Solar Panel- What size needed

[Leigh_374581504]

I am thinking about buying a solar panel to keep my battery charged at all times. It is an old caravan but we use it on sites without Electric hook ups. When in storage it has no stand-by items ( such as tracker or alarm) So what is the smallest( therefore cheapest panel) I can get away with ?

Thanks

 

[raccoon]

Hi Leigh, try Maplins, I have been told they keep them in stock. The size of one depends on the Amp hr of your battery. Not a lot of help to you sorry.

 

[TD42]

Leigh, if your thinking of keeing your battery charged while you are using your of EHU you will need at least a 40 amp preferably a 60amp panel for stays over 3/4 days depending on what you are using in the caravan

If its only to keep the battery in top condition while in storage then a 10amp will do

 

[thursdays child]

Hi,can I ask a daft question? Our van is on our drive,which faces south and gets continuous sun,when it comes out.Would it be cheaper to buy a solar panel to keep topping up the battery rather than leaving the mains on from the garage?I am able to ask these sorts of things at the moment as I have nothing better than shampooing the carpets to occupy the little grey cells!!!!!!!!

Thursdays Child

 

[marlot]

"you will need at least a 40 amp preferably a 60amp panel for stays over 3/4 days depending on what you are using in the caravan

If its only to keep the battery in top condition while in storage then a 10amp will do"

I think you mean Watts, not Amps! 40 Amps is 480W at 12V, and would be huge!!!!!

 

[marlot]

T-Child - Unless you want the solar panel for whilst you're away from home, it is MUCH cheaper to run it off the mains at home.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi Thursdays child,

Will deBeast's response may be correct, but it does depend on what power is being used for example a tracker of alarm.

Leigh's headline question states he has no constant power drain, so in fact he could easily get a small low wattage panel that will just keep the battery topped up. Maplin electronics often have a 7W panel on offer for about

 

[Leigh_374581504]

Hi Thursdays child,

Will deBeast's response may be correct, but it does depend on what power is being used for example a tracker of alarm.

Leigh's headline question states he has no constant power drain, so in fact he could easily get a small low wattage panel that will just keep the battery topped up. Maplin electronics often have a 7W panel on offer for about