[Guide] Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -

[Dellmassive]

Yep. That or mobile solar..

I tested my setup with EHU and mobile dash solar...

With good sun the 50w panel was good enough to raise the starter battery voltage above the 13.2v trigger voltage and start the dc-dc charging the aux battery...

The setup did cycle a bit on the 50w dash panel (3A).

But was more solid on the 110w(6A) solar and 15A EHU.

 

[Spaghetti]

Thanks mate, not trying to be a bumb ass. Just wanted to check. I'll run another cable to the Ctek so I can switch over as required (as suggested)

it’s worth having a play with the setup to double check.

I have mine solely through the CTEK. If the leisure’s charged it’ll move to the starter. Obviously until the leisure is fully charged it won’t touch the starter, so if there was a moderate load on the leisure, that won’t be fully charged and therefore the starter wouldn’t see any charge.

 

[Blitz]

it’s worth having a play with the setup to double check.

I have mine solely through the CTEK. If the leisure’s charged it’ll move to the starter. Obviously until the leisure is fully charged it won’t touch the starter, so if there was a moderate load on the leisure, that won’t be fully charged and therefore the starter wouldn’t see any charge.

I need to kill two Birds with one stone in different orders or use two stones to kill two Birds.........

 

[Blitz]

Oh
50w panel is 3amp max so if I remove the controller is 6amp cable ok from that to the Ctek or I'm I missing something ?

 

[Dellmassive]

Max current from solar kit (ISC) rough average:

25w .. 1.5A
50w .. 3A
100w .. 6A
150w .. 9A
200w .. 12A
300w .. 18A
400w .. 24A


cable needs be thick enough to carry expected current plus 25-50% (or more) overhead to stop heating and increase efficiency.

 

[Blitz]

Thanks so my cunning plan to double it has saved my kids lives.....I'm a great Dad

 

[Dellmassive]

Today's test...

Renogy DC-DC 50A with mppt.

Lensun 110w panel connected to solar input...

.

 

[Big.mac]

if it’s plugged into the cigarette socket, the CTEK won’t switch between batteries. It’ll only charge the one that’s connected to the cigarette socket.

The CTEK needs a +12v signal from the ignition to start up.

This isn’t right. I have tested this . The CTEK will charge leisure from starter with the IGN turned off, BUT, only if the voltage on teh Starter is above a certain threshold. I’m not sure exactly what that is (Above 13v for sure) but i connected an external mains charger to the starter battery and it charged both starter and leisure. I also tested using a 50W solar panel and it did the same, although it took much longer to switch to the leisure battery and due to the voltage drop on the starter when charging leisure, kind of switched the leisure on and off rather than applying a constant steady charge (with the mains charger it was a steady charge).
i’ve tested many configurations on teh CTEK, the one I would recommend for connecting the 50W panel is to connect to the CTEK solar input. That way it uses the inbuilt MPPT controller and will charge leisure first and then will trickle charge the starter once leisure is full.

 

[Blitz]

This isn’t right. I have tested this . The CTEK will charge leisure from starter with the IGN turned off, BUT, only if the voltage on teh Starter is above a certain threshold. I’m not sure exactly what that is (Above 13v for sure) but i connected an external mains charger to the starter battery and it charged both starter and leisure. I also tested using a 50W solar panel and it did the same, although it took much longer to switch to the leisure battery and due to the voltage drop on the starter when charging leisure, kind of switched the leisure on and off rather than applying a constant steady charge (with the mains charger it was a steady charge).
i’ve tested many configurations on teh CTEK, the one I would recommend for connecting the 50W panel is to connect to the CTEK solar input. That way it uses the inbuilt MPPT controller and will charge leisure first and then will trickle charge the starter once leisure is full.

Many thanks for the info. That's good to know. Am wasnt suggesting a 50w panel to the starter battery was the ideal solution for general use however knowing excess power isn't just lost is good. Solar systems cost money and every Volt counts.
In my standard set up when camping I intend on 50w panel on the dash to the starter bat and a mobile 200w panel onto the Ctek.
When in car parks etc the 50w on the dash rewired to the Ctek so the 200w doesn't get nicked.

