Club 80-90 Forums

Im thinking of fixing a panel permanently on the roof of our high top van, I have been looking at these semi flexible ones. Does anyone have one fixed to the van permanently, is it rigged to change both batteries and what are the results like?
Cheers
G

I know the following thread starts out referring to doing this on a westy, but in the usual 80-90 fashion, it soon drifts into 9 pages of general "solar panel on roof" stuff = http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=127964" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Lots of info there

Many thanks, I'll have a read of that later.
Just seen this anyone got any comments on it
eBay number 171388421382
G

No good for what we want because it outputs 319v DC

Normal "camping" ones output around 19 Volts DC open circuit and are connected to a "charge controller" to regulate that down a bit to ~14 Volts.

gypo wrote:Im thinking of fixing a panel permanently on the roof of our high top van, I have been looking at these semi flexible ones. Does anyone have one fixed to the van permanently, is it rigged to change both batteries and what are the results like?
Cheers
G

The 100 watt Semi Rigid ones seem to be a very popular fitment on our camper vans...literally 'glued' to the roof using 'silcoflex' and then run through a charge controller for correct charge levels.

'Keith' on here, uses a charge controller with TWO battery outlets so both starter and leisure batteries are charged, although, if you have all your camping ancillaries connected to the leisure battery and a normal split charge system fitted, there should be no need to charge the starter battery as it isn't being drained whilst camping.
All the people I know who have fitted one of these panels are reporting great results, with little need for any other power source whilst camping.

Martin

Many thanks, wouldn't be better buying a kit that includes the regulator or buying them separately?
Thanks
G

What about this one eBay 281390187710 ?
G

Looks fine, though it doesn't say anything about the spec of the control unit, like does it have a Low Voltage Cut-off circuit built in (to protect your leisure battery against damage from running below ~11.5 Volts). Nor does it mention MPPT circuitry that many folks are going for these days (details HERE)

Thanks for the reply, could I maybe just get the panel and use one of these, eBay Item number:
321375482655
Sorry it's not a direct link, I'm on my phone in work and it's hard to do the links
G

Yes that looks OK, a bit cheap in price but if it does what it says then great I think someone else on that other thread ^^^ had one of those.

That's the controller I have have. Works fine.

gypo wrote:Thanks for the reply, could I maybe just get the panel and use one of these, eBay Item number:
321375482655
Sorry it's not a direct link, I'm on my phone in work and it's hard to do the links
G

I very much doubt this will be a MPPT controller despite what it claims.It will be a normal regulator.

Thanks again all for the replies, can anyone link me to a controller that is known to do the job and panel please?
Cheers
G

gypo wrote:Thanks again all for the replies, can anyone link me to a controller that is known to do the job and panel please?
Cheers
G

The controller and panels you linked to will do the job fine the controller is just not a MPPT, not that you really need one for a single panel

windysurfer wrote:

gypo wrote:Thanks again all for the replies, can anyone link me to a controller that is known to do the job and panel please?
Cheers
G

The controller and panels you linked to will do the job fine the controller is just not a MPPT, not that you really need one for a single panel

OK thanks.
G