Portable Solar Panel

[Irmscher2007]

Done! There are a few discount vouchers available on Amazon today - £20 off the panels, %% discounts off the cables. Thanks @Dellmassive

View attachment 233353

Hope it is OK to resurrect this older thread:

When I camp I'm always on a site so no problems with EHU for charging overnight but on days out (when I might be parked up but still at the van for a few hours) I've either got the fridge on (which on a hot day can use a surprising amount from the leisure battery) or in winter when I might need to put the diesel heater on a few times. The Eberspacher does not use much diesel but it needs power for the fan.


Can I connect something like the panel recommended above Renogy Portable to the leisure battery in a fully converted Hillside van without screwing things up? As both the fridge and heater are hardwired into the van I do not think a portable battery pack is the answer but I want to be able to top up the leisure battery during the day.

I am a total DUNCE when it comes to anything electric . . . and more than a little scared of doing damage to the electrics by doing it wrong, please be gentle with me.

I think I understand that a panel cannot be plugged directly into the leisure battery but has to have a controller in between to stop the LB being overcharged, is that the way it works?

Did you manage set this up?

I've got the portable Renogy. Seems like a good quality panel and a handy smart bag for it

 

[Gàirnealair]

Did you manage set this up?

Sorry, my bad.

Bought the Renogy panel and Victron controller (thanks to amazing advice/support from @Dellmassive), even found the confidence to buy extension cables without asking for help , did a dry run of wiring to check that everything worked, which it did!

Of course, since then life and endless rain/cold has stopped me permanently fixing everything in place and reporting back. But I'll consider this a gentle nudge and try to work out how the heck I find time to do it soon . . .

 

[Sackmycook]

I'm looking to use my Jackery folding solar panel a bit more and I've been given the opportunity by my shed solar panel failing.
The Jackery panel obviously has a hard wired lead with a few connectors, one for the actual Jackery unit.
What would I need to connect the panel to the shed battery? Do I need to go through an mppt controller?

 

[roadtripper]

Which panel?

Usually the ones for power packs are "raw" panels that rely on the solar controller built into the power pack.

If there are leads to "end use" things like croc clips or USB sockets then it's more likely they have a built in controller.

If you have a "raw" panel then you need to get yourself a PWM or MPPT controller to directly charge a battery. MPPT is technically better but PWM is more value for money, personally I'd take a good quality PWM over a cheap MPPT

 

[Sackmycook]

It's A Jackery Folding 100w panel.

 

[roadtripper]

I'm assuming that solar controller is in the shed already and you want to plug the Jackery panel into it?

I think it's this one?

Jackery 100W SolarSaga Flexible & Portable Solar Panel - Jackery United Kingdom

Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel - converts solar to renewable power with this monocrystalline solar panel. With a high solar conversion efficiency of 24.3%, it's perfectly suited for outdoor activities and for emergency power outages. -Jackery UK

uk.jackery.com

That lists the Jackery connector as DC7909 - that means it's the DC power jack series 7.9mm diameter outer 0.9mm inner.

That should find you a socket from that series. The adapter is listed as DC8020 if that's easier to find.

For example (not recommendation)

https://www.amazon.com/DC7909-Female-Connector-Pigtail-Outdoor/dp/B0BLZCQDRV

 

[Sackmycook]

Great.
Found this one in UK, take it I can just cut off the male end and strip the wires back ?

 

[roadtripper]

You should be able to, just always be on the look out for cable where they actually state a specific current capacity or cable size - there are a lot of thick PVC jacket thin copper cables about and sometimes it's not even copper...

 

[Anakin]

I’ve been following this discussion and it’s really helped. I now have the suitcase panel, connecting leads and solar controller on the way. I’m hoping to be able to put the panel outside the van and run the cables to the controller which will be mounted near the leisure battery. I want to be able to shut the van and leave this set up on a camp site. Is there enough room and flex in the door sealing rubbers, to just run the cables across the floor and close the side door? Or will this damage the cables?

 

[Sackmycook]

I had that sort of set-up on my old van but decided I wasn't happy leaving the panel unattended on a site.....

 

[Irmscher2007]

I’ve been following this discussion and it’s really helped. I now have the suitcase panel, connecting leads and solar controller on the way. I’m hoping to be able to put the panel outside the van and run the cables to the controller which will be mounted near the leisure battery. I want to be able to shut the van and leave this set up on a camp site. Is there enough room and flex in the door sealing rubbers, to just run the cables across the floor and close the side door? Or will this damage the cables?

Have you got any wind deflectors on your front windows?

I run mine out of there and keep the windows open a smidge

 

[Anakin]

Have you got any wind deflectors on your front windows?

I run mine out of there and keep the windows open a smidge

Yes, we have wind deflectors, so thanks for that idea.

 

[Jeff G]

Renogy Suitcase panel arrived from Amazon yesterday.... Hooked up to the EcoFlow Delta 2 this morning and a max of 105w input recorded from 100w panel combo. Well pleased as this is a first venture into portable solar.