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Subject Topic: Solar panel topping up.
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Personrobin52
16/5/2023 at 9:42am
 Location: Nottingham
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I am thinking of a solar panel on my caravan roof to top up my battery during the winter months. Some people say the sun is insufficient in winter in the UK others think it will work. Thinking of a 100w panel. Any ideas please?

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Regards Robin


PersonColin21
16/5/2023 at 9:55am
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It would certainly be better than nothing. Solar panels generate electricity just from daylight, but a 100w panel will only generate 100 watts if it is directly in full sunlight. It will generate something though just by being in daylight. A panel laid flat on a roof will never develop full power unless the sun is directly overhead, which it never will be in winter in Britain.

Whether it is worth the cost of a panel only you can decide.

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PersonRob and Tina
via mobile 16/5/2023 at 9:58am
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If it is just to keep the battery topped up in storage it would be fine maybe a bit of overkill, we have a 100w on our caravan roof and we have used it on site in the winter (Christmas) without ehu and the weather was atrocious cloud and rain all the time and it wasn't good, battery lasted a couple of days.

Tina


Persontrog100
16/5/2023 at 10:39am
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the amount of current needed to keep a good battery fully charged assuming nothing is drawing current from it is next to nothing..

a 100 watt panel is overkill simply for this purpose but it will serve other purposes so why not..

trog


PersonDave and Cyn
via mobile 16/5/2023 at 2:19pm
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We go off-grid with a 100 watt suitcase panel and get by just fine.
During the winter layup the battery comes home and gets trickle charged every few weeks.
During Spring, Summer and Autumn I leave a 50 watt suitcase panel hooked up whilst in storage.
They are wired in such a way that they can be hooked up at the same time and positioned so as to catch the maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day without having to constantly reposition them.


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Personnavver
16/5/2023 at 6:23pm
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We've got a 100 watt roof panel with Truma controller and never need to connect mains when not using van.

Van service is in early Feb so I do a big motor mover journey up our steep drive to take it for the service then the same a couple of days later. Battery is recharged in a day in Feb!!

Battery is now 7 years old and still going strong.

Excellent solution.


PersonPaul and Nikki
via mobile 18/5/2023 at 11:10pm
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100w solar will be fine for keeping your battery going over winter, we had one propped up in the front window in our old caravan and it was ok for keeping the battery around 12.4 volts, with our roof mounted panel on our swift it never drops below 13v even in winter



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