SOLAR PANELS - AGAIN !

[ChrisH]

Sorry to bring up this subject again, but a search in the Forum doesn't answer my particular question......

My van - a Coachman VIP 545 with an 18 month old 110Ah battery lives in a storage site when not in use. It has a phantom tracker which requires a charged battery to be operational.

Although I switch off the 12v system and disconnect the radio when we leave the van, I find that the battery will not last much more than 6 weeks between uses before going flat.

It seems sensible, reading this forum, to get a solar panel which I could rig up to hang under the Heki rooflight or place in the front window.

The Maplin website implies that a 5 watt solar panel (currently on promotion) would be sufficient for this purpose and it says that I do not need a charge controller for batteries over 35Ah.

Is that good advice?

We do not need to feed the battery when away for weekends - we always look for a hook-up. And larger panels seem to be quite a lot more expensive.

I would be grateful for any advice.

Many thanks

 

[Chris_374413356]

Hi, I think 5W would be a bit small, don't forget it's 5w on a sunny day, not behind a possible dirty rooflight in winter when you only have a few hours of daylight and the panel won't be looking at the sun directly.

I think I would go for at least double or treble that size.

See what others say who may be in the same situation as you.

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Chris.

The 5 watt would be a waste of money. I have a similar set up on My Bailey California. E.g Alarm, Tracker and I also isolate the 12v system prior to storing the van and our battery only lasted approx 6-8 weeks before going below 12.5v which is also a 110Amp.

I did some research and and ended up with a 12 watt unit from Maplins and I have been using it for 4-5 months now along with a charge controller as so not to cook the battery. I installed a digital volt meter so I can check the voltage of the battery with ease as the one supplied by Baily is not very accurate approx 10% out. Any way the battery stays between 12.9 and 13.3 v which is great as it keeps the battery fully charged and this is checked after a rest period from charging. The solar panel does not require direct sunshine as it works in overcast conditions almost as well.

Part number at Maplins N31CX Currently at

 

[marlot]

Von Ryan - Useful feedback. Do you mount the panel in the skylight, or externally on the roof?

 

[ChrisH]

That's great advice Von Ryan - thanks.

I'll also be interested in where you have mounted the panel - I was just intending to prop it in the window or suspend it under the Heki rooflight and then put it away when we take the van out.

I asked Coachman about mounting a solar panel on the roof and they weren't keen and implied it might invalidate the warranty.

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Chris H and Will DeBeast.

I don't have the panel outside as it might go walkies. I tried the panel in the roof light panel, but that was not very effective with the rotation of the sun, it was going into shadow a lot. So I put in the front centre window as it is south facing so get the sun at it meridian at some point of the day. The panel is of such a size that it fits between the two columns of the centre front window and the two other blinds can be lowered fully and the centre blind stops about 1/4 of an inch (5mm) above the panel and does not look out of place, but maitains the security of the van as no one can see the contents of the van, but it blends in so well you don't notice a solar panel either.

Again I hope this helps.

Von Ryan

P.S

We never take the panel away with us as it is not powerful enough to keep the battery topped up if you used any appliances e.g T.V , water pumps etc. It as far as I am concerned its avery effective battery charger which compensates for the discharge of on board units such as alarms and Trackers.

 

[ChrisH]

Found it on the Maplin website and local Bristol shop has stock, so that's a great solution.

I'm really grateful for the advice.

One last question, if I may, please?

Is this panel easy to connect to the battery? Is it just a matter of making a connection onto each battery terminal via the charge controller? Is polarity critical? And I like the idea of the digital volt meter - as you say the one provided with the van is pretty basic and not accurate (as far as I can tell). So do I need to make an additional connection onto the battery terminals for that as well? Have you mounted the meter somewhere permanent?

I'm sort of amateur competent with DIY and basic electrical stuff, but this is new territory for me.

Many thanks

 

[ChrisH]

Sorry - another supplementary question.

Have just looked up charge controllers on the Maplin site.

