Solar panels price

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ally
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Solar panels price

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Posted: 14.10.2012  ·  #1
They seem to be coming down all the time.

80 watt panel can be bought for £75! free delivery to NI and £14.95 to ROI

Click here.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 14.10.2012  ·  #2
I have noticed that too.

I have been told that it is the control unit that is more critical than the panel. So save on panels and put the money into the control.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 16.10.2012  ·  #3
Think I will invest in some shortly. Might PV the house also if the electric bills don't come down soon :)


the fat controller
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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 16.10.2012  ·  #4
I really want to put one on the mh and am getting up the courage to do the job myself, it's just the thought of drilling a hole in my roof


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #5
Thinkng of fitting one of these panels--has anyone tried this item or know anything about this firm?


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #6
Quote by the fat controller

I really want to put one on the mh and am getting up the courage to do the job myself, it's just the thought of drilling a hole in my roof


From posts on other forums it seems Sikaflex MAY be enough to hold it without drilling.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #7
Quote by dotron

Thinkng of fitting one of these panels--has anyone tried this item or know anything about this firm?


They get good reviews on other sites, plenty seem to be buying them.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #8
Is there a link on this thread that I am missing?
Which panels are you talking about.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #9
Quote by mark

Is there a link on this thread that I am missing?
Which panels are you talking about.


First post, stop using that bloody phone :P


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #10
LOL. You sound like my wife.

And that's not good !

:lol: :lol: :lol:


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #11
Cable can go through the roof. There are fittings for it with glands to make a seal.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #12
Some Motorhome power units like the sergent have inbuilt regulators but dont show the Amperage being generated by the panel. These may be handy to see how much your panel is generating.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digi…2a1d2baafe


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #13
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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #14
nice one Mark thats seems a good dedicated unit. Our Mh power supply has inputs for 2 X 80w panels but does not give output reading at any particular time hence the thought of the ammeter.


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solar panels

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #15
I have fitted lots of solar charging systems to both motorhomes and boats. Our camper is fitted with such a system and it is amazing how the solar panels keep the batteries fully charged. You wont see a battery bank reading of 13.2v any other way. We never need to plug into the mains and we removed the generator over a year ago. All I would say is dont buy a solar panel with a +/-5 tolerance. Also install a system whereby both starting and domestic battery banks are charged.Also use a charge controller with a monitor.It is also possible to fit panels without drilling holes.If you have to then fit a gland.Also be sure to fit a wind deflector to stop your panel taking off at speed.Lots more do's and dont's for anyone who wants to hear, just pm.cheers, Nomad.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 17.10.2012  ·  #16
Some good info there.

I agree, the do perform very well. I can't remember the last time we used hookup.


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Posted: 18.10.2012  ·  #17
Just had a thought. Now that the camper is parked up beside the house for the winter could I plug it into the house electrics and run the house from it, reckon it should at least run the lights or tv in the evenings. Nah..........surely????


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 18.10.2012  ·  #18
Done that once with a genny when the electric was off. It just died straight away, found out afterwards if we had of isolated some of the fuses it would of worked ok, but you must put the mians switch to off or it would be a nasty surprise if the electric came on.
So I suppose you would need some sort of controller?


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 18.10.2012  ·  #19
Quote by Nomad1
...........................It is also possible to fit panels without drilling holes..........................


If you choose to bond the panel to the roof without screws make sure the surface you are bonding it to is itself bonded.

Rapido and maybe some other marques cover their roofs with a 'floating' GRP layer which is only about 1.5mm thick. This outer layer, which is not bonded to the roof, is designed to protect the roof from hail damage, enhance the watertightness of the roof and provides a checker plate finish for safety when walking in the roof.

In my opinion, if a panel or other equipment like a sat dish was bonded only to this layer without the use of screws the item would take flight taking a section of this outer layer with it when subjected to high wind resistance :'(


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 18.10.2012  ·  #20
Quote by mark

LOL. You sound like my wife.




:lol:


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 19.10.2012  ·  #21
Was only joking about plugging camper into house to run lights. But I suppose if done right it would be possible. cheers Nomad. P.S got two x100w panels for sale if anybody interested.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 05.11.2012  ·  #22
100 watt for £89 with free delivery

HERE

80 watt £74 with free delivery

HERE


Ally
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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 05.11.2012  ·  #23
Someone in Ireland doing them with free delivery...

100 watt with 10amp regulator £149

HERE


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 11.11.2012  ·  #24
Folks, my advice for what it's worth and I've had Solar panels on 2 of my vans - go and get yourself a Honda Generator or Inverter as they call them. I've found mine much better than any solar panel.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 13.11.2012  ·  #25
Gennies can be very annoying to anyone parked close to them when they are trying to relax and the gennie runs for hours while the owner watches sattelite tv !!!


