Best Small 200w-300w solar panels please?

EuroTrotters

EuroTrotters

Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Posts
12,097
Likes collected
20,580
Location
Manchester UK + Javea/Xabia Spain + Abu Dhabi
Funster No
7,543
MH
HYMER B644
Exp
2004
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Raul said:
This is a good deal, and very good panel made in Spain under Burger Mayer manufacturing design and superior machinery.
www.itstechnologies.shop

415W Eurener All Black Half-Cut Mono solar panel – ITS Technologies

Eurener's 415W all black half cut panel is a high output and high efficiency panel. The Spanish manufacturer uses a highly developed fabrication process, including camera verification of welding, to ensure the high quality and consistency of the panels they produce.
www.itstechnologies.shop www.itstechnologies.shop
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what do you think of this one Raul please ?
 
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EuroTrotters said:
Sorry, Raul I mean this one. Did I Link the wrong one!

www.itstechnologies.shop

Solar PV & battery Storage components – ITS Technologies

.I.T.S. Technologies is a supplier of an extensive range of renewable & energy saving technologies for both domestic and commercial
www.itstechnologies.shop www.itstechnologies.shop
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That is the flagship panel they do, top con (oxide coating) and rear cell bus bar, very efficient ultra high quality in that class, top panel.
Again if space allows, don’t hesitate.

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EuroTrotters said:
may I ask how you fixed them ?
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I used the aluminium rails and screwed caps system that is standard for domestic roof installation. I used Renusol kit, because I’ve used it before, there are others. Their online catalogue explains how it works - that’s how I learned. I fixed the two rails to the 8 roof rack fixing points that Ford supply on the Transit (deep tapped 8mm holes) using Renusol flat roof angle brackets. Due to the cantilever (overhang) at the rear I pop riveted some Ali angle to stiffen the Renusol rail. Did the same to the leading and trailing edges of the panels, as I suspect at high air speed vortex shedding will cause vibration and bending. So far (7,000 miles) so good. The domestic panel installation kit is very high quality - generous sections, high strength Ali alloy and stainless steel, made to last 50 years. And easy to install, designed for unskilled guys working on a pitched roof in a gale hanging from a harness. I’m sure the others are just as good, it’s a very competitive market, I’ve used Renusol in the past so know the system and had loads of off bits left over to use up. I see 400W panels are now £70 ex VAT.
 
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cyberyacht said:
That's a lot of weight up top.
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Yes, 65kg including fixings. I’ve made a centre of gravity model, input x y and z coordinates, plus mass, of rack major item to compute the overall COG. Given all the heavy stuff low down it’s not a problem.
 
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EuroTrotters said:
May I ask what size cables you are going to use from Panels to Solar Controller Raul

6mm ? 16mm?

Spec on the Victron SmartSolar 100/50 states maximum power connection AWG6
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From panels to controller 6mm2, from controller 100/50 to battery 16mm2, but in my case it’s only 600mm long. If your controller is over a meter away, then 20mm2 cable or 25mm2.
The 20mm2 is hard to find, but exists.
 
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Just smiffy said:
If you fit more solar the controller will almost certainly need changing as a dealer will fit the cheapest they can get away with…

I have two exide e900 gel 85ah batteries so not much more than what power you have but I have two 200w panels and a victron 100/30 mppt controller and I’ve never had to plug in to EHU and I go away for 3 months…
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Thanks, great to hear and I’m aware of Victorian but good to have the model recommended and the real-user experience. Many thanks indeed 👌🏻👌🏻
 
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Steve I said:
Thanks, great to hear and I’m aware of Victorian but good to have the model recommended and the real-user experience. Many thanks indeed 👌🏻👌🏻
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Flippin auto correct! Victron of course… 😂😂

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Raul said:
That is the flagship panel they do, top con (oxide coating) and rear cell bus bar, very efficient ultra high quality in that class, top panel.
Again if space allows, don’t hesitate.
Click to expand...
I had to go with this one in the end as that 480 was just a few CM too long

www.itstechnologies.shop

430W Eurener Nexa 430W TOPCon Mono Black Lowest price Solar Panels – ITS Technologies

Eurener's 430W all black from ITS Technologies. No.1 Supplier for Solar Panels & complete solar PV systems. Largest range available all at lowest prices.
www.itstechnologies.shop www.itstechnologies.shop
 
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Just smiffy said:
If you fit more solar the controller will almost certainly need changing as a dealer will fit the cheapest they can get away with…

