Solar kit for under $500

[mijango]

Hi, I'm after a solar kit to support our mild power needs for camping trips of not usually more than 3-4days in one spot.
Our setup is as follows:
Car: D4 3.0 TDV6, with Traxide DBS and optima Aux battery. Anderson connector at hitch.
Trailer: CUB brumby with on board battery (maybe 100ah Whatever comes as standard), with charger in built.
Power needs: Waeco CF80 12v fridge, led lighting, inverter for charging iPhones, 12v bilge pump (for shower) for 5mins per day.

I'm looking for a portable 120w panel(s) with 5-10m of cable and built in regulators (yes I may get a bit of loss through the cable but I can live with that).
So not looking for a full on technical response here, but moreso some guidance on recommended panels and regulator kit for my needs

[Blknight.aus]

Start by looking at jaycars stuff.

I'd look at running two 60/70w panels.with a pair of smaller regulators (10a each) and a cable.on each panel.

That will let you have one panel in/on the car and one on the camper to do maintenance charging of the batteries and still give meaningful active charging to extend. Your stay.

Since your set up on Anderson plugsfor the vehicle and camper it would be a cinch to put the regulators on the end of the cables in a wtaterproofes kiddy box with an Anderson plug.

Jaycar used to complete kits with the panel , a regulator that could handle.twice the supplied panels rating and a measure of cable complete with weather proof connectors

[p38arover]

Hi, I'm after a solar kit to support our mild power needs for camping trips of not usually more than 3-4days in one spot.
Our setup is as follows:
Car: D4 3.0 TDV6, with Traxide DBS and optima Aux battery. Anderson connector at hitch.
Trailer: CUB brumby with on board battery (maybe 100ah Whatever comes as standard), with charger in built.

snip

I'm looking for a portable 120w panel(s) with 5-10m of cable and built in regulators (yes I may get a bit of loss through the cable but I can live with that).

It seems you have everything, including two aux batteries, on in the D4 and one in the trailer, and you only need the solar panels.

I'm presently running a 140 watt system bought off eBay: Maxray NEW Folding Solar Panel KIT 140W 12V Caravan Camping Power Mono Charging | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MaxRay-NEW-Folding-Solar-Panel-Kit-140w-12V-Caravan-Camping-Power-Mono-Charging-/290920906453'ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:AU:3160)

In good sun it puts about 7 amps into the batteries - I'm not getting 140 watts out of it. I'm using the supplied controller but may replace it in the future with an MPPT controller, probably a Tracer 2210, e.g., 20A TRACER2210RN Epsolar MPPT Solar Battery Charge Controller Remote Meter MT5 | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/20A-Tracer2210RN-EPsolar-MPPT-Solar-Battery-Charge-Controller-Remote-Meter-MT5-/230970110249?pt=AU_Solar&hash=item35c6e43129)

You could buy solar panels and the MPPT controller and still be $100 under budget. You could actually go to a 160watt system and stay in budget

It will get a good workout on the Australia Day weekend - I bought a new cranking battery and deep cycle AGM today - and I'll be camped for about 5 days.

Re Dave's comments above, if you are running two separate panels each with their own controller, I suspect you will not be able to parallel the batteries. I haven't tried it but am basing that on comments from a solar installer who was trying to faultfind a fellow camper's system near where I was camped a couple of weeks back. The installation there comprised a 3-panel solar charger and a 2-panel solar charger connected to the same battery bank. The installer said the controllers were interfering with each other so, in effect, only the 3-panel set up was doing any charging.

[mijango]

It seems you have everything, including two aux batteries, on in the D4 and one in the trailer, and you only need the solar panels.

I'm presently running a 140 watt system bought off eBay: Maxray NEW Folding Solar Panel KIT 140W 12V Caravan Camping Power Mono Charging | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MaxRay-NEW-Folding-Solar-Panel-Kit-140w-12V-Caravan-Camping-Power-Mono-Charging-/290920906453'ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:AU:3160)

In good sun it puts about 7 amps into the batteries - I'm not getting 140 watts out of it. I'm using the supplied controller but may replace it in the future with an MPPT controller, probably a Tracer 2210, e.g., 20A TRACER2210RN Epsolar MPPT Solar Battery Charge Controller Remote Meter MT5 | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/20A-Tracer2210RN-EPsolar-MPPT-Solar-Battery-Charge-Controller-Remote-Meter-MT5-/230970110249?pt=AU_Solar&hash=item35c6e43129)


So overall, are you happy with the kit? Your thoughts on it, and the video almost made me click Buy It Now on the bay. Would you buy it again? Is the regulator the weak link?
I have also seen some posts on Exploroz that talk highly of this 120W unit by Bit Deals which has an MPPT regulator all for $200

Hmmm :confused:

NEW 12V 120W Folding Solar Panel KIT Mono Caravan Boat Camping Power Battery | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/360466559807'ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

Reviews on Maxray solar panel kits @ ExplorOz Forum (http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/110022/Reviews_on_Maxray_solar_panel_kits.aspx?ky=maxray&sn=&p=%2fForum%2fDefault.aspx%3fs%3d1%26ky%3dmaxray%26 pn%3d1)

[p38arover]

It's a bit late in the night for a reasoned reply - I've had a few red wines.

