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hi, im planning a solar panel install soon but am unsure of realistic capacity I need. I know how to calculate theoretical usage, but theoretical is'nt called theoretical for nothing. I want to wild camp for a few days at a time in our Northern weather, then spend 3-4 days at a time off grid in France/N Spain in summer. Ill use 12v for water pump, for TV and DVD for kids, a few spots in evening. Ill use gas for water heating and cooking. I have one battery at present (unlabelled amp hr) but plan to add at least another 90-100 AmpHr capacity. SO what wattage of panel do you think ill need? Is 300W too high. TIA
300W would be your maximum input from the panels,worth remembering that in winter with short days and poor weather you won't get the maximum, so depends when you intend using MH. I don't think you will go short of power. You will need the right size regulator - V x I = W so 12 x I = 300, so 25A at least will be needed.
I don't know (or understand!) any of the technical aspects of calculating solar power capacity. What I do know is that we have an 80w panel and have an inverter for charging laptop, phones etc. On a recent trip to Wales, when the conditions varied from bright sunshine to black cloud and extremely heavy rain, we spent 8 nights on CL without hookup. We have pretty low LED lighting in the evenings and don't have electric kitchen appliances, but make regular use of laptop, Kindle, phones etc.
Hope this helps.
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What van do you have? Do you have room on the roof for a 300W installation? We have a 130W panel, and it takes up most of the width of the van at the back.
When you say wild camping in Northern weather, what time of year will it be? During the winter, the sun is very low in the sky. Maximum power from solar panels is delivered when the panel is perpendicular to the sun.
If it is independence you want then put in what you have space for. I managed 3 x 80watts and 3 x 110ah batteries (but 2x 100ah would suffice) I haven't plugged into electricity for 20 months and wild camp regularly.
I believe you can get a better deal on supplying and fitting more rather than less.
Hi Gerald, we have a B544 with a roof box but there is plenty of room left. There is a bracket from a previous panel. The off grid camping will only be spring and summer. What sort of power do you get from the 130W panel? Thanks in advance!
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