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Sorry - more random questions

Not entirely a serious question, but looking at batteries etc, I also notice that the house-size PV panels seem very cheap currently - JA Solar 410W is £95 inc VAT at ITS.

For a campervan application, the 410W panel is far too big and probably too high voltage, but I do wonder why is a Victron 90W panel £118?? I would expect some kind of price per W parity

Anything with the V-word will come with a premium pricetag!

How much space do you have? Have a look at the 1500mm Perlight panels if you need something shorter.

Stinsy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 1:24 pm Anything with the V-word will come with a premium pricetag!

How much space do you have? Have a look at the 1500mm Perlight panels if you need something shorter.

This is true!!

It's not a real project at this stage -
I'm just inspired by Joe's shed solar, so looked at ITS for normal panel prices - and they are much cheaper than I remember.
I have an 80W solar panel on my van, and I checked again at 12V planet to see how much van panels are - and they are much more expensive than I remember!

richbee wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 5:27 pm

Stinsy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 1:24 pm Anything with the V-word will come with a premium pricetag!

How much space do you have? Have a look at the 1500mm Perlight panels if you need something shorter.

This is true!!

It's not a real project at this stage -
I'm just inspired by Joe's shed solar, so looked at ITS for normal panel prices - and they are much cheaper than I remember.
I have an 80W solar panel on my van, and I checked again at 12V planet to see how much van panels are - and they are much more expensive than I remember!

Vans are fashionable at the moment and anything to do with their conversation costs silly money. The trick to doing a conversion is to not use anything designed for that purpose where possible!

An 80W panel won’t be much use these days! Many laptops use more power than that. A 295W Perlight is probably a starting point. I would probably go for Victron for the charge controller though.

If the motor home is big enough to mount the JA Solar 410W panel on the roof as a permanent fixture. You have 410 watts to play with.




I have got two of these at £41 each. They work very well.

Stinsy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 9:08 pm

richbee wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 5:27 pm

Stinsy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 1:24 pm Anything with the V-word will come with a premium pricetag!

How much space do you have? Have a look at the 1500mm Perlight panels if you need something shorter.

This is true!!

It's not a real project at this stage -
I'm just inspired by Joe's shed solar, so looked at ITS for normal panel prices - and they are much cheaper than I remember.
I have an 80W solar panel on my van, and I checked again at 12V planet to see how much van panels are - and they are much more expensive than I remember!

Vans are fashionable at the moment and anything to do with their conversation costs silly money. The trick to doing a conversion is to not use anything designed for that purpose where possible!

An 80W panel won’t be much use these days! Many laptops use more power than that. A 295W Perlight is probably a starting point. I would probably go for Victron for the charge controller though.

We mostly use the leisure battery for the fridge, plus lights and USB charging, and so far, the 80W solar plus 110Ah lead acid battery has been absolutely fine - we've managed 4 days without any other top up no problem.
Having said that, next time I would definitely add more solar

ALAN/ALAN D wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 9:33 pm If the motor home is big enough to mount the JA Solar 410W panel on the roof as a permanent fixture. You have 410 watts to play with.




I have got two of these at £41 each. They work very well.

I know, it would be great - not sure how big a van it would have to be to have 1.7 x 1.1m space free on the roof tho

That reminds me I have a flexible PV panel procured through the other place hiding somewhere.
Clearly still to be fitted to the Van…that sits with a trickle charger and 1foot tubular heater keeping it warm…

AGT wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 12:29 pm That reminds me I have a flexible PV panel procured through the other place hiding somewhere.
Clearly still to be fitted to the Van…that sits with a trickle charger and 1foot tubular heater keeping it warm…

I love the fact that my CTEK B2B charger is also my MPPT solar charger for the van, and it trickle charges the main van battery once the leisure battery is full