I am a new Campervan owner and have already started to enjoy the freedom (well, a bit as we are now out of lockdown).
I have a VW T6 (t28). What are the benefits of having a solar panel fitted? What will the solar panel give me? What are the alternative types of solar panel?
Welcome to UKCS. There are many experts here, I’m not one! Our solar panel keeps the leisure battery topped up over winter. We don’t choose to stay overnight in car parks for free like some do, but a solar panel means you’re more likely to have lights etc, if that’s what you plan to do. So I’d say you need to understand what your leisure battery can - and can’t - do for you, to understand the part a solar panel can play. No need to rush into getting one, wait to see how you use your campervan.
We have a 120w solar panel on our Ducato PVC.
We do occasionally freecamp and often stay on sites with no EHU. We have managed 5 nights without moving van without issues. It only changes a 110ah battery.
We don't have TV, but use USBs to recharge tablets, phones and radio. Make sure you have at least 2 USB ports.
We think it's worth having, it cost £350 2 years ago.
Some people add inverters, for TVs & hairdryers etc.
But that's more expence.
Many VWs use the thin flexy panels.
We have always had solar panels fitted to our motorhomes (we're on our 4th soon to be 5th - we've been at this a long time). I'd say its always worth having a solar panel fitted, ours has a split charger so it ensures the vehicle battery is charged alongside the leisure battery. This is particularly important if you have a tracker or similar fitted (a friend of ours did and until they fit the split charger, the tracker would drain the vehicle battery, especially in winter when the MH wasn't getting used so much). That all changed once we'd persuaded them to get the split charger.
We can easily go for long weekends from April through to October without being on EHU, the solar panel keeps the leisure battery topped up and we're able to charge our phones etc. We don't have a TV.
I'd say having the solar panel gives you a bit more flexibility.
Quote: Originally posted by GazGringe on 23/5/2021
Thank you. Certainly look into that. Will it keep the fridge going?
No. The fridge needs to be on EHU on a site, or charging up while the vehicle motor is running. Gas otherwise.
The leisure battery can do the lights, the fresh water pump (but limited), and not much else. Certainly not heating!
Plenty of threads about this, just use the forum search.
It depends on the fridge. The usual 3-way fridge needs EHU, but compressor fridges may be OK for short periods.
I think the main advantages of solar panels comes when you're not using the van very often or you're doing a lot of off-grid camping, but it can be an expensive choice.
You have to consider what power you actually need, rather than thinking about what you'd like to have. As Fiona W suggests, don't rush to spend money until you see how you get on.
Good luck.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
We have a solar panel as it keeps the battery topped up when not using the van, rather than needing to connect to the mains. Also we go to festivals where we might be off the grid for a week and it keeps the battery charged for that.
Fridge uses a tiny amount of gas when off the mains.
They arent cheap to fit but it really came into it's own this winter during the lock down. It kept both batteries topped up when we couldn't get into the storage to check everything was OK. We have also camped in Summer for 4 days without needing EHU. It's a 80w panel but we were OK using the TV for a couple of hours a day anyway.
Hi there,
We have a T5 with a solar panel fitted. It runs or lights, compressor fridge, water taps etc. We have two leisure batteries underneath the van. It still keeps the fridge working during the winter months. The solar panel is 100W but I am not sure what the batteries are. We find it useful as we are not always hooked up to electric
lots of info on youtube re solar panels, inc installing them yourself or just get a fold up one
you really need to understand what works off what power source and when, to be able to work out what you need in terms of solar, additional battery, battery to battery charger, battery master
you cant go far wrong with solar and a decent size battery (x2 if possible)
Basically the watts rating for a panel is at a specified temperature, UV energy from the sun and the angle of the panel to the sun. All these are variable and will reduce the output if not as specified.
Also the length of time per day when the panel operates varies through the year.
On a typical day the panel will not work before dawn or after dusk.
At dawn a very small amount of power will be produced, increasing through the morning until reaching max at midday. Then it will reduce through the after noon until reaching zero at dusk.
So don't assume it will always be 100 watts for a 100 watt panel.
Generally, you will get max output in June/July but in Sept and April it will be about half of the output for June.
If you have a 12v compressor fridge you should be able to run it for days off the solar - we have. Some motorhomers advising you above forget that there are other fridges besides the 3-ways. It keeps our leisure battery topped up nicely, even in winter.
Longest we've gone so far is 3 days. That's running fridge, tap, lights, usb charging & the diesel heater on an evening. We have a 150w flexi panel bonded to the roof. Not even used the ehu on sites yet as the solar backed leisure battery does all we need. We don't use energy sapping invertors - if it can't be run off 12 volts we don't take it.
Recently fitted a solar panel to my motorhome, mainly to keep batteries charged when in storage. Bought a 100w solar panel kit online, with everything needed for the job cost just over £200. I am no big shakes with electrics, but fitted it myself and it keeps both leisure and engine batteries well charged. Haven't tried it off grid yet, but know I will have more power with it doing its stuff rather than just a fully charged leisure.
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Topic: Solar Panels
via mobile 23/5/2021 at 8:39pm
