Aldi 40W Solar panel Kit

[Bytemrk]

Hi guys,

I just picked up one of these from Aldi, on special from today only $179..

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys/saturday-16-august-2014/saturday-detail-wk33/ps/p/40w-solar-panel-kit/

I haven't seen anything equivalent for anything near that price...seems like a decent thing...I guess time will tell.

I figured some of you may be interested....

[The ho har's]

Yes I was there this morning, still a few light bars, compressors, winches etc there. Didn't need anything but those solar panels did look good:) Let us know how it fairs?

Mrs hh:angel:

[Kevin B]

I grabbed an awning, compressor and an inverter this morning, looked at the solar panel, keen to see how it fairs and ill get one next time.

[Bytemrk]

Yes I was there this morning, still a few light bars, compressors, winches etc there. Didn't need anything but those solar panels did look good:) Let us know how it fairs?

Mrs hh:angel:

Will do :)

[Scallops]

I got the solar panels too. Can someone explain the 18V / 12V outputs? I get the USB output is for USB charging connectors, but what would I charge with the 18V output as opposed to the 12V?

(The manual says use the 18V controller output to charge a 12V car battery - is that a typo?).

[Kevin B]

I would think that the 18v output would be the "no load" voltage, I stand to be corrected though.

[loanrangie]

I looked at the solar panels but for that price i can buy a 120W folding panel , 40W might be good for trickle charging though.

[Scallops]

I would think that the 18v output would be the "no load" voltage, I stand to be corrected though.

I don't know what that means, Kevin. The controller has 3 outputs for attaching items to be recharged....a 18V DC output, which the manual says is to charge a 12V battery, a 12V DC output, which the manual doesn't mention, and the 5W USB connector.

I'm wondering if I really should connect my 12V battery to the 18V output as it says in the manual. Wondering if it's a typo.

I will ring the maker tomorrow but thought someone here could explain it. :)

[Scallops]

I looked at the solar panels but for that price i can buy a 120W folding panel , 40W might be good for trickle charging though.

That's my plan. I figured I'd hook it up to my 100Ah deep cycle (connected by Traxide SC-40 to my 85Ah cranker) to just put a little bit back when camping.....and use it to trickle charge when car is just sitting in driveway at home.

The panels are Bosch and it's a very portable package.

[sheerluck]

.....The panels are Bosch and it's a very portable package.

Roughly how big is it when packed away, Dan? The Aldi site lists the extended size but not packed up.

[Scallops]

Roughly how big is it when packed away, Dan? The Aldi site lists the extended size but not packed up.


It's 38cm X 25cm X 3cm. All in a little pouch, including plugs and controller.

[101RRS]

I know that there is a premium for roll up panels but $179 for 40w is a bit over the top - 40w even on a good day is not going to put much oomph back into a typical battery. Better off paying $250 for a 120-160w system

Re the 17v-18v question - panels produce 17-18v and need a reducer/controller to produce the more useful 12-14v needed to charge a battery. Under no load the controller may also show 17-18v but this is the lower voltage when under load.

Garry

[Scallops]

I know that there is a premium for roll up panels but $179 for 40w is a bit over the top - 40w even on a good day is not going to put much oomph back into a typical battery. Better off paying $250 for a 120-160w system

Re the 17v-18v question - panels produce 17-18v and need a reducer/controller to produce the more useful 12-14v needed to charge a battery. Under no load the controller may also show 17-18v but this is the lower voltage when under load.

Garry

So do I do as the manual says and use the 18V DC output from the controller to my 12V battery? Or do I use the 12VDC output? What are the 2 different output sockets for? I don't really need much oomph. I can camp for 3 days just on batteries.

I hooked it up to an old battery and on 18V output I was seeing 14.95 V across my 12 V battery terminals when the sun was most intense. Seems too much. I understand what the controller is for/does - just need some clarification regarding it's output sockets.

[101RRS]

Well I do not know what it comes with the Aldi system - but most 12v solar systems come with the panels and a controller for 12v batteries.

