Bit of advice please from those of you using solar panels
Previously off-grid we've always used a small generator, usually need it to run about 30 mins a day.
However wife has been bugging me to get solar panels, I've finally given in and started looking at them.
My question is, would 200 watt be OTT ? Can I look at smaller stuff ? What do you find sufficient to keep up with lights, toilet pump, water pump, telly, etc?
We use 2 folding suitcase panels. 1 x 100 watts and 1 x 50 watts. Considering adding another 100 watt though not strictly necessary.
I set them up so that the 50 watt is facing East and the 100 watt facing West. That way they both get the maximum benefit from the sun without me having to constantly realign them. We can go for several weeks with this set up and still return home with a fully charged battery.
I thought about having solar panels on the roof but then considered that they would constantly eat into the payload.
By using the suitcase style I can save weight by leaving them at home if going to a site with EHU.
Quote: Originally posted by Dave and Cyn on 13/7/2026
We use 2 folding suitcase panels. 1 x 100 watts and 1 x 50 watts. Considering adding another 100 watt though not strictly necessary.
I set them up so that the 50 watt is facing East and the 100 watt facing West. That way they both get the maximum benefit from the sun without me having to constantly realign them. We can go for several weeks with this set up and still return home with a fully charged battery.
I thought about having solar panels on the roof but then considered that they would constantly eat into the payload.
By using the suitcase style I can save weight by leaving them at home if going to a site with EHU.
Thanks for reply. So, I'm not really OTT looking at 200w.
A lot depends on just how much power you think you will use.
I've got a 90w panel on my roof and that easily copes with 3 weeks off-grid in the summer, but we are quite light on power useage as we don't have a TV.
What do you want it to power? We have 120w on the roof no inverter and just use it to top up leisure battery, charge tablets, phones and rechargeable radio. Never tested it to limit, but often used for 5 nights in winter.
Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 13/7/2026
A lot depends on just how much power you think you will use.
I've got a 90w panel on my roof and that easily copes with 3 weeks off-grid in the summer, but we are quite light on power useage as we don't have a TV.
I wouldn't say we were heavy on electric use either. We dont have any 12v kitchen cooking items. Only 12v stuff is lights, toilet flush pump and water pump.
Tv and sound bar are only other extras. Phones even get charged in the car.
I wouldn't say we were heavy on electric use either. We dont have any 12v kitchen cooking items. Only 12v stuff is lights, toilet flush pump and water pump.
Tv and sound bar are only other extras. Phones even get charged in the car.
............
Andy
The next question has to be "What battery are you using?"
Quote: Originally posted by Dave and Cyn on 14/7/2026
I wouldn't say we were heavy on electric use either. We dont have any 12v kitchen cooking items. Only 12v stuff is lights, toilet flush pump and water pump.
Tv and sound bar are only other extras. Phones even get charged in the car.
............
Andy
110 AH liesure battery, it was new last year so no issues there.
...............
Andy
The next question has to be "What battery are you using?"
It depends a lot on what time of year you expect them to cope. In winter, with shorter hours of sunlight and reduced power in the sun, the output drops dramatically.
From overseeing the installation of panels for our local council I've found the power produced in winter drops to 10% of the summer production.
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Topic: Solar Panels
via mobile 13/7/2026 at 3:36pm
