Solar panels are coming!

[Supertramp]

Well I hope so anyway.
We love free camping and off the grid but my leisure battery isn't keeping up so we're getting some panels installed here in Morocco. I always wanted one after seeing Alastair's setup and Neil's on thelatebay.
Installation pics coming soon

 

[robins]

8) you keep the pics coming

 

[aogrady]

Yay! Piccys piccys!!!

 

[markevo30]

I'm just researching the solar panel thing at the moment so I'll be interested to see how they perform. Might have to take the difference in climate Between here and Morocco into consideration though 8)

What size are you going for?

 

[Pickles]

Me too very interested to know what, the way of solar panels, you have bought or are buying and some pics of your installation etc. I have a front hinged westy roof - has anyone else put a solar panel on the rear roof rack, if so what size did you go for and how did you fix it?

 

[aogrady]

Me too very interested to know what, the way of solar panels, you have bought or are buying and some pics of your installation etc. I have a front hinged westy roof - has anyone else put a solar panel on the rear roof rack, if so what size did you go for and how did you fix it?

Me, I have had a rear mounted 80w on my westy rack, with stainless steel adjustable height hinges to angle at 45 degrees or so, along with a MPPT digital regulator and T Max digital split charge system with 110ah leisure battery.

All the details on my build thread, Happy to answer any questions on there, it'll keep this thread clean for the Op details!

Cheers

Alistair

 

[creationblue]

I'm considering a panel to replace the energy my 12v fridge will use. Was thinking of a 150w panel and mppt. Trouble is the theory is my 12v fridge will use 5a, the battery is 110ah, but you are likely to only get half that capacity in real terms. So I figured the battery should last about 7 hours.... So I'm thinking a couple of hours a day should keep the fridge coolish and allow some energy back in the battery.

Now my fridge currently works on 12v only when the engine is running, so I fitted a by-pass switch tonight to see how long it would actually last on battery. I should point out that the battery was showing 13v on my tester but it rounds up so was probably lower. I switched on the fridge (went and did my second job as a taxi to my kids) came back and the red warning light on the zig was on after about 40mins, zig manual says battery is at 11v at this point :lol:

Scroll down the page of this link and it will tell you how much change you have compared to Volts measured http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So my 150w panel wouldn't even scratch the surface in my case!

I will say that my van has been at the engine shop for 7months and although the LB was fully charged in December it has probably suffered due to lack of use, that said I drive over 100miles Friday and used the LB all weekend then drove home again so it had a good charge. I'm gonna charge it again over night and try again tomorrow, this time I'll use a more accurate meter and see what happens.

 

[aogrady]

The Waeco Coolmatic CR50-E compressor fridge has Approx. 40 watts Current Consumption (12 volts DC):1.4  Ah/h at +25°C ambient temperature, 1.7 Ah/h at +32°C ambient temperature, both at +5°C interior temperature and -18°C in the freezer compartment

I see about 4 amps or so running off my solar, so would keep it running well, and you can configure the compressor speed to run at a lower power, and also run it totally off solar if you want.

I would think a 150w would put out in the region of 7amps? I'll need to work out the figures....

Alistair

 

[creationblue]

The Waeco Coolmatic CR50-E compressor fridge has Approx. 40 watts Current Consumption (12 volts DC):1.4  Ah/h at +25°C ambient temperature, 1.7 Ah/h at +32°C ambient temperature, both at +5°C interior temperature and -18°C in the freezer compartment

I see about 4 amps or so running off my solar, so would keep it running well, and you can configure the compressor speed to run at a lower power, and also run it totally off solar if you want.

I would think a 150w would put out in the region of 7amps? I'll need to work out the figures....

Alistair

Yes the Waeco fridges are very efficient but not worth the expense/work to retro-fit to my Berlin 12v only fridge (although I have a guide in German with pictures if anyone has a Berlin interior and wants to do this).

Yes about 7/8 amps, another thing worth knowing is that a LB capacity is based on temperature, namely 25deg C, anything under this and the figure is reduced further, so camping in the UK is hard on batteries anyway.

 

[aogrady]

Yes, I remember your conversion now, so a normal absorption fridge? Maybe solar would work well for you?

As for batteries, you're right, what you need is 210ah of ultra deep cycle Trojan 6v batteries, that'd keep you rocking....I have a pair for sale ;-)

#shamelessplug

Alistair

 

[creationblue]

Yes, I remember your conversion now, so a normal absorption fridge? Maybe solar would work well for you?

