Choosing Portable Solar Panel for Temporary Use (1 Viewer)

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Jun 28, 2024
91
19
Leicestershire
Funster No
104,186
MH
Autotrail Apache 634
Exp
Since 1998
Thinking of getting one as a temporary fix for the newer MH we get tomorrow as won't have the time to fit a fixed roof one before we go away off hook up in 3 weeks. Our current old van has a 120w roof solar panel which has served us fine but happy to go a bit bigger. This sort of thing looks good for the price but is the price too good and the panel will be poor value maybe?

 

jumar

LIFE MEMBER
Nov 6, 2012
4,117
13,289
Spain
Funster No
23,578
MH
Hymer Tramp
Exp
Since 1994
Should solve your problem....I use a 200w but I also use a MPPT controller... personal choice....you should find this useful even when you get round to having fixed panels...
I find roof panels very unproductive in the winter...where flexible folders can be repositioned to gain maximum harvest..
 
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OP
Pollypenny
Jun 28, 2024
91
19
Leicestershire
Funster No
104,186
MH
Autotrail Apache 634
Exp
Since 1998
Should solve your problem....I use a 200w but I also use a MPPT controller... personal choice....you should find this useful even when you get round to having fixed panels...
I find roof panels very unproductive in the winter...where flexible folders can be repositioned to gain maximum harvest..
Thanks for that and I was considering an MPPT controller, although have only recently been reading up on how much better they are than PWM as hadn't really looked into it before. We always used PWM for our fixed panel and now wonder if this may be the reason we had to replace the leisure battery more often than seemed reasonable.....
 
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jumar

LIFE MEMBER
Nov 6, 2012
4,117
13,289
Spain
Funster No
23,578
MH
Hymer Tramp
Exp
Since 1994
Thanks for that and I was considering an MPPT controller, although have only recently been reading up on how much better they are than PWM as hadn't really looked into it before. We always used PWM for our fixed panel and now wonder if this may be the reason we had to replace the leisure battery more often than seemed reasonable.....
Not in anyway qualified to answer your battery problem...but fairly experienced now in the use of any solar panel advantages....for me, tilting or movable folding panels are well worth the money.
OK, we live in Spain, that's a good start...we need a good off-grid system because we ride eBikes for sport and leisure..
Taking advantage of a low sun is greatly achieved with a folding panel...early morning or late afternoon or more importantly wintertime. It's 7:30 here in Spain now and the sun is striking the van...if I needed solar now, my folding panel would be doing it's intended purpose...however my roof panel is still sleeping...or let's say...just waking up...from mid-day till 5pm sun high...all panels function equally....
 
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OP
Pollypenny
Jun 28, 2024
91
19
Leicestershire
Funster No
104,186
MH
Autotrail Apache 634
Exp
Since 1998
Not in anyway qualified to answer your battery problem...but fairly experienced now in the use of any solar panel advantages....for me, tilting or movable folding panels are well worth the money.
OK, we live in Spain, that's a good start...we need a good off-grid system because we ride eBikes for sport and leisure..
Taking advantage of a low sun is greatly achieved with a folding panel...early morning or late afternoon or more importantly wintertime. It's 7:30 here in Spain now and the sun is striking the van...if I needed solar now, my folding panel would be doing it's intended purpose...however my roof panel is still sleeping...or let's say...just waking up...from mid-day till 5pm sun high...all panels function equally....
Thank you, that makes complete sense :)

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Jan 19, 2014
9,774
25,982
Derbyshire
Funster No
29,757
MH
Elddis Accordo 105
Exp
since 2014
We'd be struggling on this site in France, there's plenty of trees for shade which is good for my cockatiel but consequently the roof solar is making 1 amp. Deployed the folding one and it's gone up to 7 amps, 4.5 amps even with the fridge running 🤗.
Screenshot_20240802_132205_Gallery.jpg


Screenshot_20240802_132229_Gallery.jpg
 
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