Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

kenbw2 · 2020-08-02 15:24:47

My old 100W panel was being quite intermittent, so I went solar shopping. Decided to get 200W to prepare for the darker months.

Found one that fits beautifully on our vans' roof.

Putting out more than twice as much as my old one ever did!

Casper · 2020-08-02 23:02:38

What solar charger is that? I am just using a cheap £10 Chinese one just now but when fully set up im looking for a MPPT but the price of the Epever ones are making my toes curl.

Last edited by Casper (2020-08-02 23:49:51)

kenbw2 · 2020-08-03 23:30:20

Yea the prices are eyewatering aren't they. I did get a slightly cheaper one for £60 as I was thinking of going 24V. This is the link to the one I bought but it;s changed to a bluetooth one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013TYIIT8

For what it's worth, for just 12V setups (ie not two panels in series) the cheap PWM controllers are fine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_cVEYxj3E&t=1010s

Casper · 2020-08-04 14:19:04

kenbw2 wrote:

Yea the prices are eyewatering aren't they. I did get a slightly cheaper one for £60 as I was thinking of going 24V. This is the link to the one I bought but it;s changed to a bluetooth one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013TYIIT8
For what it's worth, for just 12V setups (ie not two panels in series) the cheap PWM controllers are fine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_cVEYxj3E&t=1010s

Cheers but rather have a LCD Display. Funny as i do have the cheap one the guy in the video is getting excited about and yes, good results but.... I have a 300watt panel and thinking of running a small aldi desktop fridge through an inverter and these MPPT are meant to get up to 30% more out your panel. Ill runn the cheap one just now till i find something. Was doing work in teh van today and its chucking it down but the panel is still taking an an amp big_smile

kenbw2 · 2020-08-04 16:30:09

This one was the next best one I was looking at. It's a huge case for some reason but if that doesn't bother you it seems good: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Renogy-Rover-I … B07GYVQWV2

Casper · 2020-08-04 21:02:32

kenbw2 wrote:

This one was the next best one I was looking at. It's a huge case for some reason but if that doesn't bother you it seems good: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Renogy-Rover-I … B07GYVQWV2

No the size dont bother me thanks. Im having a bug cupboard for all my electrics. Plenty room in my bus mate

Casper · 2020-08-09 17:34:58

When i was chatting to you about the controller i also put a bid in on one in ebay and only just won it. Epever MPPT and has a wireless adaptor so i can change settings from sitting on my ass in the awning. big_smile Today i moved my panel to the back as it looked stupid up front and hanging over the sides.

I also ordered a smaller 100w panel to put in the gap up front to give me 400w. Should be enough big_smile

Stu-D · 2021-04-05 23:18:00

That's an awesome setup Ken, I've very interested if I think I can repair the under side.... once I eventally attack it with a hammer, MOT not till December Lol, if it get's past another MOT without me having to weld too much then I'll consider a setup like this, there may even be a mobile version of Starlink by that point... proper digital nomad life! :-P

Casper · 2021-04-06 20:12:03

Stu-D wrote:

That's an awesome setup Ken, I've very interested if I think I can repair the under side.... once I eventally attack it with a hammer, MOT not till December Lol, if it get's past another MOT without me having to weld too much then I'll consider a setup like this, there may even be a mobile version of Starlink by that point... proper digital nomad life! :-P

If worried about the MOT this could be solid. Make one good van and another for spares for little money.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/vans/fiat-scu … 1401676804

kenbw2 · 2021-04-07 14:11:47

I'm amazed to find I'm being completely self sufficient on solar these days. I switched my alternator charging off weeks ago to see how long I could last.

Forever, until winter by the looks of things!

tee_cee · 2021-04-07 14:57:15

kenbw2 wrote:

I'm amazed to find I'm being completely self sufficient on solar these days. I switched my alternator charging off weeks ago to see how long I could last.
Forever, until winter by the looks of things!

What capacity batterys do you have?

kenbw2 · 2021-04-07 15:31:02

A 75Ah LiFePO4 one for the 'house' electrics

Limiting factor me isn't really storage, it's generating as much as I use. Glad this panel is serving me well

Last edited by kenbw2 (2021-04-07 15:31:56)

tee_cee · 2021-04-08 17:05:37

kenbw2 wrote:

A 75Ah LiFePO4 one for the 'house' electrics
Limiting factor me isn't really storage, it's generating as much as I use. Glad this panel is serving me well

Interesting choice. What was your main driver for going LiFePO4?

kenbw2 · 2021-04-08 22:32:27

tee_cee wrote:

Interesting choice. What was your main driver for going LiFePO4?

The cold mainly. Winter is when I get the least solar and use the most electric. It's also something Lead Acid struggles with - you lose like 20% capacity in winter.

The other benefit was they accept a higher charge rate. Lack of solar meant I was idling a lot, so I hoped to reduce that with a battery that would charge in less time.

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#1 2020-08-02 15:24:47

Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#2 2020-08-02 23:02:38

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#3 2020-08-03 23:30:20

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#4 2020-08-04 14:19:04

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#5 2020-08-04 16:30:09

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#6 2020-08-04 21:02:32

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#7 2020-08-09 17:34:58

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#8 2021-04-05 23:18:00

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#9 2021-04-06 20:12:03

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#10 2021-04-07 14:11:47

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#11 2021-04-07 14:57:15

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#12 2021-04-07 15:31:02

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#13 2021-04-08 17:05:37

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

#14 2021-04-08 22:32:27

Re: Solar upgrade! Got 200W on my roof

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