 

[Spaghetti]

This isn’t right. I have tested this . The CTEK will charge leisure from starter with the IGN turned off, BUT, only if the voltage on teh Starter is above a certain threshold. I’m not sure exactly what that is (Above 13v for sure) but i connected an external mains charger to the starter battery and it charged both starter and leisure. I also tested using a 50W solar panel and it did the same, although it took much longer to switch to the leisure battery and due to the voltage drop on the starter when charging leisure, kind of switched the leisure on and off rather than applying a constant steady charge (with the mains charger it was a steady charge).
i’ve tested many configurations on teh CTEK, the one I would recommend for connecting the 50W panel is to connect to the CTEK solar input. That way it uses the inbuilt MPPT controller and will charge leisure first and then will trickle charge the starter once leisure is full.

Thanks for clarifying. As I noted in a later post, it requires >13.1v for >5 secs and it would assume it’s a ‘non smart’ alternator set up.

I’ll stick with it on the leisure via the CTEK as it works for me with the better controller when compared to the one with the panel.

 

[Blitz]

50W 100W Solar Panel charger bag 12V folding Kit Caravans Boat Motorhome | eBay

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Paid £69. Brand new Genuine SPARK 50w folding panel. Real bargain price Gents.

 

[Higgidav]

I want to add a 50w panel as above for the starter plus the option to add a larger foldable panel when off grid.

My setup from Martyn at TravelVolts includes an Ablemail DC-DC which does not have a solar connection. (I do however know from testing that when charging the starter with a Victron charger the ablemail does kick in and also charge the leisure.)

My plan from reading this thread is as follows:-

50w panel and swap out the supplied controller with a Victron MPPT 75/15 connected via the dash cigarette socket.

My question - can this be left permanently connected when the van is sat idle?

Also what size cable is required?

Then purchase a larger panel for when off grid and add cabling to the leisure battery with suitable connectors and fuses.

My Question - what size cable is required for say a 160w panel and what connectors are best so that I can easily swap between the two panels using the one MPPT controller.

Does this sound ok?

Thanks in advance for any advice:

 

[Dellmassive]

Yes and yes.

Dont go higher than 10A on the 12v dash socket though..(about 150w max )

.

I use Mc4 PV solar connectors for the panel side.

And 50A Anderson conectora on the power side.

Cable should be rated for the max current possible for the run plus a 25-50% saftey margin, then fused appropriately.

50w would be around 3A ISC.
160W . 10A ISC.
220W .. 13.5A iSC

 

[Higgidav]

Many thanks @Dellmassive

I have purchased the kit and now await it’s arrival.

 

[Loz]

So it looks like my semi-flexible panel has started to fail ...
This was yesterday with the Sun overhead.



@Dellmassive how are you getting on with your Lensun 110w panel?

 

[Spaghetti]

@Loz I found that I was only getting a very low output out of the panels in yesterday’s heat. The efficiency on mine came back when the panel temp dropped. They were nearly 80 degrees centigrade!

 

[Dellmassive]

what makes you think its failing?

13.2v battery volts is still high? . . . was the battery not full? . . . ven though it was in bulk mode.

did you try turning on as many AUX loads as possible to drop the AUX voltage and make the MPPT work harder.


regards to the Lensun semi-flexable,

Love them, and using them every day atm...



i use them for mobile applications.


i got the 220W kit which was 2x 110W black ETFE panels.


similar to these . . .

Lensun® 110W 12V Sunpower Black ETFE Flexible Solar Panel, Top Quality NOT the Cheap PET Flexible Solar Panel

Lensun 110W 12V Sunpower Black Flexible Solar Panel, Top Quality NOT the Cheap PET Flexible Solar Panel

www.lensunsolar.com

but they have loads of options:




.

for the van roof I've acutally got one of these but not fitted it yet . . . .as i liked the idea of rear cable gland . . .

12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine

12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-grid

www.photonicuniverse.com

 

[Dellmassive]

one of my lensuns on the roof this morning . . .



.

 

[Dellmassive]

temp stuck on with magnetic tape . . .

 

[Dellmassive]

lensun 200W folding at camping . . .