How useless is your solar at the moment?

[Wh05apk]

Just for a bit of fun, just wondered what power people are currently getting?

I have 470w of solar, and for the last 2 weeks due to very low sun, and the panels being covered in frost for the last few days, have struggled to produce more than about 150wh per day, a few weeks ago in Spain we were getting 1kw+ per day!

Goes to show at this time of year, the value of either bigger batteries or B2B chargers if you are moving around,

 

[Phill D]

Panels have been covered in ice or snow for past several days.
It’s now that I most benefit from a space on the drive with EHU

 

[Bessy765]

We have a 6 kWh array inclined at 5 degrees facing due south on our garage roof, currently getting 166 w,
the 700 watts on our camper 27 watt very overcast today in Plymouth.

 

[BillandHelen]

At this of year in Edinburgh, it’s practically zero in regard to charging batteries!

 

[Lenny HB]

Only got 300 watts, when we got back from a short trip last week my 234ah of Gels were at 80% took 3/4 days to get back to 100%.

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[Steve and Denise]

Not much good in this foggy weather in Linconshire 525w = 170w yesterday

 

[Stealaway]

I've not had any solar power since it snowed last week. Batteries are all still at 12.5 V so no panic yet.
The snow is not moving yet due to zero temperature but it should be warming up at the week.

 

[TizzyOnTour]

We have a potential 8.69kw output from the 22 panels on our house roof. On sunny days in the winter they can be generating over 3.5kw at any time. Currently generating 860w. Yesterday generated 723Wh total. Snow and frost on the panels are holding down production. :-(

 

[funflair]

Not a lot 520W on the roof P max today 49W, 97W max two days ago,

Had to go back 11days to get over 200Wh

 

[Just smiffy]

I’ve had zero since I bought the van…..


Probably because my panel is somewhere down the m6/m5…

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[LesW]

Don't know what the output is on our 100w panel, but 100ah leisure battery showing 13.4v, 85ah starter battery showing 12.7v.

 

[Howard B]

Not checked the van , but our4kWh house system is only producing 350w in Lincoln at the moment.

 

[Miggs]

Very useless, I plug the van in at the weekends for two days and by Friday the battery is down to 12.2v.
Something wrong, just don't know what!

 

[jumar]

I cannot complain to be honest..

 

[funflair]

I cannot complain to be honest..

So what you are suggesting is that our solar is fine but our weather is rubbish, I can go with that

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[Guigsy]

Naff all. My van has naturally high drain and it's parked next to a wall that isn't helping with shadows. My 185w panel isn't even keeping the hab battery charged right now. I'm either driving it every couple of weeks, or plugging it in.

 

[Stoosal]

We’ve got 4kw on house roof and so far today it’s produced just over 4kw.....we’ve barely used any grid power today and so far we’ve had a small heater running on and off, had a load through the washing machine and a little into the hot water tank. It all helps!

 

[cyberyacht]

The temperature , being close to zero, has prompted me to switch my solar off. Engine battery was down to 12.3V so I've plugged the car battery charger in for 24-36 hours. I'm planning on taking the moho for a run on Thursday if, as is promised, we get a dry sunny day. That should warm everything up a bit and keep the mechanicals sweet.

 

[gus-lopez]

I cannot complain to be honest..

Nor me?

 

[dawsey]

With the sun so low in the sky, it depends more at this time of year on cloud cover and how the panels are oriented. We have 600W on roof of camper. With the camper parked slightly angled towards the sun we can get 27A at panel voltage or 550W output in france in June/July - it’s enough to run our little aventa compact AC unit !

With camper parked sympathetically, and a bright day 2 days ago (Dec 11) in sub zero temperatures I had 7A at 1pm, about 100W - still useful. 6 weeks ago I saw 15A in Normandy.

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[Jezter]

200w solar (Victron MPPT) - last 3 days, total per day:
20wh
10wh
10wh
South Wales
"Chocolate Teapot" springs to mind...

 

[jumar]

200w solar (Victron MPPT) - last 3 days, total per day:
20wh
10wh
10wh
South Wales
"Chocolate Teapot" springs to mind...

Perhaps Geographical Issues. The definition below describes what component parts are needed....The Panel you have...
The other main component is lacking..

 

[Raul]

We have 600w on the van, 200wh 6 days ago, nothing yesterday as it had snow on them, and today 110wh. Battery was around 43% so today got plugged in.

 

[chaser]

Nor me?

I can never understand these sort of threads, I have two 100w panels on our van and two leisure batteries and a 100a starter battery, had a look this afternoon they were all showing 13.2 and all squares full.
Am I doing something wrong?

 

[WillH]

Here, at this time of year the sun only rises to 10°, and today there is 2" of frozen snow on the roof. Output is zero.

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[jumar]

Here, at this time of year the sun only rises to 10°, and today there is 2" of frozen snow on the roof. Output is zero.

Would that 10° be a good reason to use Tilting Panels...I would think the Yield would be greatly increased..,

 

[CazPaul]

I can never understand these sort of threads, I have two 100w panels on our van and two leisure batteries and a 100a starter battery, had a look this afternoon they were all showing 13.2 and all squares full.
Am I doing something wrong?

There seems to be a lot of threads that you never seem to understand, the OP did say just for a bit of fun.

 

[chaser]

There seems to be a lot of threads that you never seem to understand, the OP did say just for a bit of fun.

You tell me then why folks have half a dozen panels, all the latest controllers ,b2b, and all manner of other gizmos and still end up with flat batteries.

 

[Wh05apk]

The temperature , being close to zero, has prompted me to switch my solar off. Engine battery was down to 12.3V so I've plugged the car battery charger in for 24-36 hours. I'm planning on taking the moho for a run on Thursday if, as is promised, we get a dry sunny day. That should warm everything up a bit and keep the mechanicals sweet.

Am I missing something? is there a reason to switch solar off?

 

[Shrimp]

Not a clue what ours are doing as on EHU for 3 months!

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