I have two exide e900 gel 85ah batteries so not much more than what power you have but I have two 200w panels and a victron 100/30 mppt controller and I’ve never had to plug in to EHU and I go away for 3 months…
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Can I ask another question please? I re-read your reply to see which version of Victron you bought and noticed you went for 2x200w panels as opposed to 1x 375/400/430 etc like I’ve been looking at, is there a specific reason or benefit or a fitting logistics reason? Im really not clued up on these things 😳. TIA
 
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Steve I said:
Can I ask another question please? I re-read your reply to see which version of Victron you bought and noticed you went for 2x200w panels as opposed to 1x 375/400/430 etc like I’ve been looking at, is there a specific reason or benefit or a fitting logistics reason? Im really not clued up on these things 😳. TIA
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I could have put just one panel on but my thinking is that if one panel brakes or is in shade then I’ll still have some solar from the other, plus I think at the time I couldn’t get one large panel the size I wanted at the max watts I needed..
 
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Just smiffy said:
I could have put just one panel on but my thinking is that if one panel brakes or is in shade then I’ll still have some solar from the other, plus I think at the time I couldn’t get one large panel the size I wanted at the max watts I needed..
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Worth knowing that, this newer half cut cells large panels, are behaving like two panels in parallel. If one end is in shade, it will not affect the other half. Also the 3 bypass diodes fitted to this panels, it will bypass the shaded portion, making the entire panel into 6 individual working areas. So, if any shade is on any of those areas, it will be bypassed by the diode, allowing the rest of the unshaded areas to work unhindered.
I hope this makes sense.

And yes, we make our choices, based on the availability of the time, I understand.

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Raul said:
Worth knowing that, this newer half cut cells large panels, are behaving like two panels in parallel. If one end is in shade, it will not affect the other half. Also the 3 bypass diodes fitted to this panels, it will bypass the shaded portion, making the entire panel into 6 individual working areas. So, if any shade is on any of those areas, it will be bypassed by the diode, allowing the rest of the unshaded areas to work unhindered.
I hope this makes sense.

And yes, we make our choices, based on the availability of the time, I understand.
Click to expand...

Panels are certainly improving all the time Raul…👍🏼
 
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Steve I said:
Can I ask what controller you’re using please, and what battery(s)? TIA
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Victron MPPT 100/50

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I wish I was more practical! Can anyone recommend someone in or around Surrey who can supply and fit a solar solution. My MH came with a flexible 100w installed which is no longer working. Only looking for something that gives me peace of mind when off grid for 3-4 days with light usage to keep the 2 leisure batteries topped up.
 
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EuroTrotters said:
I had to go with this one in the end as that 480 was just a few CM too long

www.itstechnologies.shop

430W Eurener Nexa 430W TOPCon Mono Black Lowest price Solar Panels – ITS Technologies

Eurener's 430W all black from ITS Technologies. No.1 Supplier for Solar Panels & complete solar PV systems. Largest range available all at lowest prices.
www.itstechnologies.shop www.itstechnologies.shop
Click to expand...
Has your panel arrived yet? My 2x 400w arrived today. I have to say I’m impressed, 400w in a size that used to be 230w 10 years ago. The buss bars are like a matrix at the back of the cell, not at the front, the cells have no space between them, and no solder, means no hot spots. Very slick 30mm black frames, and Staubli mc4 with double seals.
I hope for no rain on Sunday morning.
 
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Raul said:
Has your panel arrived yet? My 2x 400w arrived today. I have to say I’m impressed, 400w in a size that used to be 230w 10 years ago. The buss bars are like a matrix at the back of the cell, not at the front, the cells have no space between them, and no solder, means no hot spots. Very slick 30mm black frames, and Staubli mc4 with double seals.
I hope for no rain on Sunday morning.
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It did arrive last week.

Currently stood in my office.

I am awaiting some other bits and bobs and good weather.

I have removed the old panels and sikkafkex.

But I am off to Spain tomorrow , going to get them some rain !. Just as I am getting solar fitted on our house there. LONGI 510wp panels.

The panel Eurener looks very high quality !.

I will post some photos when it’s on !
 
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EuroTrotters said:
I also considering 400w single panel if I can fit it on ! so much cheaper

But they are designed for domestic use I think

infinite-solar.co.uk

JA Solar 415W Mono MBB PERC Half-Cell Black Frame Rigid Solar Panel - JAM54S-30-415-GR-BF

JA Solar 415W Mono Rigid Solar Panel - JAM54S-30-415-GR-BF The JA Solar 415W Solar Panel is Assembled with multi-busbar PERC Cells, the half cell…
infinite-solar.co.uk infinite-solar.co.uk
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Is there a difference domestic / motorhome solar panels. ?

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Domestic ones are larger starting at 200 Watts for the smallest and work at higher voltage 33v to 45v and they tend to be more efficient.

Raul is the man to give you full info.
 
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