If it's 100% sunny you can get 6A ish charge from a decent 100w setup.
Assuming you have a 100ah AGM battery.
You might be able to get a day or so depending on your loads.
So start with the 100w kit and see how you go.
Future of upgrades could be....
A second 100ah battery for longer run time.
Swap the AGM battery for a lithium.. for longer run time.
Add a secondary 100w panel to your setup.
....
If your sticking to the roof ..... Get the biggest you can now.
Ie 160-300w
Assuming you have a 100ah AGM battery.
You might be able to get a day or so depending on your loads.
So start with the 100w kit and see how you go.
Future of upgrades could be....
A second 100ah battery for longer run time.
Swap the AGM battery for a lithium.. for longer run time.
Add a secondary 100w panel to your setup.
....
If your sticking to the roof ..... Get the biggest you can now.
Ie 160-300w
[Guide] Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -
Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It - There is loads of background to this . . . . . but for now here is a vid for you all. =] Just remember W = V*A and as a general rule a good 100W panel will give you up to 6A charge with good sun. 25w = 1.5A 50W = 3A 100w = 6A 200w = 12A 300w = 18A...
With only 100Ah battery you will be stretching it for two days use in all but the best (longest) sunny days in the UK.
I've got 240Ah of battery (2x120Ah) with a 100W solar panel with MPPT solar control and run similar to your proposed set-up except I use a small inverter for a laptop instead of the TV. I do however have an Eberspacher heater for night use which does stretch my set-up on days with poor sunshine.
I've got 240Ah of battery (2x120Ah) with a 100W solar panel with MPPT solar control and run similar to your proposed set-up except I use a small inverter for a laptop instead of the TV. I do however have an Eberspacher heater for night use which does stretch my set-up on days with poor sunshine.
Thinking of adding a solar panel to my T6 Camper and would like to get a 150W (or so) flexible which I'll stick to the Reimo roof as not to increase the van height anymore than I'd need to.
Question is such a thing as a best brand anyone here can recommend (as it'll be stuck directly to the roof I'd like the panel to be as efficient as possible during hot weather when the panel will also be hot?
Thanks
Question is such a thing as a best brand anyone here can recommend (as it'll be stuck directly to the roof I'd like the panel to be as efficient as possible during hot weather when the panel will also be hot?
Thanks
Renogy seems to be the 'go to' brand
This is great advice. I'm going with a 120w portable so that I can move it around to face the sun. Also, I am nervous about any potential damage to the roof. I am going to connect to the leisure battery (obviously) and I might get a power bank to aid power if needed. I am going to have to keep the costs down and looking at:-
BEAUDENS Portable Power Station 166Wh/52000mAh Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Solar Generator, 2000 Cycles, 230V AC and 3 USB Ports, for Outdoors Camping Travel Fishing Emergency Power Supply Backup
...as a "just in case."I tend to go with camp sites with electric hook up so reluctant to spend too much. Its only for the extra night when without hookup.
Thanks for the advice
Just something to think about.
If you’re on a site with EHU, you don’t need solar. Where solar comes into its own is when the van is parked up, off site, un-attended. E.g. you go off tor the day, van is in a car park , fridge is on etc. you want the solar to be doing its thing & keeping things running. Putting out a portable panel in these circumstances may not be practical. The beauty of solar is that it’s a largely fit & forget solution.
….so with that in mind, I’d fit the biggest sensible panel I could fit on the roof. I have a single 180W & am considering fitting another one to match it.
I have 200w panel and 230 lithium and never got close to lowering battery state
No need for hookup
No need for hookup
I’m booked in to have 3 x 100w panels fitted to my California. I chose Solar Camper Solutions as they have had very good reviews on the VW California forum. Did initially look at Exploria but their panels are ‘stick-on’ and have to have the roof drilled. Didn’t fancy the idea of drilling a hole in my brand new Cali.
Spot on. If we do need to go out, I would be putting the portable solar on the dash. I am mindful of the heat onto the panel so it will need propping up on the dashboard. Thanks for this
Check out Camper Solar Solutions site: Solar Camper Solutions - Home
Details are on their site. Also the A Bus and Beyond site did a YouTube video on how they fitted theirs.
Details are on their site. Also the A Bus and Beyond site did a YouTube video on how they fitted theirs.
Just be aware that your windscreen may reduce what's generated by the solar panel. In France this year, my jackery 100w panel was getting up to 90w outside in full sun, but only 25 on the dash....
That’s how I used to do it when parked in the street outside my place. Not a lot of power through the windscreen but just enough to keep the battery topped up. Unable to run the fridge and other appliances wild camping with that set up though so this prompted me to permanently fit 200w to the pop top. I couldn’t increase the height so used a PhotonicUniverse Flexi panel with a reverse junction box. It’s not only very discreet up there but as @Salty Spuds said it’s a “fit and forget” solution.
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