So connect the controller to the battery and either plug in the controller to the panels or expose the panels to the sun.

I would be following what the instructions say. If you were getting about 14.9v in full sun then I would say it is basically working as it should.

Garry

[Scallops]

OK thanks. I'll find out tomorrow anyhow. If you have any links to good quality (these are German Bosch panels - 4 X 10W) folding 40W kits that are as small, but cheaper, I'd be interested. I couldn't find anything as elegant for the money. :)

BTW - are these calculations reasonable? Because if these panels generate 14.1 Amp hour power/day I'm happy and that will supplement my battery power nicely.

40 Watt output for 5 hours (take 5 hours = 1 day) - 200W generated.
Given efficiency losses, lets say - 170W generated.

170 watt hours in a 12V battery - 14.1 Amp hours @ 12V (170w/12v)

[101RRS]

People buy things for different reasons and if 40w of panels will suit your needs that is great - as I said, for the fold up (roll up) panels the Aldi price is pretty good.

It comes down on what you are going to use them for.

Cheers

Garry

[Bytemrk]

I looked at the solar panels but for that price i can buy a 120W folding panel , 40W might be good for trickle charging though.

True, it depends what you want it for - 120W folding panel doesn't tuck away in a small space like this either.

This gives me something small and tidy with the capacity for trickle charging or charging/ running laptop/ various USB devices and I haven't seen anything similar for under $300.

If it turns out to be crap... it always has Aldi's warranty.

I don't have a need for a larger capacity folding system.

[Bytemrk]

Roughly how big is it when packed away, Dan? The Aldi site lists the extended size but not packed up.

26cm wide x 39cm long x 4cm for the panel bag followed up. It then has the controller and cables sit in a pocket on the front, so at the thickest point
it's about 75mm thick.

[Bytemrk]

Let us know how it fairs?
Mrs hh:angel:

Had a very quick play with it yesterday afternoon.. laid it out across the top of my camper trailer on a very dull clouding Melbourne afternoon.

My multimeter told me it was putting out around 20 V (no load.)

I'm half way through installing a Traxide Dual battery set-up in the D4, so wasn't game to connect it to that just yet....(Might do a test run on the battery of the old Holden Astra my kids share next weekend.)

I connected my tablet to the USB port and it was happily charging

[Scallops]

Had a very quick play with it yesterday afternoon.. laid it out across the top of my camper trailer on a very dull clouding Melbourne afternoon.

My multimeter told me it was putting out around 20 V (no load.)

I'm half way through installing a Traxide Dual battery set-up in the D4, so wasn't game to connect it to that just yet....(Might do a test run on the battery of the old Holden Astra my kids share next weekend.)

I connected my tablet to the USB port and it was happily charging

Do you think the 18V output is the right port to connect the alligator clips that go to a 12V battery as per the manual?

[Kevin B]

Check it with a meter in the sun see what actual voltage is then Pop it on a battery and check again with the meter, should drop about 4v approx when loaded if thats the case then its fine.

[Bytemrk]

Do you think the 18V output is the right port to connect the alligator clips that go to a 12V battery as per the manual?

Yes... the 12V and USB ports should be limited to 12V and 5V respectively - you aren't going to charge a 12V battery by feeding in 12V from solar.

[Scallops]

Thanks. I calculate that we use about 24-28Ah/day when we camp. That is for my total consumption from my 40 litre Engel and a 12V Versa light.

This 40W system, as per my last calculation, will generate about 14Ah/day, so effectively I am adding 50% to the length of time I can camp on my setup.

And that is just what I was looking for.

Another question - do all controllers have some diode setup? I'm wondering if I can leave the panels connected to the battery after dark?

[Kevin B]

Yes they do or should have, stops the battery draining back into the panel overnight and sending it flat.

[Scallops]

One of our electronics engineers opened the controller at my request - the help desk doesn't know if there is diode protection or any preventative overcharging circuitry. The result is there isn't, so I'm buying one of these - we have plenty of 18 guage wire, fuses etc to finish an improved setup.....

