Solar Panels

[JohnI.Stephen]

In July we'll spend 1 week on a site with no A/C. The real need is to be able to power our water pump, 12v lights, FM radio / CD player, and the odd inverter to power my mobile phone charger. We are not discussing using appliances that place a heavy load on the battery e.g. running an inverter to power a TV for hours on end!). So, with that in mind, have any of you used solar panels which don't cost the earth and which do a good job of just keeping your battery adequately charged with a load similar to what I have described ?

Thanks

John

 

[rob_jax]

Hi John,

Somewhere else on this forum I posted something about some friends from Switzerland who never buy the electric hook up option (in the Summer anyway), but use a 44 watt solar panel and charge controller to keep their 110 AH battery fully topped up. Obviously they run the fridge on gas.

This copes with the evening usage from lights, radio and water pump.

If you use a solar panel which is rated over 25 watts then you must use a charge controller to prevent over-charging the battery.

So I can't see any problem with it working, other than finding the best price...

Robert

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

Hi John,

Somewhere else on this forum I posted something about some friends from Switzerland who never buy the electric hook up option (in the Summer anyway), but use a 44 watt solar panel and charge controller to keep their 110 AH battery fully topped up. Obviously they run the fridge on gas.

This copes with the evening usage from lights, radio and water pump.

If you use a solar panel which is rated over 25 watts then you must use a charge controller to prevent over-charging the battery.

So I can't see any problem with it working, other than finding the best price...

Robert

Robert: Yes I thought I had read this somewhere but when I searched fro Solar Panel I found next to nothing ...??? !

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

In these green times I would have thought that there were many of us 'vanners who would like to power their stuff using solar energy. But perhaps it's all a bit too expensive; after all a decent 40 watt solar panel will cost around

 

[waffler]

Haven't got a panel yet but know of folks who have them. We rally quite often and use CLs/CSs which often don't have hookups. I've learnt that with panels you get what you pay for. A good one (it seems they must look blue not grey!) will keep your battery topped up spring to autumn as long as there is no big current needed, e.g TV, hairdryers etc. We use 2 batteries, watch soem TV in the evening (no more than 2 hours a night) and haven't had a problem in 9 days away. I had a split cahrger fitted in the boot and have a 12s socket connected to it. A 12S plug is then fitted to battery terminals and this means I can charge the low battery when I am driving round. (Not when I am towing though as there is not enough current for both the van and spare battery.) I found Towsure had the cheapest batteries.

 

[cris_408518]

Try this interesting motorhome project site and check out the Solar Panel notes. http://www.xor.org.uk/unimog/mymog.htm

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

Thanks Chris and Cris; I am quite encouraged by this and certainly looks like the way to go !

Thanks

John

 

[cris_408518]

John on another thread some weeks back I put link details re solar panel supplier shop on EBAY. German outfit and family friends have used their good price quality products on their yacht and the compny and panels are higly rated !

 

[RogerL]

Electric solar panels AREN'T green!

Using the solar panel the energy is free, creates no carbon emissions and doesn't consume fossil fuels BUT the energy consumed and pollution caused in the manufacture of silicon panels far outweighs the savings, even over the whole life of a panel.

For just the occasional period with no hook-up with no heavy loads, use the car battery through the 12S connection, it'll re-charge every time the car's used.

For more regular use without a hook-up, or short periods of heavy demand then consider a wind generator - they are effective 24 hours / day and 12 mths / year - unlike solar panels.

 

[cris_408518]

Roger.Your point has some value.

But

I've been on plenty of sites where they are well protected and there is little wind. If I can't fly my small power kites I doubt that a wind genny would work and that happens whilst camping quite often.

And who is going to hoista wind genny and who wants one wirring around when the wind gets up.

We often don'y use the car for days whilst on site and wouldn't be annouing neighbours with running the car to charge up.

And can you tell Woking and other councuils that the buildings they have clad with solar panels are NOT green ;-)

 

[RogerL]

cris - are Woking using solar electric panels or solar water heating panels, there's a huge difference from an environmental point of view?

Solar water heating panels, whether fitted to domestic properties or larger buildings, are energy efficient AND carbon efficient in their manufacture.

Solar electric panels are extremely carbon-harmful in their making!

If people, not just caravanners, want to help the environment it's important that they understand what does help and what's just spin.

If people buy solar electric panels because they're useful and convenient, that's their decision but they mustn't be allowed to think that their purchase is "green".

 

[cris_408518]

On the A322 from Guildford towards M3 you pass some council flats uposite Sainsburys that have the whole roof covered with electric solar panels.

They also clad the roof of other nearby council properties in Knaphill and a Doctors Surgery and Community Centre on the road past Sainsburys.

I understand from friends that Woking have made a big noise about these "Eco Friendly" measures and believe they have others around the area.

 

[cris_408518]

ps.

I think it is also BP that are using them on a roof on their A3 Garage north of Guildford. I believe they have them at a few other garages to, being Eco friendly ;-)