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I am really interested in purchasing a solar panel 60 to 80 watt. But I havent a clue how to go about it. There are so many to choose from they range from 80 to £500+. I dont want to cut holes in the van anywhere. I noticed at the show there was solar solutions who were offering a free standing 60watt for £399 all in. I just dont know where to start - good advice welcome

I'd buy one of these Click_here and make a stand for it , it also comes with a free charge controller which you'll need .
Though i'm not sure i'd want to leave a large solar panel outside my caravan unless i was keeping a good eye on it .

atb

Wizard

Sure can http://www.1carpc.co.uk/wcdr/new-page-2.htm , this is how i fitted mine to the caravan roof .
The electrical side is very straight forward , just two wires from the battery to the charge controller , add a fuse on the positive wire , then connect the wires from the solar panel to the charge controller , same again just 2 wires .
Make sure you get the positive and negitive wires round the right way and connect the charge controller to the battery before connecting the panel . 
You'll need some sort of disconnecting link so you can remove the panel when storing it Click_here , this item could give you the plug and socket ( just need to cut the wire from either the socket or plug ) . I'd keep the socket end inside a locker so it stays dry .

atb

Wizard

 hi we use a 40 watt panel all the time we are away ,dont bother with ehu and as we only get away between march to sept the days are long enough to keep the battery topped up, i wanted to be able to sit the panel on the roof when we get on site and take it off again when we leave so i fixed a plastic sucker onto,  each corner of the panel and put it on the roof through the heiki roof light to do this you need the to be a contortionist and i am as supple as a dried stick  but i get there in the end. the charge controller fits in the battery box next to the ehu socket the battery is pemanently connected to the controller  i fitted a simple two pin plug and socket( the type used for extending electric mower leads) to the lead from the panel i have marked it so i dont reverse the polarity..  i know its a compromise with the panel on the roof they are not quite as efficient flat as opposed to angled towards the sun ,but its out of harms way and you dont notice the wire once its threaded through the awning to the battery box. i think wizards way of a perminent fix is an excellent  way of doing it and i suppose a bigger panel than ours would be difficult to get on and off the roof all the time

                                                           phil

Hi Fat Belly , could you point me to the controller you bought from ebay .

Thanks Wizard

Quote: Originally posted by wizard9956 on 05/3/2011

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Hi Fat Belly , could you point me to the controller you bought from ebay .

Thanks Wizard

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