Solar Panel Installation and Setup

bimmerteck · Jan 31, 2023

Yeah, my wife snagged me one on clearance last month for the 2AH 18v batteries I use for my portable desk fan at work. Now I can just keep a spare battery on the charger in the rover. End goal is to mount it to the luggage partition, and like many things it will likely just be one more thing to be moved over to the IG when it arrives.

Logsplitter · Jan 31, 2023

bimmerteck said:
Yeah, my wife snagged me one on clearance last month for the 2AH 18v batteries I use for my portable desk fan at work. Now I can just keep a spare battery on the charger in the rover. End goal is to mount it to the luggage partition, and like many things it will likely just be one more thing to be moved over to the IG when it arrives.

View attachment 7802222

$23 that’s a bargain

AnD3rew · Jan 31, 2023

My gear is DeWalt and I have one of these. I don’t yet have an impact driver but it will be on the birthday present list.

globalgregors · Feb 1, 2023

bimmerteck said:
Wait, just running an AC inverter to recharge DC batteries? It’s much more efficient to use dc-dc chargers for any of those batteries.

Ah, if that's referring to me it's down to my poor phrasing. Inverter is obviously just for the 240V widgets.

jflipa83 · Mar 9, 2023

Does anybody have any experience with enerdrive products? They seem like good quality and it’s not too expensive. I’m looking for a 200a battery and 2000w inverter set up. I’m thinking of having a little coffee machine in the back while we watch the kids play soccer etc

Davman · Mar 9, 2023

Enerdrive are a quality product. If you are happy with their pricing, then it wont be a bad decision.

DaveB · Mar 9, 2023

jflipa83 said:
Does anybody have any experience with enerdrive products? They seem like good quality and it’s not too expensive. I’m looking for a 200a battery and 2000w inverter set up. I’m thinking of having a little coffee machine in the back while we watch the kids play soccer etc

Make sure you check the constant output of your inverter and the duty cycle not just the peak output
Also check the maximum current and power needed by your coffee machine

Logsplitter · Jun 3, 2023

Just trying my suitcase style portable solar panel. 100W with inbuilt MPPT controller connected to jump lead post under bonnet
Seems to be working fine.

Logsplitter · Jun 3, 2023

Logsplitter said:
Just trying my suitcase style portable solar panel. 100W with inbuilt MPPT controller connected to jump lead post under bonnet
Seems to be working fine. View attachment 7814609 View attachment 7814610

This was gong real well until the her indoors moved her car and ran over the solar panel

ECrider · Jun 3, 2023

Logsplitter said:
This was gong real well until the her indoors moved her car and ran over the solar panel

Obviously your fault, no doubt!

Logsplitter · Jun 3, 2023

ECrider said:
Obviously your fault, no doubt!

Exactly. Bloody stupid place to put a solar panel

globalgregors · Jun 4, 2023

Logsplitter said:
This was gong real well until the her indoors moved her car and ran over the solar panel

Oh no!! Appreciate the test while it lasted!

Delighted with this, thinking maybe won’t bother pfaffing with the CTEK setup.

Logsplitter · Jun 4, 2023

Well it certainly works and an easy solution The benefit is the solar panel can be orientated towards the sun so more efficient than a fixed installation. I’ve had this as an addition to my previous setup and seems fairly robust unless you run over it. Just about to order another one. Here’s the link

Photonic Universe 100W Lightweight Folding Solar Charging Kit With MPPT Controller

100W lightweight portable, folding solar panel kit for 12V systems with high-quality solar cells & MPPT controller. For leisure applications.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

globalgregors · Jun 4, 2023

Logsplitter said:
Well it certainly works and an easy solution The benefit is the solar panel can be orientated towards the sun so more efficient than a fixed installation. I’ve had this as an addition to my previous setup and seems fairly robust unless you run over it. Just about to order another one. Here’s the link

Photonic Universe 100W Lightweight Folding Solar Charging Kit With MPPT Controller

100W lightweight portable, folding solar panel kit for 12V systems with high-quality solar cells & MPPT controller. For leisure applications.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

Yes, I rather prefer a blanket in the intense overhead sun of our Antipodean latitudes.
Your Mrs would’ve made short work of that though.

240W Monocrystalline Folding Solar Blanket Kit

240W Solar Blanket Kit by REDARC features everything you need for a portable and flexible charge between car and campsite.

www.redarc.com.au

emax · Jun 4, 2023

I can recommend to choose more, but smaller boards (in general).

The reasons:

Larger panels are more difficult to erect. They are more sensitive to wind, require larger shadow-free areas, and since they are usually taller, the studs are less stable.
Shading, in particular, is a problem: If a panel is shaded by just 10%, it can already fail completely. Between shrubs and trees, it is easier for smaller panels to find an unshaded spot.
Three smaller panels typically provide more voltage than two larger ones. The MPPTs will not charge at all below a certain threshold. So it is better to have 200 watts from three small panels than zero watts from two larger panels.
You have to know that the panels are usually connected in series. So if a larger panel has 10% shading, it will stop working, making the entire installation (i.e. the string) ineffective.

These are my experiences with my Bluetti equipment that I run in my garden.

This does not mean exactly "three" or "two" panels, but generally prefer more (for higher voltage even in low sunshine), but smaller ones (to avoid the shadow problem a bit).

Logsplitter · Jun 4, 2023

globalgregors said:
Yes, I rather prefer a blanket in the intense overhead sun of our Antipodean latitudes.
Your Mrs would’ve made short work of that though.

240W Monocrystalline Folding Solar Blanket Kit

240W Solar Blanket Kit by REDARC features everything you need for a portable and flexible charge between car and campsite.

www.redarc.com.au

So these suitcase style panels are pretty tough. I’ve straightened it out and plugged it in. Amazingly showing 14v at jump lead point under Grenadier bonnet I’ve ordered another though as sure it won’t last long

Logsplitter · Sep 27, 2023

Tried out the solar panels today in the first South African sun we’ve had. All working as planned.
connected the panels when the sun was low in the sky at 0730 hrs. The fridge had been on all night set to 1c. We had various cameras torches etc on charge as well. Battery charge at 90% to start and up to 98% in 3hrs with intense sun on the vehicle. I’m happy with that so will stick with just the smartpass for now. May put a permanent connection point in for the panels at some point to save lifting the bonnet but like the flexibility of portable panels as can orientate towards the sun for more effectiveness

Pat-Ard · Sep 27, 2023

@Logsplitter Where did you connect the panels to?

Logsplitter · Sep 27, 2023

Jump start terminal under the bonnet for now but will add some external plug’s somewhere

ECrider · Sep 27, 2023

Logsplitter said:
Jump start terminal under the bonnet for now but will add some external plug’s somewhere View attachment 7828036

Nice, does that then charge both the batteries, presume so?

Solar Panel Installation and Setup

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