Caustic Soda]

I feel for you in this situation, but I had to laugh at your ebay listing. Not sure that it quite meets the eBay guidelines...

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