Understanding portable solar panels

[Huffa]

Hi, I’m trying to understand if this portable solar panel is as simple as connecting it together as shown by the diagram, which then can run my 12v fridge and lights off grid?

So basically, I connect the converter to the panel. Then the converter directly to the leisure battery via the crocodile clips - which allows me to easily run the fridge and use the lights? I have a split charge - will this impact that?

Do I need to install a fuse?

Would 200W be sufficient to run the fridge off grip for a long weekend?

As you can tell I know nothing about solar panels or electrics, so any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Dellmassive]

You need a battery and you need to fuse the connection.

200w may run your kit for a weekend if you had a 100ah lithium battery.

 

[Dellmassive]

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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...

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[Huffa]

@Dellmassive thank you. I’ve now looked at the lensun, which seems to have everything ready to go. Few questions:

1. When packing the solar panel away, is it safe to leave everything plugged to the battery and controller, but just unplug the solar panel? And;

2. Can you just hardwire this to the leisure battery - as in cut off the crocodile clips?

3. Assume no other equipment required?

Many thanks!

 

[Dellmassive]

@Dellmassive thank you. I’ve now looked at the lensun, which seems to have everything ready to go. Few questions:

1. When packing the solar panel away, is it safe to leave everything plugged to the battery and controller, but just unplug the solar panel? And;

2. Can you just hardwire this to the leisure battery - as in cut off the crocodile clips?

3. Assume no other equipment required?

Many thanks!

View attachment 269903

1. Yes, sort of. If it's longer than a few days I would disconnect fully via a switch or pull the fuse.... Hard wire to the leisure battery is best.

2. Yes. Hard wire is best... Make sure you fit a fuse to the battery connection. - but maybe fit a quick disconect inline to the conreoller can be removed or disconected when not in use. (or switch)

3. No that's it.... Panal, controler, battery


...

I tend to fit a fused quick connector to the battery... Then just plug the kit into that when it's needed.. that's the safest way.

more info on that here:

[Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It -

[Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It - its time for another guide . . . This time on solar cables. we use these cables for permanent install and for mobile installs. lets start with the Solar PV MC4-MC4 cable. Solar PV cable is not actually standard cable . . . its more specialised...

www.t6forum.com

.

 

[Dellmassive]

checkout all my solar stuff here:

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


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

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

 

[Huffa]

1. Yes, sort of. If it's longer than a few days I would disconnect fully via a switch or pull the fuse.... Hard wire to the leisure battery is best.

2. Yes. Hard wire is best... Make sure you fit a fuse to the battery connection. - but maybe fit a quick disconect inline to the conreoller can be removed or disconected when not in use. (or switch)

3. No that's it.... Panal, controler, battery


...

I tend to fit a fused quick connector to the battery... Then just plug the kit into that when it's needed.. that's the safest way.

more info on that here:

[Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It -

[Guide] Solar Cables? . . . - How I Did It - its time for another guide . . . This time on solar cables. we use these cables for permanent install and for mobile installs. lets start with the Solar PV MC4-MC4 cable. Solar PV cable is not actually standard cable . . . its more specialised...

www.t6forum.com

.

Thank you! Last two questions. As per the diagram below, isn’t there already a fuse for the battery? (Red arrow) and if I just disconnected the white clips and the solar (the green arrows), this should be safe to keep the controller connected to the battery when the solar is not in use?

 

[Dellmassive]

Thank you! Last two questions. As per the diagram below, isn’t there already a fuse for the battery? (Red arrow) and if I just disconnected the white clips and the solar (the green arrows), this should be safe to keep the controller connected to the battery when the solar is not in use?

View attachment 269904

That fuse is at the wrong end of that wire.
It should be right next to the battery terminal.

With that configuration, with the crocodile clip connected to the battery, if the cable got caught say in the seat mechanism it would be a dead short across the battery to chassis. So in that situation I would cut off the crocodile clip connectors, and a fuse to the battery with a ringtone at all and then you should be good. And as you say this connect the kit from the white SP 50 Anderson connector we're not in use.