Be aware that many of the controllers sold as MPPT are not MPPT. If it's cheap and thin, it won't be an MPPT controller. There has to be sufficient thickness for a transformer.

[TerryO]

While it's not a MPPT regulator and it costs more than you want to pay. I reckon sometimes biting the bullet in the end often ends up cheaper.

The regulator I reckon that is a good one for charging two battery's is a Sunsaver Duo. It can be set up to charge two battery's independently of each other including deciding which battery gets charged at what rate.

Below is a link showing the regulator I mentioned, I have no idea if this is a good price now though. You used to be able to buy them cheaper on eBay.

https://www.solaronline.com.au/morningstar-25a-sunsaver-duo.html

mijango you asked in the other thread what solar kit I had on my van, in fact I just used the two 100 w AGM house battery's that the van came with plus a ProStar 30m regulator that I brought secondhand of a forum member on a Caravan forum I am a member of and the two panels I bought came of a website I found after Goggling panels for sale.

The panels I have are Kyocera's which is a good quality brand of panel and is the panel I wanted, so I just kept looking until I found the best price for them. Like most things in life though you usually only get what you pay for, this more often then not usually goes for Solar as well. ... Caveat emptor.

[p38arover]

While it's not a MPPT regulator and it costs more than you want to pay. I reckon sometimes biting the bullet in the end often ends up cheaper.

Terry is right. Too often I've skimped to save but have ended up being either dissatisfied or having to eventually buy the better item.

Quite frankly, I don't believe the advertised specifications of solar items, especially those from China.

[mijango]

Thanks and stands to reason you get what you pay for.. (Most notably (and aptly) with red wine!! Haa)

At the end of the day though I don't want to spend the earth and just want something to keep some juice coming into either the trailer or car. I also don't run TV's or laptops or fans so for now at least don't use a lot of power.
Also the car is usually used for trips from our camp spots so it usually gets some charge into it. I have even hooked up an inverter to the car plugged in my ctek charger to charge the trailer (ie Ac-DC charging). If using the car regularly I've read this can work quite well. I've still not done it enough though to get a true sense of how effective it is.

So.. I'm thinking of going for the 140w Bits Deal one.. will let you know how I go..

[Pedro_The_Swift]

The car will do a much better job of charging all the batteries.
Buy a reputable reg and run all the panels through it.

Dont forget to maintain the battery at home!!;)

[Tombie]

Well over 200w with regulator for sub $500 easy...

Just going through this whole process on my camper

[catch-22]

Just going through this whole process on my camper

Same. But I need at least a solar panel before Friday. I only have a single 120ah AGM batt in the camper that needs to last three nights. No anderson plug yet.

I had better get a move on....

[Blknight.aus]

For an expedient solution
Powertech Monocrystalline Solar Panel - 80W- Jaycar Electronics (http://m.jaycar.com.au/m_productView.asp?ID=ZM9097)

And
20A Solar Charge Controller with LCD Display- Jaycar Electronics (http://m.jaycar.com.au/m_productView.asp?ID=MP3129)
(which will handle up to 24ish watts of panel input)

Or
12V 8A Water Resistant PWM Solar Charge Controller- Jaycar Electronics (http://m.jaycar.com.au/m_productView.asp?ID=MP3720)
(which will be. On its limits with the 120w panel but should do nicely with the 80/90w panels.

You could also get

20-Amp 12V Super Solar Panel Regulator- Jaycar Electronics (http://m.jaycar.com.au/m_productView.asp?ID=MP3126)
(which are not as good as most mppt regulators but are very very robust and reliable units

I have the panel and regulator from the first two links mounted to b my disco and it keeps me going four four days on an stock N55 size starting battery (stock battery for a disco1)

The second regulator I reccomend and setup for people nearer the beach or who want a boat setup for maintenance charging

The last regulator is the one in use when overall effeciency is less important than cost, reliability and robustness.

If you only wanted 120w worth and wanted maximum flexabiltiy I would reccomend two each of the 60w panels and 2 of the second type of regulator secured to the back of each panel and then whatever run of wire and Anderson connectors you required.

No, jaycar is not the cheapest place ton get your parts fromm but you should be able to.but it all tomorrow and have the peace of mind of being able to do warranty on it at any jaycar I'd you needed to.

[catch-22]

Thanks Dave. And thanks for going to the effort to post the links.

Looking at the sizes and I think a folding unit might be better.....although they seem to be a lot more expensive.

I'll head over to Jaycar today and take a look as they're only down the road.

[mijango]

So I went with the 120W BIT deals panel kit in the end and was happy with a 5-6A charge when the sun was out

http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/360466559807?_mwBanner=1&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Though, I didn't get a lot of confidence that the regulator was preventing overcharging. My battery monitor was saying the battery was over 100% Srste of charge though it carried on pumping through 5-6A which I would have thought would have reduced to something fairly minimal. At what point should the regulator start to restrict charge to the battery?