Could a 1.5w solar panel keep a battery charged whilst in storage? We're looking at a way of not having to remove battery to take home to charge periodically. We've found one costing £20 (whatever we buy needs to be cheap!), but would it be a complete waste of money? The panel would sit in the window.
I think its probably a bit low in power especially when you consider that it will be facing out one window and therefore won't be in direct sun for much of the day. I would have thought something around 10w upwards might be more worth the investment but it depends if you are running an alarm, etc. Personally we leave our battery on the van from now till October as we normally take it out at least every 6 weeks and have never had a problem with it going flat providing we have switched everything off (but we don't have an alarm). We then take it off over winter and just put it on charge in the garage once a month.
Yes they are a waste of money, as I found out when I bought a couple. Mind you, mine were reduced to £4.99 each at Maplins, probably because they were useless.
Remember that 1.5W is only an eighth of an Amp at best, and that's in full sunshine.
Given the way caravans have come on over the years I can never understand why manufacturers don't install solar panels in the roff of vans as standard. Surely it'd be a good selling point for them.
Thanks everyone - it was the response I was thinking we'd get! We have since found one at Maplins, also on offer, not the suitcase one as that states it isn't waterproof, but it is £50 and has some good reviews. We do have an alarm in the caravan (although it has it's own back up battery), but having a solar panel could give us that little bit extra when on-site without EHU, which will help with having the motor mover too.
It seems like site fees are getting more expensive, so a small cl without ehu that is cheaper is becoming more appealing
Ah, now the goal posts have changed from just keeping the battery topped up in storage to actually using a solar source for non-EHU sites. In this case, you seriously need to reconsider further and be looking at a minimum of 55w panels, with most folk opting for 60-80 watt panels for site use (there's even someone I know who uses x3 80 watt panels, but he's completely non-reliant on EHU).
Quote: Originally posted by G7ACU on 25/3/2012
Ah, now the goal posts have changed from just keeping the battery topped up in storage to actually using a solar source for non-EHU sites. In this case, you seriously need to reconsider further and be looking at a minimum of 55w panels, with most folk opting for 60-80 watt panels for site use (there's even someone I know who uses x3 80 watt panels, but he's completely non-reliant on EHU).
True, but our primary reason is still to trickle charge the battery when in storage. Long story, but our battery needs replacing which we suspect is because it was run down to nothing (which I know you shouldn't let happen, but due to 'van being stolen and recovered it wasn't our priority). Hopefully this will prevent this happening again and give us the convenience of not having to remove battery to bring home to charge. Having gone on rallies we know we can do a weekend without electric, but maybe this will give us a bit of extra for if we need the mover.
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Topic: 1.5w solar panel
