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Please dont get techi with me im not that bright, and know very very little about solar panels.
I have seen on ebay a 20watt panel with 5m of cable which seems a good price at £79.99 + £7.99 P&P.
We are going off EHU in the winter in France for 7 nights, we have the normal 12v bits in our van + a 240v flat screen TV (using a inverter) with a 12v digi box.
Im a bit worried about going flat and dont fancy driving around to top up via engine.
We know we dont have to use the TV & digi box but would like to if possible and we are going to be out most of the day.
so my questions to all you experts are:-
(1) Would a 20Watt keep our battery topped up?(we also have a small 4watt)
(2) Would the 20W connect straight onto the battery?
I am afraid 20w won't do much for you in winter with overcast skies, mind you my 100w doesn't do much either, mine gives maybe up to an amp then, Alan.
I am looking at solar myself but I expect a 20W panel in winter would just about trickle charge your battery, if that.
You don't actually have to drive around but if you sit with the engine at about 2000 rpm you will charge up. I would only suggest that as an emergency measure.
The best option would be to take a quiet generator but they are expensive. Honda is the standard for not annoying the neighbours too much. It is certainly quieter than sitting with the engine at 2000rpm!!!
save your cash... An 80w panel is generally regarded as a standard / minimum. Spend a little time reading this section and I am sure you will locate all the answers.
If your driving each day that will put some charge back into your leisure battery.
Option 1 would be a second leisure battery
Option 2 Go for an 80w panel.. It's a worthwhile investment. (DIY - £240 see my thread)
I fitted mine back in February, never been on the Electric since.
Just had 10 days in Germany and it gave us plenty of power for 3/4 hours TV per night.
______________________________________________________________ Steve Tonks...
Yes agreed but I've just added another 60 giving 140 for better cloudy and short day performance as we will camp all year round.
See my thread too via link in signature below.
I listened and took the advice this spring, fitted a 80w and it really is the minimum.
you wont regret it!! week in cornwall battery generally back to full by lunch time, sunshine permitting, did get low batt. sometimes on dull days, but never failed
try ebay look for 'BP solar'
fantastic panel should be less than £200, I bought steca controller, £25 and some cable, with bits.
total £250 self fitted.
would do it again without heshesitation
regds neil cambridge
Agree with above, put that £80 toward a bigger panel. Most my customers go for 120/135/150w and they get around 0.5-2 amps on grey winter days, just enough for trickle charge.
Uncle Norm did report his 120w we fitted took his battery bank from 65% charge to 100% during one sunny winters morning - thread should be about on MHF if you search for it.... but notice the word sunny!!
Dont get me wrong, im not bashing solar, I love it, I have a 135w for my caravan. They work well even in weak winter sunshine. But remember solar panels will never replace EHU, they just help to increase longevity when wild camping.... unless your consumption is less than or equal to the panel output of the previous day, you will be eating into your batteries over a period of days.
For your power consumption, look at expanding your battery bank and couple with a big solar panel or genny - other options are fitting a battery to battery charger so you can charge quickly with your engine running - less popular, but still an option is a wind generator. Also look where you can conserve energy, a newer 12v tv (new avtex L185DR/TR uses only 1.2amps) will help, then you can ditch the inverter?? 7 days without ehu and just running lights/water pump is asking a lot, without then throwing an inefficient inverter into the equasion.
i got four 20 watters as they are so small you can fit them in a holdall and i got 30mm bolt from diy shop and two pieces of angle so when on site just attach together with angle you then use mc4 branch 4 into 1 and you have cracked it also i paid £54.00 each off ebay,i know its dearer than buying one 80 watter but if your not sticking them to the roof then this is easier to store mine are 610mm x 290mm
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