Folding Solar Panels - Good yield considering time of year!

[MichaelT]

Interesting...

Have you got the external one in some sort of enclosure or do they do IP rated versions of them?

I'd been thinking Anderson but XT60 is something I've seen but never used.

I used Anderson

 

[fishplug]

I had Anderson on my old T1N Sprinter as a jump start socket. A bit overkill for solar though! (I know there are smaller Andersons that would do the job)

 

[starquake]

Thanks starquake - very helpful.

Will do a bit more research into them then. I'm warming up more and more to the folding panel option.....

Only warning if you plug into a Ecoflow device you need an extra pin (XT60i) ideally (if you google it you can find whether you join the 3rd pin to + or - sides). (basically this tells the ecoflow to immediately use a solar mppt profile and NOT use a standard 12v charge profile -> it'll switch to MPPT with auto-detection anyhow after a few minutes from experience, but this helps if using ecoflows in "low solar" situations of under 15w input.

 

[eddie]

You speaking from personal experience here eddie?

Ps couldn’t resist lol

Over the last 30 odd years, I’ve helped many get over their PV envy!

 

[eddie]

Thanks starquake - very helpful.

Will do a bit more research into them then. I'm warming up more and more to the folding panel option.....

Bear in mind, they get nicked, they blow over, they get in the way when not being blown over outside!

IMHO not worth considering until you can’t cram another watt on the roof, even then another battery!

Logically it’s better to arrive with sufficient power for your stay, than to “hope” you can make some more!

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[Jimbohorlicks]

We put kador strip hangers on ours and they slide along the awning rail.so are 90 degrees to the sun but can be tilted out on their back supports .

 

[Al n Val]

I bought these end of last year, around november time when we got home I tried them to see if they worked and at the time i was getting around 170watts from them and the 630w of Victron roof panels were giving me less than 40w from memory

 

[MichaelT]

IMHO not worth considering until you can’t cram another watt on the roof, even then another battery!

It's OK if you can tilt your van to 27 degrees to get some sun, if not a portable panel is really helpful.

 

[Al n Val]

It's OK if you can tilt your van to 27 degrees to get some sun, if not a portable panel is really helpful.

I 100% agree

 

[Carpmart]

Bear in mind, they get nicked, they blow over, they get in the way when not being blown over outside!

IMHO not worth considering until you can’t cram another watt on the roof, even then another battery!

Logically it’s better to arrive with sufficient power for your stay, than to “hope” you can make some more!

I can’t arrive with enough as I’m here for three months. If I had 920w on the roof as opposed to the 600w (roof currently) and 320w folding panels I would be generating 30% less power overall based on my real world experience as per post #1. Id actually need nearer to 1500W of roof only to match the output at this time of year… then 1.5Kw of panels for the rest of the year when touring, I’d have way too much solar…. I shall stick to the current plan.

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[eddie]

It's OK if you can tilt your van to 27 degrees to get some sun, if not a portable panel is really helpful.

Automatic self tracking solar is the answer. On average five times more efficient than a flat panel

They’re great

PHENIX SUNPOWER 100W - ALDEN

Phénix Sunpower, la solution ultime ? ALDEN joue la carte de l’autonomie solaire, c’est sans aucun doute la solution avec un grand S.

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[eddie]

I can’t arrive with enough as I’m here for three months. If I had 920w on the roof as opposed to the 600w (roof currently) and 320w folding panels I would be generating 30% less power overall based on my real world experience as per post #1. Id actually need nearer to 1500W of roof only to match the output at this time of year… then 1.5Kw of panels for the rest of the year when touring, I’d have way too much solar…. I shall stick to the current plan.

Three months!

I’d hire an apartment if I was having to stay in the same place for three months

Have you considered a caravan as you like being static!

 

[Carpmart]

Three months!

I’d hire an apartment if I was having to stay in the same place for three months

Have you considered a caravan as you like being static!

Nine months touring with a three month layup in the middle over winter…. We mix it up… why would I want an apartment when I’ve got my home with me? I’ve not seen any caravans with 2.5T of payload so can’t carry the toys around? we also stay in our house back in the UK for three months a year which is always in the same location.

 

[eddie]

Nine months touring with a three month layup in the middle over winter…. We mix it up… why would I want an apartment when I’ve got my home with me? I’ve not seen any caravans with 2.5T of payload so can’t carry the toys around? we also stay in our house back in the UK for three months a year which is always in the same location.

I guess you need a reasonable payload if you are forced to cart loads of solar panels around