As for batteries, you're right, what you need is 210ah of ultra deep cycle Trojan 6v batteries, that'd keep you rocking....I have a pair for sale ;-)

#shamelessplug

Alistair

How much do you want for those bad boys, they are rather expensive :msn4:

 

[aogrady]

I'll pm you, it'll keep the thread tidy....

 

[creationblue]

I'll pm you, it'll keep the thread tidy....

Fair point, sorry to hijack......

 

[Supertramp]

No need to apologise or not include information on this thread, it's probably going to be helpful for me and future users so post away Alistair!
We're getting it done around Agadir which we're a few days away from, and undecided on utilising the poptop and going all out 150w+ or using the luggage wrack ala Alastair's and fitting in a 100w panel.
Alistair, I can't remember but did you drill into your roof for the cabling?

 

[creationblue]

I would shy away from the flexi I panels as they overheat and are inefficient compared to the framed version, the alloy frame acts as a heat sink keeping them cool

 

[lemur]

interesting thread, something I've been looking at recently..

have you seen this site?
http://www.photonicuniverse.com/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Liam

 

[aogrady]

No need to apologise or not include information on this thread, it's probably going to be helpful for me and future users so post away Alistair!
We're getting it done around Agadir which we're a few days away from, and undecided on utilising the poptop and going all out 150w+ or using the luggage wrack ala Alastair's and fitting in a 100w panel.
Alistair, I can't remember but did you drill into your roof for the cabling?

OK, no worries. I'll post up all the links and things I found when I did my setup a few years back

No, I didn't drill, just fed under the pop top - till a temporary fix now, but works, and I hate drilling holes. Just has a point about the flexi panels though, and I don't think a 100w will fit the square hole on the rear rack, unless you mount on the pop top itself

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

interesting thread, something I've been looking at recently..

have you seen this site?
http://www.photonicuniverse.com/en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Liam

They are also on ebay, not too bad on prices, but I preferred to research more on the regulator and choose my own kit of parts, which was expensive, but very good with quality internals

Cheers,

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

OK, here are my details of things, links, etc when I did mine. Hopefully the links still work. Will add more as I find it....

My set is the same now, but with 110ah leisure, I have not yet fitted the Trojan batterys, see below. I have the same regulator, 80W panel, no zig, same inverter, and still a box of cables and monitoring electronics and circuit breakers o fix, as it was only a temporary install for testing purposes....still 2 years ltr not quite finished


Been doing a few bits and pieces, fitted a new battery:

Got it from RAC online, very cheap @ £39 inc delivery. 3 yr warrenty and they come to you if it goes wrong. It's a higher aH than stock, with better CCA, fits fine, though check with terminal is + as mine was the other way round due to some random american battery which was fitted, over 3 years old and never checked, was starting to sound slow when cranking. Was looking low on acid when i looked in one cell, may keep for a back up project with a solar panel for a light in the garage.

http://www.racshop.co.uk/car-battery/product/bosch-s3-car-battery-065-075.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have bought some blue LED panel meters to monitor voltage at the fridge lesiure battery supply, and to monitor fridge temperature output.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370626378265?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370629991656?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

These will fit on a flip down panel, just under the gas hob, behind the drop down door.

Also, i have been trying to do some homework on leisure batteries, and have gone down a different route to what i have seen anyone else using I think. I will be using 2 6V flooded wet batterys linked together to form 1 12V bank. I am using Trojan deep cycle traction batterys, used in golf carts and similar. Here they are:

http://www.alternativeenergystore.co.uk/trojan-t605-6v-deep-cycle-battery.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.tayna.co.uk/T-605-Trojan-Battery-Deep-Cycle-T605-P7250.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/TrojanBattery_UsersGuide.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can see the size of them compaired to the Bosch starter battery. :shock: These will fit under the rock and roll bed next to the propex, I just need to move the inverter somewhere else, and finally fit the mains hookup, though to be honest, i dont think i am gonna really need it, unless i go for option 1 (see below)

Now, the reason for going with these is that a normal leisure battery, even a deep cycle leisure battery has a life cycle of max 500 cycles, these Trojan's have at least 1000 cycles, and where about the largest ah leisure battery is 125, which ore over £100 quid each, i paid £65 each for these Trojan's, with the added benefit of ultra deep cycle and recharge over a normal battery - plus these are rated at 210aH !!! MASSIVE !!!

