I currently have a 105a LA leisure battery, with a 180w solar panel on the roof and Victron MPPT 75/15 controller. The battery is not really optimal, but I'm limited for space and therefore capacity. The solar is a semi-flexible panel on a pop top roof.
I'm in the throes of finalising changing my SCA 194 pop top roof to a high top. It won't look as nice, but I am at the point where usable standing space and better insulation year round is trumping external looks! Anyway, that's an aside. The company which is likely to fit the roof also does lithium installations, so I'm considering this too. They have quoted me for a 300a lithium battery, but say that the max solar they can install on the roof is 2x 50w panels (these will have to be flexi/semi flexi due to the curve of the roof) because I'm also having a maxxfan fitted. While I like the idea of two panels (on the basis that hopefully they won't both fail at once, I feel very nervous about reducing my solar input by so much compared to what I currently have.
To be honest, I'm wondering whether to either not go ahead with the lithium+solar install at all (but still to replace the battery with a non-lithium option as the current battery isn't giving me the performance I'd like), but ask the installer to leave/put everything in place to add solar later without having to do too much messing with the roof.
Or to go lithium, but no solar on the roof and an Anderson socket as I have an Ecoflow 200w suitcase panel which is currently rarely used as it is very heavy and bulky and a nuisance to store in the van when not in use. This latter may be worth exploring as it would save me a few bob and give me better solar input than the proposed two slimline 50w panels on top.
I already feel as though I've spent quite a lot on power improvements with patchy results and I'm wary about spending more and getting it wrong, especially as this will be quite costly. Some folk have said to sell the van and buy a newer one with a high top, but I can't afford to do this, plus my current van has had a number of tweaks over time to suit me and my van use. She's a 15yo gal, but still in good nick and I've owned her for 10 years so know how she's been looked after and driven.
I'd be interested in people's views... (I think!) Please bear in mind that I'm not overly technical, so I would be very grateful if replies could be in simple wording so far as is possible!
I'm in the throes of finalising changing my SCA 194 pop top roof to a high top. It won't look as nice, but I am at the point where usable standing space and better insulation year round is trumping external looks! Anyway, that's an aside. The company which is likely to fit the roof also does lithium installations, so I'm considering this too. They have quoted me for a 300a lithium battery, but say that the max solar they can install on the roof is 2x 50w panels (these will have to be flexi/semi flexi due to the curve of the roof) because I'm also having a maxxfan fitted. While I like the idea of two panels (on the basis that hopefully they won't both fail at once, I feel very nervous about reducing my solar input by so much compared to what I currently have.
To be honest, I'm wondering whether to either not go ahead with the lithium+solar install at all (but still to replace the battery with a non-lithium option as the current battery isn't giving me the performance I'd like), but ask the installer to leave/put everything in place to add solar later without having to do too much messing with the roof.
Or to go lithium, but no solar on the roof and an Anderson socket as I have an Ecoflow 200w suitcase panel which is currently rarely used as it is very heavy and bulky and a nuisance to store in the van when not in use. This latter may be worth exploring as it would save me a few bob and give me better solar input than the proposed two slimline 50w panels on top.
I already feel as though I've spent quite a lot on power improvements with patchy results and I'm wary about spending more and getting it wrong, especially as this will be quite costly. Some folk have said to sell the van and buy a newer one with a high top, but I can't afford to do this, plus my current van has had a number of tweaks over time to suit me and my van use. She's a 15yo gal, but still in good nick and I've owned her for 10 years so know how she's been looked after and driven.
I'd be interested in people's views... (I think!) Please bear in mind that I'm not overly technical, so I would be very grateful if replies could be in simple wording so far as is possible!
