Solar panel

[Hugh Mally]

We’re just about to put our T6 in for conversion, and I’m wondering about the practical value of a laminated solar panel on the pop top - given that we’re not planning on doing much off grid camping, and on longer trips we’ll be looking for EHU pitches, are we spending our money for kit that probably won’t be fully utilised?
Your opinions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[soldas]

I use my van quite a lot of grid (days out at the beach and weekends away) so have a panel for that reason. But the main reason for me was in the warmer months I tend to have fridge on 24/7 and with the solar and driving that keeps the fridge running and the battery pretty much full at all times. I do disconnect the solar now and again to give the battery a couple of full cycles.

 

[Dellmassive]

100% do it.

just stick some vinyl to the roof first.

then stick the panel to that - to save your paint work

 

[Dellmassive]

SOLAR:

• Solar Pwm & Mppt Controllers - How I Done It -
• Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -
• What Solar Panel & Controller? - How We Done It -
• Solar Panel Cutting Hole In Roof !!! - How We Done It -
• 300w Plus Solar Club -- How I Done It --
• Solar Sheds & Other Non-t6 Solar Projects - How We Done It -
• [Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It -

My Panels:

• [Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It -
• 50w 12v socket Dash Fold panel
• 50W Bluefusion Fold panel
• 200W Lensun Fold panel
• 110w Lensun Flex panel + Mag tape
• 100w Renogy Eclipse fold panel
• 160w PhotUnis Flex rear gland panel
• 100w Renogy suitcase
• 120w Bluefusion fold panel
• 200w Lensun flex panel
• 200w Renogy suitcase panel
• 100w Renogy suitcase 2021 vsn
• 150w PU flex rear gland panel
• 160w Renogy flex rear gland panel
• 200w Renogy suitcase Kit - V2
• 150W Lensun Black Flex Panel
• 400w EcoFlow Rigid Panels - 38v
• 405w LONGI Rigid Panels - 38v

*****************************************************

 

[Drive Wayne]

It's great during busier summer months to not need an EHU pitch on popular campsites. You are generally welcomed on an otherwise full site, in our experience, and you save a few quid too.
An awful lot less EHU stress! To pitch up anywhere and everywhere has been useful for us over the last few years.
Plus we keep our fridge running all year (Prosecco fridge) and even the meagre winter sun keeps the systems happy.

 

[Hugh Mally]

Thanks everyone! That all sounds positive

 

[Paul Sussex]

If you go to one of the T6 events such as Busfest (recommended) no EHU so good to keep the beers cool for the weekend

 

[Bav]

If your van's left unused through the winter then a solar panel in conjunction with something like an Ablemail AMT12 will help avoid 'starter battery anxiety' too.

 

[TallPaul_S]

If your van's left unused through the winter then a solar panel in conjunction with something like an Ablemail AMT12 will help avoid 'starter battery anxiety' too.

Yeah, very much this - my van doesn't get driven a lot and can be sat on the drive for 3 weeks at a time. My van sits in the shade of a conifer all morning and so doesn't get much sun until the afternoon before it drops down behind the houses, so at this time of year it's not actually enough to keep the battery topped up with the Ablemail and 0.5a constant draw from the Cerbo GX and 4g router (that's 12Ah per day being used, minimum) - but with the solar and a big battery it goes for weeks before I need to even think about topping up the LB.

If I didn't have the LB topping up the SB it'd be down below 12v in a week or 2.

The only time my Ablemail doesn't keep the SB above 12.3v is when the LB is below 50% AND there's no solar. It's only ever dropped to 12.2v twice in the last 6 months.