Extra battery or Solar panel or both and which one first?

[PaulC70]

Just to play devil's advocate then...

Is a higher capacity battery for the mobility scooter an option? If so, that would not only extend the range of the scooter but also put the extra power where it's actually required.

If not, then how about a power bank? Could potentially have other uses and is more flexible than adding a battery to the van and again could be carried on the mobility scooter in order to extend the range or to allow charging while not at the van.

Just thinking out loud really.

DIY of the panels is entirely possible, but I'd advise against it if you aren't confident. None of it is terribly complex but if you get it wrong you can damage your MPPT controller and worse still (IMO) end up with water leaking through your roof...

We've looked at upgrading the mobility scooter battery but sadly not possible, I'd have to have one built.
Power bank I've investigated before and not something I want to invest in to be honest, something else for me to lug about and hurt my back which I cannot risk, plus somewhere to store etc etc, I've ruled them out.

But are you stationary on UK Aires or pub car parks for your existing set up to be inadequate? If not you wouldn't need to put the panel out!

True, though then I have a panel I have to find somewhere to store / move etc more of the time than not, so if solars the way to go I'd rather "fit and forget" I think.

 

[Lenny HB]

Which I believe needs to be the same ie 100w? I'm overthinking this I think but Im assuming any 100w will do, doesn't have to be same make? I

The output voltage is move important when paralleling panels. Try to get another panel with an on load voltage within ½ +v of your current panel for minium loss.

I thought if adding another battery it should be same capacity? I may have misread that somewhere though.

No doesn't need to be the same capacity or make.

 

[fishplug]

We've looked at upgrading the mobility scooter battery but sadly not possible, I'd have to have one built.
Power bank I've investigated before and not something I want to invest in to be honest, something else for me to lug about and hurt my back which I cannot risk, plus somewhere to store etc etc, I've ruled them out.

Sounds like you're a step ahead of my thought process!

Based on what you've said, I would be leaning towards an extra battery then. You're really only looking to be able to occasionally extend the number of mobility scooter charges on a few rare occasions when you're stood still for longer than your normal 2-3 days.

That's ultimately similar to what I've done with mine based on a worst case scenario where I have to run the engine for half an hour while parked.

I went for the CTEK DS250E with the Smartpass which was the best I could find 5 years ago and it will put 120A charge into the batteries - so half an hour of running the engine gives me 60A of usable power which is pretty decent!

 

[PaulC70]

RIght I think I'll go with another panel and start there. Thanks to all

 

[fishplug]

Do come back to the thread and let us know how you get on

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[Ellibar]

If you are only away from home between 2 days and a week at a time I would be adding an identical battery from Fogstar and just charge up when you get home like i do. With a 10 year warranty the battery is removable to another motorhome unlike solar panels and other charging gadgets.

 

[Purrfecttune]

Which I believe needs to be the same ie 100w? I'm overthinking this I think but Im assuming any 100w will do, doesn't have to be same make? I've seen sunshine solar are doing an offer at the moment (ends tomorrow) https://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/Item/SSP100MS so a panel would be less than £100



I thought if adding another battery it should be same capacity? I may have misread that somewhere though. And actually youre right, I think my brain was just seeing the 40% rather than looking at the ah that was actually left available


Yep, don't think my brain was letting me see past the 40% figure.

With the Funster discount, Offgrid Power Solutions currently have a 140w solar panel for the same price as the 100w Sunshine Solar.

 

[Dominick]

So, we don't often use ehu, we don't often stay anywhere more than 2 nights and then get a good charge on the LB while touring between stops, BUT, we stayed at a steam fair for 4 nights recently and plan to do that a bit more often in the future and the battery got down to 40% mainly due to charging the wifes mobility scooter battery.

So, looking for more of a "comfort buffer" to give us one less thing to worry about for longer off grid stays. Remembering this is mainly UK sunshine we're thinking of either a solar panel to match the current Truma 120watt already on the roof to harvest more daylight and keep the current 300ah Fogstar topped up, OR get another 300ah Foggy for more reserve?

Or do we go both and be done with it?

Get your self a power station I have a Vtoman 15000 and it is a game changer I can charge in one hour on A/C or use car charger to top up when driving .or from many other sources which you will find on line
I have 220 volt throughout the motorhome and my wife is over the moon ...hair dryer coffee maker ect

 

[Richard n Ann]

Aneta is a coffee junkie, first thing in a morning she's up and I hear the gas hob lighting. I'm not mentioning anything about the possibility of a machine need to know basis

 

[Raul]

What I would do is, take existing panel off, fit a new domestic 350- 400w panel that costs 60-70 quid. the existing controller can take that panel with ease, and use existing cables from the roof. The only limiting factor would be roof space. A 120w panel is well undersized for your 300ah battery. Its just a trickle charger at the moment.

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[Ducatian]

I went for the CTEK DS250E with the Smartpass which was the best I could find 5 years ago and it will put 120A charge into the batteries - so half an hour of running the engine gives me 60A of usable power which is pretty decent!

That looks like a neat solution especially with it being combined B2B and Solar Controller. I can't work out what the added Smartpass gives Please?

 

[fishplug]

That looks like a neat solution especially with it being combined B2B and Solar Controller. I can't work out what the added Smartpass gives Please?

It does work very well and the documentation it comes with is excellent, as was their support when I wanted to clarify something with them.

What I would say is that the limitations of the MPPT on the DS250 meant that I opted for a Victron MPPT controller instead. Do check your OCV and amps before connecting PV panels to it, or you might end up with an expensive paper weight!

What does the Smartpass do? Well, I only understand part of it! Essentially it's a power management system which is designed to work alongside the DS250. The DS250 is the DC-DC charger component but is only capable of putting out 20A. The Smartpass does some electrical magic beyond my comprehension in order to boost this up to 120A.