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 13.11.2012  ·  #26
Honda Generator = £1100

Two 80 watt panels = £160 + fitting

I can see where a generator comes into it's own, but it's the old argument, how much power do you really need?

2 x 110AH leisure batteries last me up to 5 days, with two 80watt panels I would hope to get 7 or more days.

What does everyone use that uses so much power?

12volt TV
12 Volt Lighting
12 Volt Hair Straighteners (wifeys)
12volt water pump

Gas fridge
Gas kettle
Gas heating

Thoughts? :happy:


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Posted: 13.11.2012  ·  #27
You are right Ally.
We have a 120 watt panel and 2x elecsol 110 amp batteries.

I have done a 14 day trip in winter without requirement for hookup or generator.
We stopped for up to 4 days in one spot without moving.

The drive for an hour or more between locations does wonders to the batteries too.

I have no need for a generator at all and would not like to be beside anyone using one for prolonged periods. No issues with anyone needing to run one for a few minutes to use something with a heavy load.

I have been to rallies where people run generators for hours but luckily not beside me.

With more moterhomers pushing for aire de service you would think less would be going down the generator route as they are not allowed.


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Posted: 13.11.2012  ·  #28
i am nearly always off ehu and never needed a genny yet.
solar is adequate even in our climate.
2 x 110 batterries

and dont use an inverter !!!!!


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 13.11.2012  ·  #29
IF you need to replace 50A/h of charge to your batteries each day (approx 25% of what the 3 posts above have in total) , and you have 4 sunlight hours in each day you will need...

50AH x 12V = 600WH

600WH / 4H = 150W of solar panels.

In reality it is recommended to overrate your requirements by at least 20%, therefore you would need 180W of solar panels or drop usage to maintain levels. In winter with low light levels it may take 8hrs light to get the 4hrs worth of charge

Thats only using 25% of your total power per day. Blown air heating eats a lot of power but modern LED lights and Tv's are easy on batteries


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 14.11.2012  ·  #30
Blown air heating eats the batteries I find. But luckily I have a gas fire also and there is no need for the blow heating to be on. It may make the front of the van slightly warmer but very little difference and as for the bathroom, leave the door open.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 26.11.2012  ·  #31
Quote by Ally

Quote by the fat controller

I really want to put one on the mh and am getting up the courage to do the job myself, it's just the thought of drilling a hole in my roof


From posts on other forums it seems Sikaflex MAY be enough to hold it without drilling.



I fitted 100W one recently and used sikaflex with proper brackets, you still need to drill for the cables but a gland glued to the roof sorts that.

I think I still have 2 tubes of sikaflex left. I also had doubts before I done and theres no way that is conmming off the roof (no screws needed).

Ended up being a very easy job so go for it.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 09.01.2013  ·  #32
thinking of going down the solar panel route myself. Could you run a small inverter say like the one available in Argos to run one of the tube type greenhouse heaters say a 60watt one to heat the van.
I am converting another T4 VW this time on a strict budget ie nothing!!!. What size of panel would be required to run this and maybe a small cool box. Thanks for any help :up:


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Posted: 09.01.2013  ·  #33
I will leave the technical answers to the experts but I can tell you the following.

We have a 120 watt panel and find in Ireland it performs about one third to half of its potential. i.e 3 - 5 amps.
It does keep the batteries topped up but I can't see how it would allow you to draw 60 watt for any length of time. I am sure there is a formula that one of the engineers will quote.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 10.01.2013  ·  #34
We'll have a selection of solar kits at the show next week,,

brackets, a range of regulators, mppt type, pwm with displays or without, battery monitors, schaudt controllers for integrating into the schaudt electrobloks ( 90% of continental vans use the schaudt systems) roofing glands, sealant and a range of mono crystalline panels,,


LTS


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 18.05.2013  ·  #35
I recently fitted a 120 watt panel along with two new 110 amh batteries at a cost of £450 all in (Hagans, Ballyclare) I am delighted with the work and the results, went on a weeks holidays north and south and wild camped every night except one in Broughshane didn't need a plug in for the whole week despite my using hairdryer and straighteners most morning (for short periods via inverter). The panels have made life a lot easier with the motorhome and we are setting off for another trip to europe later in the year.


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 19.05.2013  ·  #36
sounds like a great set-up. Are the hair-dryer & straighteners 12volt? If so what make?


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Re: Solar panels price

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Posted: 19.05.2013  ·  #37
If they are using an inverter they would be using 240 volt straighteners, and hair dryer otherwise it will be 12v items that we keep in stock !!!!! :up:


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