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Solar Panel? Solar Panel?
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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
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  #1  
Old 9 Apr 2011
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Solar Panel?
I am wondering what brand of solar panel people are having the best luck with. I am living out of my 06 Tacoma with a 04 Northern Lite 6-10 camper on the back. It is my sole residence on a 6 month rock climbing trip that I am currently on. I will couple it with a optima gel cel yellow top rv battery for running lights and music. Any suggestions?
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  #2  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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Hi

Type of panel may be more relevant than brands

Monocrystaline are the most effective panels I believe but of course also more expensive

And don't forget the charge controller too
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Iveco Turbo Daily 4x4 40-10
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  #3  
Old 11 Apr 2011
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solar panels
The brand of panel is not so important but a reputable brand will be better. It is the size of the panel that is extremely important coupled with the size of the battery. You will need to work your usage of power and size the battery and solar panel accordingly.

Also the location of where you live/are going to is important when sizing panels as the maximum number of sun hours per day as well as the sun strength is required for the sizing calculation.

Cable sizing from the panel to the charge regulator to the battery etc is also critical.

Dont know what your technical knowledge is like but here is a good article that gives solar basics and is written in a way that even the layman can understand. Solar panel basics

Solar panel suppliers will be able to help you size it.

Cheers
Marty
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  #4  
Old 12 Apr 2011
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Thanks for the info.
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  #5  
Old 22 Apr 2011
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solar
hey. Me and bro both have this set up:
80W, 5A monocrystalline panel, solar panel controller with temp correction (essential) this is charging a pair of optimas (Yellow and red) with IBS split charge. Main power draw was engel 4 fridge (45L)
This will just about keep you in charge for 2-3 days if static with usual health warnings about fridge temp set etc.
Also, i have recently added waterproof 240V socket so can use hook-up facility if available.
With this setup, i am happy if driving during day, will be good solution. Acid test was ice cold corona in Morocco! (50+ cel)
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  #6  
Old 2 May 2011
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You'll find the solar electricity handbook by Michael Boxwell an absolute mine of information on this sort of thing.
by size I presume you mean it's output. the physical size is irrelevant. there are also other factors to consider such as panel efficiency etc.

read the book and all your questions will be answered, but you'll probably think of some more!!
Andy
Dorset Solar Power Ltd
Welcome to Dorset Solar Power | Dorset Solar Power
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  #7  
Old 7 Jun 2011
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In 2003 i started of with 2 expensive A-brand 120 Watt solar panels. Supplied power for 8 years now, no problems.

In Nepal i discovered cheaper Solar panels - and was in the position to a do a comparison with some-one who just bought two 120 watt panels with the same STECA charger.
Bottom line : The Asian version had more Amps in the same sunshine with batteries in comparable state of charge.

Difference is a less rigid frame and thinner protection surface.

Now i took a gamble and bought myself two 180 watt panels from E-bay from Chinese origin. Lets see.

I can recommend MPPT solar chargers - upto 30 % more Amps on cloudy days compared to standard solar battery chargers.

Cheers!
Arno
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  #8  
Old 19 Jun 2011
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The performance of solar panels will deteriorate over time. the better quality ones suffer less than cheapies.
some of the chinese manufacturers have been making panels for over 20 years and they are comparable to german or japanese products, but cheaper, others are s***
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