You can also isolate critical from non-critical systems with it so power always goes to navigation or emergency systems get power before your fridge does. I haven't bothered setting that side of it up as it's not something I need but I can see the use cases for it.

I've had mine since August 2020 and have never had to worry about it since installing. It's coming out of the old van and going into the new one as I've been really happy with it. I haven't even looked to see if there are new alternatives to it. I'll find that out if it ever fails!

 

[jumar]

My freestanding panel harvest's early morning sun long before the rooftop wakes up, then as my rooftop starts to have less gain, the freestanding wins again...OK...we live in Spain, but it's the same sun, just more of it.... theoretically is the same, rises in the East set in the West...The screenshot was 9am....both 200w panels...

 

[PaulC70]

Get your self a power station I have a Vtoman 15000 and it is a game changer I can charge in one hour on A/C or use car charger to top up when driving .or from many other sources which you will find on line
I have 220 volt throughout the motorhome and my wife is over the moon ...hair dryer coffee maker ect

Nah, last thing i need is her loading the motorhome with crap like hairdryers, coffeemakers etc. A towel, brush and cafetaire does the job grand.

 

[PaulC70]

With the Funster discount, Offgrid Power Solutions currently have a 140w solar panel for the same price as the 100w Sunshine Solar.

Too late already ordered plus Id rather keep the panels closer in wattage

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[ChippySteve]

So, just popped out and here's the screenshots etc.
So, in the last 4 days it looks like that one panels harvested enough to get to 57% only, to be fair weather heres been crap with little sun and 2 days in particular nothing but rain and thunder, if you've seen the national news of the A421 being turned into a river, that's 4 miles from me :-(

Anyway, it does indeed point to the need for more solar when relying only on that for charging and Im guessing that the current victron would indeed need an upgrade?

For those that have suggested a fold out, I'm reticent about that to be honest, especially if i want to use it off grid, I figure if I need more solar it may as well be fitted and be done?

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Which I believe needs to be the same ie 100w? I'm overthinking this I think but Im assuming any 100w will do, doesn't have to be same make? I've seen sunshine solar are doing an offer at the moment (ends tomorrow) https://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/Item/SSP100MS so a panel would be less than £100



I thought if adding another battery it should be same capacity? I may have misread that somewhere though. And actually youre right, I think my brain was just seeing the 40% rather than looking at the ah that was actually left available


Yep, don't think my brain was letting me see past the 40% figure.

Hi
Why not run the engine for 20 min on the rare times that it’s needed. A litre of diesel is much cheaper than a battery or a panel.

 

[PaulC70]

Hi
Why not run the engine for 20 min on the rare times that it’s needed. A litre of diesel is much cheaper than a battery or a panel.

Sun is free?

 

[ChippySteve]

Sun is free?

Not so free if the extra very expensive capacity is only used very rarely.

 

[LithiumConvert]

Is a higher capacity battery for the mobility scooter an option? If so, that would not only extend the range of the scooter but also put the extra power where it's actually required.

I would say Yes. I have done so.

Most scooters run on small lead-acid batteries (2 of them at 12 volts each)

For some scooters, you can buy a bigger battery pack with two larger capacity batteries.

But, in either case, the lead acid can be replaced with two LiFePO4 batteries at the same physical size which, as with leisure batteries, gives much more usable power.

And again, just like our leisure batteries, they are much lighter in weight.

 

[PaulC70]

Not so free if the extra very expensive capacity is only used very rarely.

While every amp hour may not be used every time out, the point is to have it and have a buffer Im happy with. Plus sat leaving my engine running is just as annoying as someone running a genny to me.

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[PaulC70]

I would say Yes. I have done so.

Most scooters run on small lead-acid batteries (2 of them at 12 volts each)

For some scooters, you can buy a bigger battery pack with two larger capacity batteries.

But, in either case, the lead acid can be replaced with two LiFePO4 batteries at the same physical size which, as with leisure batteries, gives much more usable power.

And again, just like our leisure batteries, they are much lighter in weight.

But the question was to me and I said no it isn't because the assumption her scooter is run on 2 small lead acid batteries is just that, an assumption. It already runs on lithium and it's one battery, so again, no it's not an option.

 

[LithiumConvert]

But the question was to me and I said no it isn't because the assumption her scooter is run on 2 small lead acid batteries is just that, an assumption. It already runs on lithium and it's one battery, so again, no it's not an option

I apologise.

 

[suavecarve]

Just on the basis I may have had a glass of wine or 3.

I m happy my suggestion won.

Great decision PaulC70

 

[PaulC70]

UPDATE
So, package has arrived BUT I think I've ordered the wrong mounts, as you can see from the photo the streamline mounts are only 340mm but panel is 540mm corner to corner, problem is the only other streamline mounts are 640mm.

Now, Im assuming the 340mm are too short, fitting them means allowing air under the panel at speed (which Im guessing the streamline is to help you avoid) plus there is less area to bond the panel to the mount and the mount to the roof. Therefore, is it a case of buying the longer ones and cutting to length??

I feel the latter is the obvious answer BUT I am also aware that you can use corner mounts which of course WILL allow air under the panel so I'm a tad confused as to what to do?

Any help appreciated.

Oh, nearly forgot. On another note the black corner caps on the panel Im assuming are for protection? 3 out of 4 have cracks

 

[Raul]

Yes corner protectors for transit and storage,

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[jumar]

It's just after 6pm in the 1st October 2024...Aragon region of Spain..
The screenshot below shows how effective freestanding solar panels are, compared with rooftop....Both panels are 200w separate MPPT controller for each.
Jumar solar is freestanding.
Jumar rooftop isn't..