12V 5A Battery Charging Regulator for Solar Panels - Jaycar Electronics (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA0348)

[Kevin B]

Well thats a shame it doesn't but for another 30 bucks I suppose its not to bad

[Hoges]

Well thats a shame it doesn't but for another 30 bucks I suppose its not to bad

For less than $3 at Jaycar you can buy a "heavy duty" Zener diode... cut one of the cables between the battery and controller, re-solder the cable either side of the diode (correct direction for current flow) , cover with heat shrink tubing. No more reverse flow.... not exactly 'elegant' but it should do the job...

[101RRS]

I find it highly unlikely that the controller supplied with the panels would allow a battery to be discharged (power the panels) in low/no light with the panels connected - even the real cheapies have this functionality.

I would be connecting the controller to a battery without the panels connected and checking whether the there is power from the batteries through the controller.

Garry

[Scallops]

The redraw issue is very negligable according to my colleague - wouldn't discharge the battery no, but it does not have diodes.....But the lack of smart charging capability - turning to trickle by detecting when the battery is fully charged was what I really wanted to fix, because of how I intend to use it.

I'll post up some picks of my modified setup once I have it done.

[Kevin B]

For less than $3 at Jaycar you can buy a "heavy duty" Zener diode... cut one of the cables between the battery and controller, re-solder the cable either side of the diode (correct direction for current flow) , cover with heat shrink tubing. No more reverse flow.... not exactly 'elegant' but it should do the job...

Exactly like this one I have connected to mine,

82315

[Scallops]

New setup - used 18 guage marine grade UV stable wiring and the quick connect couplings. I have a 10 amp fuse between the controller and the battery that is under the battery box lid.

The overall vehicle and current panel location.....they are on the leading edge of the roof rack....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/10/438.jpg (http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/dandienes1/media/imagejpg2_zps36c9d4e5.jpg.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/663.jpg (http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/dandienes1/media/imagejpg1_zps615f1101.jpg.html)

Closer up.....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/664.jpg (http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/dandienes1/media/imagejpg1_zps910bf169.jpg.html)

The connection from panel to cable......

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/665.jpg (http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/dandienes1/media/imagejpg3_zps77a6a4bd.jpg.html)

The solar controller mounted on battery box.....between the controller and the terminals, I have a 10A fuse.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/666.jpg (http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/dandienes1/media/imagejpg4_zps05c59b62.jpg.html)

The solar controller connection to the other end of my cable....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/667.jpg (http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/dandienes1/media/imagejpg5_zps285db6fe.jpg.html)

Stable maintainance charge voltage....sits around 13.20 Volts to around 13.10 when charged.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/668.jpg (http://s1314.photobucket.com/user/dandienes1/media/imagejpg1_zpsec710960.jpg.html)

I set it up yesterday and after an hour the panels had topped off my batteries - the deep cycle the panels are connected to is linked to the cranker via a Traxide SC-40. Interestingly, the help desk sent me an email claiming diode protection and smart circuitry to prevent overcharging within their supplied controller, although neither are actually used. All it does is step down the voltage. The electronics engineer here at my work has the wiring diagram for their controller, as the part number was on the controller chip. Here is some info that came from the chip part number for the supplied conroller....he tells me that while discharge out of the battery would be very minimal, there are no diodes on the battery side of the circuit. It uses a simple buck converter. There is certainly no smart overcharge detection circuitry.

http://www.xlsemi.com/datasheet/XL4016%20datasheet.pdf

For the sake of my AGM deep cycle battery, happy to spend $30.00 for a quality controller.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Hey Scallops! want to come round and rewire my caravan??:angel::angel::angel:

[Scallops]

Hey Scallops! want to come round and rewire my caravan??:angel::angel::angel:

Happy to help! :) It might look a bit messy at the battery box, but the hole was there already so I utilised it!