Thread: Mandrake's Solar Power

How about 2 X 50 watt panels - they're 720 X 540 mm each - ? plus 10 Amp controller - $650 delivered to Perth Metro

OR

get one of my portable foldup units and forget about roof mounting .. $640 delivered to Perth Metro

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Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve,

Question for you if you don't mind - I purchased 4 individual 20w panels and a controller last year and am wondering if I need to use blocking to install blocking diodes when I'm wiring the panels up to the controller, and if so, what would you recommend?

G'day - depending on the type of panel they may have a diode in the junction box - if there's no junction box then more than likely there are no diodes !! However the controller should have a diode circuit to stop battery flowback at night .. Check the specs of the controller if you can .. otherwise get another controller that does have or put diodes in the panels if you can open them to expose the connection cables or in the line between panels and controller ..

Cheers

Steve

Originally Posted by Mandrake

How about 2 X 50 watt panels - they're 720 X 540 mm each - ? plus 10 Amp controller - $650 delivered to Perth Metro

OR

get one of my portable foldup units and forget about roof mounting .. $640 delivered to Perth Metro

Untitled Page

Cheers

Steve

Thanks Steve, I will measure up tonight and decide. Not in a huge hurry though - just need it before a trip mid year. I am not interested in a portable unit, as we usually only stay in one spot for a day or two then move on when touring.

Some measured power consumption to hopefully assist anyone with calculations.

Big descision for us some years back - the (really) old 3-way chescold fridge crapped out. I'd repaired it but it just wouldn't keep cold anymore and leveling it all the time was a pain. So we decided to go solar. SWMBO was very sceptical and I was real keen.

We use a few of those 12 volt fluro lights. One is a twin tube about 18" long and draws about 500mA/h, the rest are those single tube automotive worklights and these use 250mA/h. Last one I bought was $7 at Bunnings just before Easter.

Our fridge is an ARB flavoured Engel 40 with insulated cover. It draws max of 2.5A and when in use it effectively runs for 30 mins every hour on the 1.5 setting which is normal for us on a hot day. (I sat there and timed it over 30 mins). So it uses 2.5A/h.

The solar panel is a Sharp 80W. It charges one or both f our two 120Ah AGM batteries. One is onn the camper, one is in the car. Depending on where we are and how we're camping we can off one or the other or connect them both together for double capacity.

On a good clear sunny day (not too hot) I have been getting almost 5A from the solar panel measured at the controller. This is exceptionally good for an 80W panel and is also with a 20m extension lead between the panel and controller too.

In practice we can get about 2-3 days of no sun power from a single 120Ah battery running the fridge (turn it down to 1 overnight), being frugal with the lights and using headlamps or torches as well (sometimes use a gas lantern when I remember to pack it and same for my old kero storm lantern if I can find room for it).

So an 80W panel would be the smallest power wise I'd consider. It is also the largest one I would want to put on any vehicle roof. Ours mounts length-ways in a custom fame and fits snuggly beside a full length Rhino roof pod or the Oz-Tent. The roof rack is a set ot Rhino aero bars fitted to full length roof rails on the disco so it ain't real wide but does the job nicely.

Hope this info is useful.
Cheers
Peter

just had a request from Peter in SA about the discount and unfortunately my prices are now so low and so is the US$ that the discount has gone until the greenback decides to get back to .9 again ..

Cheers

Steve

Just to let you know that Mandrake's Solar Power has expanded into
Queensland and Western Australia
http://www.solarsteve1950.com

Cheers

Steve

All of the single Mono-crystalline modules - 20W , 40W , 50W , 80W ,100W and 140W are discounted .
Two sizes of portable kits also on special - 80W and 100W ..

Refer to www.solarsteve1950.com/pricelist.html

Cheers

Steve