Solar panels

[mealsonwheels]

Thinking of getting a 60w-80w free standing solar panel to use on sites with no EHU. We use a tv for only a couple of hours a day, plus lights, water pump for taps and shower and the caravan alarm. Any info as to good make or type to get etc., would be very welcome.
Is it correct that a free standing solar panel is simply connected to the leisure battery by crocodile clips?
Do the free standing solar panels create a theft risk?

 

[JTQ]

This size panel MUST be connected via a controller as it has more than enough potential [pun intended] to boil your battery.
There are many panels out there now and at exceptionally good prices as the USA has put some sort of import embargo on Chinese manufactured panels as they claim these are being "dumped" below cost price.
The best gain per area are crystaline types either mono or poly; the best yield in poor light are amorphos but always requiring a larger area.
I use a free standing 85 Watt quality Japanes one that several years ago cost me 4 times todays price. I have it on a security cable about 30 foot long so I can place it in the sunlight.
I would not recommend croc clips they are crude and whilst generally do the job they are never better than a bodge. Remember you could be seeing up to 6 Amps flowing. Anderson connectors are a very neat connection solution.
My controller(s) are Morningstar but there are cheaper ones that others find work well. My set up allows for a second battery to be carried went we chose; this then services our TV leaving the vans battery for "life support" duties imune to abuse from watching too much TV.
Even an 80 Watt panel could be inadequate from now till March, but eat the job during the summer.
First step should be to change those lights left on for long periods to LED types, this saves a lot of battery energy.

 

[Parksy]

Hi MoW

We have an 80 watt monocrystaline solar panel which we bought three years ago to keep our 110 amp/ hour leisure battery charged on rallies when we are off ehu.

As JTQ mentioned earlier, an 80 watt solar panel will struggle from October until March if you use the tv (ours is fine for everything else) but during the brighter months you should be ok as long as your leisure battery is in good condition and not years old.

Like JTQ, I have exchanged the old radiant 12v light bulbs for LED's and they conserve battery power and still give plenty of light if you invest in good LED's.
We bought our solar panel from a local supplier, Bromsgrove Solar who were recommended to us by fellow ralliers and they supplied a guaranteed monocrystaline solar panel with a waterproof junction box and built in blocking diode (monocrystaline are the most efficient and the diode prevents the battery being drained by the panel during the hours of darkness), outdoor solar cables of the correct thickness and a 10 amp controller as a package at what was then a very reasonable price.
Our first panel turned out to be faulty and Bromsgrove Solar exchanged it there and then with no hassle.

Solar panels have come down in price over the past three years and Bromsgrove Solar still offer a reasonably priced package deal for an 80 watt monocrystaline solar panel etc but for less than we paid at the time (their August 2012 offer was £159) with free UK delivery , and the panels are guaranteed for 25 years.

I spoke to a representative of Bromsgrove Solar a few weeks ago and he said that if anyone who wishes to buy a solar panel set up for their caravan mentions that Bromsgrove Solar were recommended by Steve (that's me

)from Practical Caravan forum he will give a discount off the price so give it a try if you want to.
The Bromsgrove Solar contact details are:

Unit 12a Harris Business Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4DJ

Telephone: 01527 878536 Email: sales@bromsgrovesolar.com

I have absolutely no conection with the company other than as a satisfied customer who doesn't like to see forum members paying over the odds for a good product.

 

[Parksy]

I forgot to add that I used our solar panel as a freestanding unit for the first 12 months and I bought a small padlock and a length of strong but small chain from a hardware shop, the padlock went through the frame of the panel. In the end I decided to roof mount my panel and wire it permanently in to the charging circuit to save the hassle of drying it off and storing it away whenever we packed up to go home, the details are on this message board in the Customised Caravan topic above.

 

[mealsonwheels]

Thanks JTQ & Parksy for your valuable information.