Hi all need advice on what is the best solar panel to fit on a motorhome, what watts one needs is there one that will still charge all batteries on a cloudy day. Regards Jimbob Cork
Michelinman
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: Maiden City Age: 74 Homepage:rossdowneyleisures… Posts: 753 Registered: 11 / 2012 My Motorhome: Autotrail Arapaho Base Vehicle: Ducato x250 2008
Hi Jimbob. Solar Panels vary in size and wattage. Although I have a 120watt fitted to my own Motorhome I feel that for most Motorhomes using a television, lights, etc a 100 watt panel is suffice using a decent regulator to keep 2 x 110ah batteries up at their peak for as long as your holiday lasts. Reference your question about panels on a cloudy day the panel will still charge enough on a cloudy day unless the clouds are really dense but there is not to my knowledge a panel for a cloudy day. If you run your batteries right down to the minimum at nightime ,before your awake in the morning the solar panel will have them back up to speed again. A good make of solar panel and regulator is of utmost importance to keep your batteries in top condition so long as you have decent deep cycle leisure batteries fitted that can take the charge/discharge procedure.
That is good info from Willie and is pretty much how our 120 watt panel performs.
We get up most mornings to a better battery state of charge than when we went to bed.
I have said to many people if I change my van the first accessory fitted will be a solar panel. Things like TV , gaslow etc are great and I like having them but it will be solar first next time.
the fat controller
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: Moira, Craigavon Age: 60 Homepage:fincaangelacat.com Posts: 9452 Registered: 04 / 2012 My Motorhome: Benimar Tessoro 481 Base Vehicle: Ford Transit
Just to keep this up to date and relevant, I was out checking on the motorhome yesterday for the first time in a few weeks and the batteries are showing as fully charged. ( they weren't when I parked up last) all thanks to the solar panel which Willie fitted. It really saves having to keep the van plugged in.
Ally
Founder
Gender: Location: Muckamore, Antrim Age: 55 Homepage:motorhomecraic.com Posts: 32599 Registered: 08 / 2011 My Motorhome: Lunar Roadstar 780 Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.8 JTD
The Spanish are at it, anyone who is connected to the main grid and has solar panels has to pay a tax due to the government having invested so much in the infrastructure but getting no return due to people getting free power. You can only avoid it if you are not connected to a mains supply
Ally
Founder
Gender: Location: Muckamore, Antrim Age: 55 Homepage:motorhomecraic.com Posts: 32599 Registered: 08 / 2011 My Motorhome: Lunar Roadstar 780 Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.8 JTD
In Spain we are completely off grid, we have our own well which is 120m down and pump that using a 12kva generator into a holding tank which holds 6000l, the funny also charges a bank of 2v batteries which make 12v and this is converted to 240v through a 4kw inverter. We won't add solar otpr wind until we are there full time. The thing you have to bear in mind with being totally off grid is for anyway is that each time you turn a tap on it uses electric.
Ally
Founder
Gender: Location: Muckamore, Antrim Age: 55 Homepage:motorhomecraic.com Posts: 32599 Registered: 08 / 2011 My Motorhome: Lunar Roadstar 780 Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.8 JTD
Thinking about it, I am lucky it was changed to funny!
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