Would I be right in thinking that the smallest - L26BR 4Ah regulator @

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Chris

Firstly the polarity is critical + to +, - to -, On the other matter yes it is just a matter of connecting directly to the battery. BUT I did not like to connect directly. My Bailey does not have any 12v sockets so I installed a 2 pin 12v socket below the bed at the end as the battery box container is below the bed and put a in line fuse on the positive side. The solar panel comes with a lead appox 5 mtrs long and it then comes with two adaptors 1 x cigar plug and 1 x two croc clips, which just plug into the lead. I cut off the croc clips and wired in a 12v caravan internal 2 pin plug which I just plug into the regulator and the other side of the regulator plugs into the panel lead.Nice and easy to attach and detach.I did not use the Maplins regulator as I found a company called Sunshinesolar.co.uk who do a plug and play regulator suitable for this solar panel,also it is cheaper than the Maplins version. I also got the 12v Durid digital gauge from this company,about

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Chris

www.sunshinesolar.co.uk

Look under regulators and controllers and the regulator you want is a Sun Shine chatge regulator 12v 7amp

 

[ChrisH]

Hi Von Ryan,

Many, many thanks for all this.

I already have the Maplins panel in my hands and with the help of your excellent guidance, I'm sure it will be no problem connecting it all up.

I do really appreciate your help.

regards

Chris

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Chris

Its a pleasure, if you need any other assistance just e-mail

Regards

Von Ryan

 

[mistermac]

Hi Chris

I've got a very small (I think it's the 5 watt version) solar panel that I hook up to my battery (via two small, simple to attach crocodile clips) when the van is not in use.

The panel cost me

 

[Ken_374580556]

I checked the size of the N31CX which at 98cm is quite a bit too

big for the front window of my Lunar Clubman, I could fit it

horizontally but it would be some 100mm back and be somewhat obscured by the mullions. Would it be good enough do you think?

I do have two 12v outlets (cigar lighter style) are these suitable for trickle charging?

I've really benefited from the comments so far, many thanks.

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Ken.

I will be down at the van on Sunday.I will check the solar face as there is a substantial frame.Your 12 v Sockets might be O.K,but if you isolate your system it may not be connected to the battery! The 12volt socket under the base of the bed is only for the solar system. Even though it is correctly wired and fused if I was to use it to say run my 12v cool box in the caravan while doing a over night crossing to France the battery would be severly discharged and take some charging up fron the 13 pin socket. As I said I will check the working face side, unless Chris H has his to hand to measure

Von Ryan

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Mark Mac

The 5w unit is sufficent fot a battery of up to 85amp without any draw, so basically it will maintain a fully charged battery,but if the battery is discharged say to 12.4v till will only maintain 12.4v and not charge up the battery.The same applies to the 110amp that I use plus a little extra for the milliamps drawn for the alarm and tracker.

Thanks for the info and I am glad your system is working well without costing a fortune

Take care

Von Ryan

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Ken.

the working face of the panel is 90cm long by 29cm wide.I use mine horizontally and it is slightly obscured by the two mullions, but I have the panel flat about 10cm back I wiould imagine that if yours was 10cm back as you said you would get the same results as I do. I checked the battery voltage today after a rest period and it was 12.9 volt so well and truly charged.

Hope this helps

Von Ryan

 

[Ken_374580556]

Hi von ryan,

Many thanks for the info and reassurance, I've ordered the bits

and now feel relieved about winter storage with regard to alarm

and tracker and considering the inevitable arguments with the

insurers if they weren't working and the van was stolen.

I'm much obliged to you for your help.

Very best regards

Ken

 

[Robert_374344761]

Hi Chris

Firstly the polarity is critical + to +, - to -, On the other matter yes it is just a matter of connecting directly to the battery. BUT I did not like to connect directly. My Bailey does not have any 12v sockets so I installed a 2 pin 12v socket below the bed at the end as the battery box container is below the bed and put a in line fuse on the positive side. The solar panel comes with a lead appox 5 mtrs long and it then comes with two adaptors 1 x cigar plug and 1 x two croc clips, which just plug into the lead. I cut off the croc clips and wired in a 12v caravan internal 2 pin plug which I just plug into the regulator and the other side of the regulator plugs into the panel lead.Nice and easy to attach and detach.I did not use the Maplins regulator as I found a company called Sunshinesolar.co.uk who do a plug and play regulator suitable for this solar panel,also it is cheaper than the Maplins version. I also got the 12v Durid digital gauge from this company,about