Solar joy

[triumph]

Hi folks,

I hope you can help.
Have spent a while reading through posts on solar panels, many of the more detailed ones are quite old now, so I didn't know if there might be more up to date info.

I have an 83 devon, and am wanting recommendations for panels and controller systems. Have read lots of gumpf about MPPT and PMW, what are peoples actual first hand experiences?

On amazon I found this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Renogy-Positiv ... r=8-9&th=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Renogy-Monocry ... 6YY2XGC0M2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do these seem reasonable?

Where has anyone with a devon routed the wires through the roof?

Which at least seem to have good reviews on there. Always so hard to know how good/reliable something is!!!

Thank you all!

[kevtherev]

I'm sure you've read about photonic universe for solar controllers
Well they sell excellent quality panels and complete kits.
I've had mine in constant use for several years now.

The technology hasn't changed much or the quality.
I highly recommend them.
Amazon isn't a specialist, it's just a marketplace for sellers.
Photonic Universe is a specialist and stands by their products.

[Mocki]

I originally installed a 100w semiflexible panel on my camper roof with a simple "Kemo" brand dual battery PWM controller.
I quite soon upgraded the controller to a "Phototonic Universe" PWM dual battery controller with a external screen , it was no better than the simple "kemo " controller other than I had a modicum of control over which battery got what when and I could see from the screen some basic details ( albeit fairly inaccurate it turns out) I used it like this for two years and then upgraded the panel to a 150w semiflexible as I couldn’t get enough charge in the winter months ....
then last year after extensive research I changed the controller over to Solar Technology MPPT dual battery controller ,
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2724265811" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and quickly found out that both the cheap PWM controllers were just that , cheap ! Turns out I could have stuck with the 100w panel and changed the controller , saving me £200 .
My findings and advise are spend the extra £80 on the better controller in the first place and actually get the full advantage of your panel , don’t bother with any less than 100w and although semiflexible are slightly more expensive to buy they are cheaper to fit and much lighter . Avoid semiflexible ones with glass fibre or plastic backing , as this provides no heat sink and you will need a air gap , where as the better quality semiflexible panels which are based on a aluminium backing act as a heat sink and have no issues with temperature.

It is a undeniable fact that you get better results if your panel is angled to the sun


( mine is on the front portion of my high top and is at just about 45° ) as the photons don’t bounce off as much, but in the height of summer it’s not an issue , however middle of winter when the heating is consuming 18wH it helps a deal

[Oldiebut goodie]

I must admit that with my limited experience with panels I have found that my 40W rigid panel on my boat keeps 2 big batteries topped up in winter whereas my 100w flexible on the new van is only just managing to do the same. I knew that the rigid ones were supposed to be more efficient in poor conditions but I was surprised by how much. The rigid ones were still pulling in the power in overcast conditions whereas the flexible one appears to be not so good at it.

[slowcoach]

Mocki interesting what you say about the controller making such a difference... My pwm controller is certainly outdated now, while the rigid frame 130w on the roof sounds like it could get more juice through with an mppt controller.

[Mocki]

My van parked next to my O/H’s last November when it was dull and drizzly , we have identical panels, fitted within three weeks of each other, her’s still has the Phototonic Universe PWM controller like I had .We have the same batteries and had been camping side by side for a week



Mine was inputting about 2amps more per hour , simply because the controller was adjusting the output of the panel to maximise the charge . Quite possibly in full midday sun this wouldn’t be such a big deal, but in the dull winter when the eberspacher had been on a bout 72 hours non stop it made all the difference .

[slowcoach]

Quick look on eBay for controllers sees some crazy cheap mppt ones... Do we presume they're garbage? The descriptions are somewhat hazy... "Choose your voltage: 30 or 60amp" etc

[Oldiebut goodie]

Nothing hazy about choosing the correct controller for your panel setup. If you choose the wrong voltage controller you will burn it out if your panels put out 30v+ and 20A and you use a 10A 21v controller.

[slowcoach]

Nothing hazy about choosing the correct controller for your panel setup. If you choose the wrong voltage controller you will burn it out if your panels put out 30v+ and 20A and you use a 10A 21v controller.

Noni understsbd that, more there were no options for voltage choice in the ad, more like they'd said voltage instead of amperage in the selector. It's the now common Chinese translated descriptions leaving a bit of interpretation for the buyer :-\

"Humanized LCD displaying and double button operation of man-machine interface." Etc

[Mocki]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2724265811" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ryantrooper]

Another recommendation for Photouniverse too. Bought their 120W kit, but replaced the controller for an MPPT one.

Was abit of a job routing the cables into the vehicle (Autosleeper poptop) but got there in the end and its working a treat.

[garry247]

I'm toying with the idea of solar and thinking of sticking one to the high top like mocki and or putting an 80w one on the back on an arm to move towards the sun.

The controller I have been looking at is the Votronic Duo which I researched and even though it got great reviews I decided i was going to get a cheaper one till I saw this thread. Now I'm ordering it.

https://www.photonicuniverse.com/en/cat ... LoQAvD_BwE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Where do you think I should get a semi-flex one for the front of the van?

G

[Mocki]

I was going to get that controller, until the bit where is says the second battery only gets 1 amp .

[Oldiebut goodie]

I have the clone of that MPPT controller fitted to my T6 set up - that 1A has been perfect over the shutdown keeping my starter in tip top condition as well as 200Ah of leisure batteries - that is with the factory alarm/immobiliser plus a tracker fully in operation. Without it my starter would suffer after 2 weeks non use ( they only get to 80% SOC by design for stop/start systems)
1A is more than enough for that system so should be fine on the T25 system unless you are running a lot of electrics off the starter when camped up.
The clone can be had for around the £80 mark.