I still have some more research to do on the charger system i want to use, here are a few things i have found, but i am in 2 minds to go for this:

http://www.seapost.co.uk/sterling-ab1280-special-price---digital-ab-1280-alternator-to-battery-charge-booster-416-p.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also would like a monitoring device to add to the system like this:

http://www.marinesuperstore.com/posit/shop/index.php?selectedpartno=99197803" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is cheap:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300735242790?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would like some kind of battery monitoring device and control, i'm in 2 minds to just get a basic split charge system and use something like this:

http://bluesea.com/productline/specs/387" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

On ebay here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blue-Sea-7610-ACR-Automatic-Charging-Relay-Voltage-Sensing-IP67-12-24V-BlueSea-/310347723938?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item48422a74a2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or this:

http://www.vanbitz.com/battery-master-1-p.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.yandina.com/c100InfoR3.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110828967152?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-727-33-DURITE-12V-140A-SPLIT-CHARGE-INTELLIGENT-RELAY-/110747372068#ht_564wt_698" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This set up is cheaper, but from what i understand the batterys i am using may need a more specialist charging system to maximise there capacity.
Sterling power products do a DC to DC system, with takes over the alternator power, increases the voltage to around 14.8 (IIRC) and uses a multi stage charging programme to charge the bank up, similar to a multi charge unit you would have at home.

So, do i just get:

1) Decent split charge system, and a home charger for the batterys when needed. Because of the high capacity, and the engines split charge, in theory they will only a top up and condition? Though this depends on how flat i run them....

2) DC-DC system with split charge and multi stage charging, no extra charger needed, but relying on the alternator output? But supposed to use the alternator output max current, like 50A say, so will charge much quicker than a standalone charger, and all self contained, on totally off grid, which is what i really want. Like the Sterling AB1280.

3) Also, to add to this, i want to get a solar panel set up, and use this to charge both banks, i have my eyes on a dual setup up with remote monitoring of the charge:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180790063442?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110877737967?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120963565171#ht_4263wt_908" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was intending to fit the panel onto the rear luggage rack, but after our trip to the music festival the other week, i think it's more useful as rack space for the radio flyer if nothing else. So, may fit a larger panel onto the pop up roof, at least this way i can raise the roof to get the best sun for the panel, and a large capacity panel would obviously help with charging, still trying to accurately work out the sun hours in the UK, though i suspect a larger output panel may help with the lower sun levels here in the UK.

Now, i think i may get rid of my Zig unit, as i may just use the inverter for mains, and the Zig isn't man enough to fully handle the Trojans. This will allow me to use a switch bank like this maybe:

http://www.seapost.co.uk/3-switch-panel-with-battery-guage-and-cigar-lighterpower-take-off-point-1618-p.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And i will also have the battery control meters housed in place of the zig under the bed where my 240V sockets and propex outlet are. Once i had decided where i am going, i will redo the power feed to the fridge for a thicker cable maybe, though i think it's ok.

But i think i want a heavy duty fuse bank and distribution unit so i can run the fat power cables to and from the batteries, and use this as a common point for earths etc. I am still looking for a suitable unit, spent all my time trying to research the charging system, so will look for this a little later.

Will be looking into venting these batteries, or fitting into boxes, as they will vent gas when charging, don't know if this will be a problem or not.

Useful reading and inspiration on this subject found in these sites here:

http://deepredmotorhome.com/electrics.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorView?langId=-1&storeId=11151&catalogId=10001&page=Marine-Wire" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.motorhomefacts.com/forum-83.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19562" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12915&start=60" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17258" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=330009&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.motorhomefacts.com/forums-viewforum.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.solar-electric.com/electrical.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=4+AWG+Marine+Battery+Cable" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[aogrady]

More details:


Hi,

OK, offered up the panel onto the roof to see how it fits, and where to progress with brackets... It's not until you stick a straight edge on the rack, you realise the curvature. This doesn't help the install, I think i will remove the metal slats and bond the panel onto the roof, via alloy brackets and the hinge system, still thinking about the final parts i will need to order.

Anyway, onto some pictures. It is just placed on top of the rack rails to give me a idea of placement. Ignore the cardboard under the panel, it was to make it easier to slide on and off the roof, was only my pair of hands to do it.....

It was a sunny day. so hooked up the multimeter, just over 20V, so will see how it regulates down when the MPPT regulator turns up. I gained 1v nearly by tilting towards the sun.

Onwards and upwards!

Alistair