Solar Panels for camping

**Russrobe** · 8th July 2016, 01:28 PM

So I have no clue about portable solar panels other than that because we plan on camping up for 3 days i probably need them. Was going to put this on the general chat but really, I'm going to assume our 4x4s chew more power in general for starting and sleeping than a Defender.

So BCF have a pretty good explanation sign up about how it all works which helped a bit the problem is deciding what's the best panel setup.

Waeco do a 80watt 10amp. $500

Cheaper brands do a 120watt 10amp $400

Then others say they paid $200 which leaves me stumped as at the rays clearance that will get you a 20w good for nothing panel...

So will the smaller 80watt waeco be just as effective as the cheaper 120w brand?

Cheers

**roverrescue** · 8th July 2016, 01:35 PM

Neither an 80W or 120W panel will generate 10A at 12V.
As such the companies you have listed are likely being a little loose with the truth.

But having said that - with good sun (Perth you will be okay but may have to juggle the panel around a little)
My experience is that I can run a single 60L ish fridge indefinitely with a 120W panel (cheapy ebay special) through a quality MPPT regulator (Blue Solar) feeding a dumb old marine N70 lead acid battery.

Sooo I would err on the side of the 120W panel, find a quality MPPT regulator and be happy.

S

**rangieman** · 8th July 2016, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Neither an 80W or 120W panel will generate 10A at 12V.
As such the companies you have listed are likely being a little loose with the truth.

But having said that - with good sun (Perth you will be okay but may have to juggle the panel around a little)
My experience is that I can run a single 60L ish fridge indefinitely with a 120W panel (cheapy ebay special) through a quality MPPT regulator (Blue Solar) feeding a dumb old marine N70 lead acid battery.

Sooo I would err on the side of the 120W panel, find a quality MPPT regulator and be happy.

S

I also run a 120 w ebay special for the camper trailer with a 130ah agm battery , led lights and a 60 ltr fridge in Vic . We can and have camped up to 6 days summer or winter with out loss of power .
Id say at least 120w but the more watts the merrier

**Russrobe** · 8th July 2016, 02:21 PM

Hmm I think 10amps is the peak of the regulator. Expecting more like 8amps... So 8 hours of sunlight giving 64amps. Going to say as a rough average my 65l Waeco and lighting will chew around 6amps/hr so 144amps a day...

So would they Waeco be worth it seeing as it claims a smaller more efficient panel and regulator?

Will have Tims traxide kit by next week too woot.

Edit think 6amp/hr is overkill. Unless in the Pilbara.

**roverrescue** · 8th July 2016, 02:30 PM

With a good MPPT regulator and flat batteries you might see 8A from a 120W panel.
Id say your Waeco will draw a shed load less than 6Ah ... From the specs

Power consumption
(DC 12 V) Average current draw x running time. Average 0.85 Ah/h (@12 V, 5 ?C interior, 32 ?C ambient temperature)

So even double that for safety will be less than 2Ah/h so your total draw will be 48Ah meaning the 120W will be fine.

S

**Russrobe** · 8th July 2016, 02:34 PM

Ah sweet. Thanks again. I'm just a bit skeptical about connecting cheap panels. Purely due to the cost of the 2 batteries and the cars many computers. Which i see you have solved by fitting aquality reg. Much happier with that.

**roverrescue** · 8th July 2016, 02:57 PM

pretty much all solar cells are made in china
panels are the one area where you probably can afford to aim lower?

don't skimp on the regulator or wiring.

S

**bee utey** · 8th July 2016, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Russrobe

Hmm I think 10amps is the peak of the regulator. Expecting more like 8amps... So 8 hours of sunlight giving 64amps. Going to say as a rough average my 65l Waeco and lighting will chew around 6amps/hr so 144amps a day...

So would they Waeco be worth it seeing as it claims a smaller more efficient panel and regulator?

Will have Tims traxide kit by next week too woot.

Edit think 6amp/hr is overkill. Unless in the Pilbara.

Just a note that "amp/hr" is a completely meaningless term, properly it's "amp-hr" where you multiply the amps by the number of hours to get a figure representative of the amount of energy in or out your system.

**weeds** · 8th July 2016, 04:28 PM

over the weekend (two nights, two full days (48hrs) i ran

1 x 32L engel fridge
1 x LED light strip (3hr max.)
1 x water pump for showers (40min)

3 x 105amp/hr batteries
2 x 80w solar panel, just pointed them to the north, tall trees in the morning and a highish hill in the arvo

SOC didn't drop below 99%

**Jesters Td5** · 8th July 2016, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Russrobe

So I have no clue about portable solar panels other than that because we plan on camping up for 3 days i probably need them. Was going to put this on the general chat but really, I'm going to assume our 4x4s chew more power in general for starting and sleeping than a Defender.

So BCF have a pretty good explanation sign up about how it all works which helped a bit the problem is deciding what's the best panel setup.

Waeco do a 80watt 10amp. $500

Cheaper brands do a 120watt 10amp $400

Then others say they paid $200 which leaves me stumped as at the rays clearance that will get you a 20w good for nothing panel...

So will the smaller 80watt waeco be just as effective as the cheaper 120w brand?

Cheers

I run a 160w semi flexible to charge the battery. 40L engel as freezer, 80L engel as fridge. My lights all have their own independent battery and solar panels (from jaycar).

Given you are in Perth I would contact iTech world. They know their stuff and I found them cheaper than anyone else after about 6months research.

All the best

Sent from my A51f using AULRO mobile app

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