Do i need solar?

[TheGrapeEscape]

Evening All,

Im looking for some info really, as to if I need solar or not?

I recently fitted new kitchen and electrics in the van. I kept the original leisure battery (120ah) and replaced all chargers for victron ones (victron xs 50a dc dc and victron ip65 charger for when on EHU) .

Only 12v electrics i have are

Cr50x fridge
12v tv
Planar heater (linked off starter battery)
Led lighting (plinth lights/cupboard lights and 6 x downlights)



I've been away about 4 times so far, but always been on EHU and never done wild camping/off grid etc.

Do i need solar, or would battery upgrade sort my needs?

 

[Dellmassive]

I would have your heater moved over to the leisure battery feed.

And look at adding a starter battery trickle charger.... So it doesn't run flat.

Adding solar is a great idea IMHO...

I just added a 180w to the Roof.... With a victron 100/20 controller.

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

I would have your heater moved over to the leisure battery feed.

And look at adding a starter battery trickle charger.... So it doesn't run flat.

Adding solar is a great idea IMHO...

I just added a 180w to the Roof.... With a victron 100/20 controller.

Trickle charger, ablemail?

I'll look at the victron 100/20 stuff now.

I've found this kit which i was swayed with



£899 for this kit, or this kit below for £349.

 

[soldas]

You running a lithium or AGM battery?

I've got a cheap as chips 130 flexi panel (directly on a black roof so about as non optimised as you can get) and with that and the split charger (I WFH so minimal use in the week) my 105ah fogstar is pretty much full at all times even with the fridge on 24/7.

 

[doncarlyon]

I'm at the same point of trying to decide if I need it. For a similar price, I could just add another 100ah Renogy Lithium...

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

You running a lithium or AGM battery?

I've got a cheap as chips 130 flexi panel (directly on a black roof so about as non optimised as you can get) and with that and the split charger (I WFH so minimal use in the week) my 105ah fogstar is pretty much full at all times even with the fridge on 24/7.

AGM (at min)

I have the fridge on a cbe rocker switch (switch on right) which I put on when we set off to go camping.



I've just checked, my diesel heater is on the leisure battery, but it's not through the switching, so wired direct off battery via a fused live terminal.

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

I'm at the same point of trying to decide if I need it. For a similar price, I could just add another 100ah Renogy Lithium...

Yeah I'm wondering if I should just add another battery, or fit two new ones as this one came with the van. Converted in 2019

 

[Skyliner33]

I would have your heater moved over to the leisure battery feed.

And look at adding a starter battery trickle charger.... So it doesn't run flat.

Adding solar is a great idea IMHO...

I just added a 180w to the Roof.... With a victron 100/20 controller.

Hi Lee, quick question when you fitted the solar did you have to drill the fibreglass and if so how did you seal it?

 

[soldas]

AGM (at min)

I have the fridge on a cbe rocker switch (switch on right) which I put on when we set off to go camping.

View attachment 279143

I've just checked, my diesel heater is on the leisure battery, but it's not through the switching, so wired direct off battery via a fused live terminal.

So that means you only really have 60ah of usable battery. I'd personally upgrade to lithium before adding in solar. Most bang for your buck in terms of upgrade.

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

So that means you only really have 60ah of usable battery. I'd personally upgrade to lithium before adding in solar. Most bang for your buck in terms of upgrade.

Okay, next question.....cables. am I going to have to upgrade the cables for lithium? I bought the Van with 16mm cables in for the split load but in order to change them, it's practically a rip out job again

 

[soldas]

Not my area here. You will need @Dellmassive (or someone else clever) to answer that. I just straight swapped my AGM to lithium without issue. I mean I'll probably find the van burnt to the ground at some point but there we go. 16mm is right sizing for a split charge. So as long as your are fully fused you should be good to go.

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

Not my area here. You will need @Dellmassive (or someone else clever) to answer that. I just straight swapped my AGM to lithium without issue. I mean I'll probably find the van burnt to the ground at some point but there we go. 16mm is right sizing for a split charge. So as long as your are fully fused you should be good to go.

Yeah fully fused etc, as it was all re done in October. Thing is, I'm only running the fridge and tv on it so think it's okay.

Much different to house electrics, I understand them fully but vans blow my mind

 

[middle-englander]

Just my tuppence, I fully intended on installing solar when converting my van, but I haven't got round to it yet and haven't yet been in a scenario where we've run out of juice from the leisure battery. I suppose it depends how often you expect to be off grid.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Okay, next question.....cables. am I going to have to upgrade the cables for lithium? I bought the Van with 16mm cables in for the split load but in order to change them, it's practically a rip out job again

16mm is good for SB to lithium LB
You will need to use a DC-DC charger instead of the split charge relay.

 

[Salty Spuds]

The answer is…..it all depends. If you spend most of your time on campsites with EHU, then probably not. If you want to adventure off grid, or save money on EHU, then yes you do. If you’re building the van from scratch, for the cost of the kit, it’s hardly worth not doing it, it’s always a “Nice to have”

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

16mm is good for SB to lithium LB
You will need to use a DC-DC charger instead of the split charge relay.

I don't have a split charge relay (from what I know)....or at least haven't found one yet! From what I can see, it goes direct from starter battery to the victron dc dc charger. When i bought the Van, it had a ctek dc250se b2b charger which I removed.

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

The answer is…..it all depends. If you spend most of your time on campsites with EHU, then probably not. If you want to adventure off grid, or save money on EHU, then yes you do. If you’re building the van from scratch, for the cost of the kit, it’s hardly worth not doing it, it’s always a “Nice to have”

Fair point. The van is technically finished, so to speak. Bought it as a day van and converted it over the 10 months I've owned it. I just know the LB has been in since 2019 but holds charge well on the victron app and the digital display.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

I don't have a split charge relay (from what I know)....or at least haven't found one yet! From what I can see, it goes direct from starter battery to the victron dc dc charger. When i bought the Van, it had a ctek dc250se b2b charger which I removed.

You should manage to swap the AGM for lithium if you already have a victron DC-DC charger.

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

You should manage to swap the AGM for lithium if you already have a victron DC-DC charger.

This is my current set up. All new 12v loom to lights and tv etc, then a victron xs 50a dc to dc, and a victron ip65 charger for when on EHU

 

[Dellmassive]

Hi Lee, quick question when you fitted the solar did you have to drill the fibreglass and if so how did you seal it?

The roof fitter, fitted it for me and run the cables back to the seat base...(£200 to fit the supplied panel and run new cable back)

Yes they drilled the roof tub, and also the lower section to get the cables inside.

And used Tiger seal to seal up.

But I redone the cable loop but when I got back as I wasn't happy with the way the cable bent when the roof was down.



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