Van electrics, help please!

[Raul]

If the battery is not as good as it used to be, tells me you don't have adequate charging to replace what you used, as it is.
Craig solar do a square 200w panel that could fit the space you got. Measure up and check it out.
Any lithium battery you chose, make sure it has at-least 120A bms. This is minimum for your use.

 

[Downsie]

Gel are good, I have 2 exide gels


Black tape..? This is a mc4 connection…
Take a picture of yours if you can

Just smiffy here you are, just one.

 

[Just smiffy]

Ah.. not an mc4 then.. just looks like a connection block for the panel…

Well you’ve got enough advice to get on with some upgrades, whatever battery you get, lithium or gel you’ll need to put the power back in that you use so a decent solar panel is the first priority, then a good Bluetooth controller..

 

[autorouter]

I can see that the wires are going over the working area of the panel. I know it's a only a very small bit of shading, but with some panels a very small bit of shade drastically reduces the power yield. It would be a good idea to find a way to keep the wires clear of the panel working area.

 

[Just smiffy]

I can see that the wires are going over the working area of the panel. I know it's a only a very small bit of shading, but with some panels a very small bit of shade drastically reduces the power yield. It would be a good idea to find a way to keep the wires clear of the panel working area.

Yep… probably fitted by a “professional “…

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Downsie]

Ok, thank you all so much, I feel I’ve got a much better idea of where I could be going with it all.

 

[Langtoftlad]

It doesn’t need to be difficult or technical..

But as the thread shows - it usually is

Roadpro but they are eye wateringly expensive just to connect a hairdryer!!

Indeed - I went to them to see if they could fit an additional panel on my Wildax, short answer no, and would be eye watering if they could.

I've now gone down the separate components route [rather like HiFi], buy what you need, and bring it along when you need it.

Because [in theory] going down the lithium route would require new charger, new solar controller, a B2B and fitting to get the best out of it...

I've bought a LiFePo power bank [Anker 757] - gives me double my leisure battery capacity, gives me 240v if not on EHU [not taken if I am] as well as flexibility all in one neat package.

I've also got a portable 175w solar panel [a fraction of the cost of having one installed]

 

[berni109]

As they say Langtoftlad 'more than one way to skin a cat'.
Sorry to all you anti vivisectionist out there.

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Portable solar also means the van can sit under a tree in the shade and the solar can be where it should be, out in the sun and if you can be bothered to move it a few times during the day you'll get more out of it if you track the sun.

 

[Downsie]

Yes Langtoftlad and your Wildax is considerably bigger than mine! Need to think carefully.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}