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Subject Topic: solar panel Post Reply Post New Topic
bald eagle
06/8/2013 at 9:35pm
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Hi, a friend of mine has just brought a second hand caravan and wanted to know what size solar panel she would need the battery is an 85.
Many thanks in advance

-------------
Life is to short,be happy have fun.
regards
bald eagle


PersonAl+Mel
06/8/2013 at 10:41pm
 Location: Hants
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Depends on a lot of things. our 100W panel will recharge the battery after we use our 4WD mover to put the 'van back into storage, so its ready for the next trip. If she needs a panel just to keep an alarm from discharging the battery a 10W panel might be enough - bearing in mind there isn't much sunlight in this country in winter!

Generally the bigger the better. Panels over 10W in output need a charge controller.


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Persontango55
07/8/2013 at 1:34am
 Location: Lichfield
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The more power you consume the bigger solar panel you need so you firstly need to calculate the amount of people in the caravan consuming energy from the battery. If there are four people living in the caravan then the water taps are going to be used more frequently for washing and cleaning teeth etc. which is more of a drain on the water pump than that of just two people and if you have a toilet with a 12 volt electric flush then this will also absorb more power than a caravan with a manual flush toilet. You also have to consider how long you have the TV on for as not only does the TV consume energy itself but also the power pack that receives the digital TV reception. So basically the more power you consume from the leisure battery the more energy you have to replenish the next day during daylight hours. Everybody's caravanning lifestyle can differ and vary in many ways and because of this reason it is hard to determine exactly what size solar panel you actually need.


PersonHEJC72
07/8/2013 at 10:33am
 Location: North Yorkshire
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As already mentioned, a lot will depend on the number of people using the van and the number of 12v appliances.
I caravan alone and only have 2 LED 12v strip lights in my van and find a 13w suitcase solar panel is more than enough to keep my battery topped up.

-------------
Helen xx
Mini Mad Mum


PersonTrunnion
07/8/2013 at 7:59pm
 Location: Lancashire.
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Quite a few times we are not on EHU, so rely on our 60 W solar panel & it does what we require from it, but as been said before it depends on how much power you use, its the tv that uses the most ie my wife & the tv soaps, she is now rationed.


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bald eagle
07/8/2013 at 8:37pm
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Thanks to everyone for their replys.
She will be using onboard water pump,toilet flush and three to four lights.
Many thanks again


-------------
Life is to short,be happy have fun.
regards
bald eagle


PersonDaveCoaches
08/8/2013 at 6:33am
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Realisticly, go for the biggest you can afford and keep your options open. If you have enough capacity to run a fridge on solar power then you can save on gas too.

If you can DIY fit, there are some good buys on eBay for panels, about £1 / watt. You need a regulator too though. These can cost under £10 but be weary of cheap ones as they can be very inefficient. Saving a tenner on the regulator could waste half if the energy produced.

while a free standing panel may produce more power, it does need moving regularly as the sun moves. They are also more expensive and easier to steal than one attatched to the roof.


PersonDaveCoaches
08/8/2013 at 6:39am
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Just how much power you need varies. On a cloudy day the panel produces less, but you use more, so it pays to go over the top, and if you have an excess in the sun, use it for other things, eg recharge appliances in the day when power is in abundance rather than at night when demand out strips supply.


Personhackettdavid
14/8/2013 at 8:29pm
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Hi I have 4 new panels for sale if anyone is interested. They are domestic roof panels. Trina 235w / 37v.


PersonOnewheelonmywagon
15/8/2013 at 11:11am
 Location: W Midlands
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You can't run the fridge from a solar panel.


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PersonDaveCoaches
15/8/2013 at 9:16pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Onewheelonmywagon on 15/8/2013
You can't run the fridge from a solar panel.


You can if you have the capacity to keep the battery topped up while running the fridge from the battery through an inverter, or wire the fridge so that the 12 volt element can be connected to the battery.



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