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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: muzza01 on September 25, 2014, 06:54:27 PM

Title: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: muzza01 on September 25, 2014, 06:54:27 PM: There have been quite a few thread lately from guys asking what size panel to but. I thought it might be interesting to have a poll and see what most people have or the average size used.

I know there are a few I between sizes eg. 125 watt etc. the 125 watt panel could be voted against the 120 watt option.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: muzza01 on September 25, 2014, 06:56:10 PM: I will start it off,
240 watt bifold panel.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: ATC on September 25, 2014, 07:13:37 PM: Ticked the 80 watt panel.

Just brought a pair of 40 watt folding panels from ALDI.

Will bypass the regulators on them and run them into the Ctek D250S.

Wanted the 120watt from Jetcrew, but I can only convince the missus to let me spend so much.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Silvo on September 25, 2014, 07:26:17 PM: how about an option for larger than 240w.. size does matter.. so i'm told.. i run combined solar of 320w when out
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Frostd on September 25, 2014, 07:33:18 PM: I was using a 100 watt panel with one fridge and it wasnt enough power, so sold it and bought a 160 from Jetcrew with two fridges, one in the camper and one in the troll. Works well.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: muzza01 on September 25, 2014, 07:34:44 PM: Quote from: Silvo on September 25, 2014, 07:26:17 PM
how about an option for larger than 240w.. size does matter.. so i'm told.. i run combined solar of 320w when out
Done
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: JCOJ on September 25, 2014, 08:57:32 PM: We have 2 x 150w panels on our roof.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: bluejay on September 25, 2014, 09:00:59 PM: 2x120 jet crew
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: nbd73 on September 25, 2014, 09:12:49 PM: 150 watt portable (2 x 75 w hinged) + 255 watt fixed to roof run thru 1 regulator. Best of both worlds.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: oldmate on September 25, 2014, 09:15:20 PM: I ticked 160w, but have that and a 120w blanket (from jetcrew, actually both from jetcrew) that I will start to use for the small trips.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Snapman007 on September 25, 2014, 09:24:57 PM: 380w on the camper and 80w on the tug.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Clouty on September 25, 2014, 09:28:16 PM: These a 120 on the roof of the van and I carry a portable 120 to plug into the car (truck) ;D
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: prodigyrf on September 25, 2014, 09:55:55 PM: 120W foldable panel and inherited car battery as the Jayco Dove only uses 48 LED 5050 lights, a centrifugal sink pump and a Kogan 12V telly/dvd/pvr plus we'll charge phones and laptop, etc occasionally but mainly during the day. The telly can occasionally drain the car battery quite late at night and go on the blink. I can run the car for 10 mins to fix that but I was thinking of replacing the car battery soon with one of these-
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/120674458033?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/120674458033?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)
Anyone got any better suggestions re a battery for that useage? Is 100ah really overkill?
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: crykies on September 25, 2014, 09:59:18 PM: 4 x 80watt bp solar panels. 320 watts total.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: grafy82 on September 25, 2014, 10:03:38 PM: I did have a triple fold 120w panel but I stole one of them to run the sensor lights in my carport, so now I've only got 80w :'(
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Ozsnowman on September 25, 2014, 11:22:04 PM: I've voted for my 140w foldup panel, but tomorrow I'm also picking a 52w fixed panel I bought
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Aaron Schubert on September 26, 2014, 08:18:53 AM: Mines a 120, which keeps my dual batteries topped up in the cruiser for a fridge, inverter and LED lights. I don't have a camper

Aaron
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Green rv on September 26, 2014, 08:44:43 AM: I use a 155w and or a 85w the 85w don't come out to much any more
use these on my national luna dual battery box with 120ah agm to run 80ltr waeco, leds and small shower
now i've got the ct am trying to rejig the kit to fit around it
here a mod there a mod

:cheers:
Ads
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Rob C on September 26, 2014, 10:59:42 AM: I have 300w on the roof and use a 160w for the beer fridge.

Rob
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: jk on September 26, 2014, 11:19:36 AM: 2 x 80w and 1 x 120w wallet style folders !
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Red Dog 4x4 on September 26, 2014, 01:22:53 PM: Quote from: jk on September 26, 2014, 11:19:36 AM
2 x 80w and 1 x 120w wallet style folders !

Same here, seams to work for me

Red Dog
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: peterdeg on September 26, 2014, 02:49:17 PM: 2 x 100 flexible solar that I can throw on the tent roof.
1 x 120Ah battery (for the moment)
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: richee on September 26, 2014, 02:59:18 PM: 160 watt folding from Jetcrew :cup:
100 AH powering 40lt Engel,lights,pump and some recharging of i stuff.

Thinking about another battery and changing the panels for 2 x 120 watt wallet style folding
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: JCAT on September 26, 2014, 03:19:53 PM: Folding 120 watt for us, courtesy of Mandrake.

Kept the 60 litre Engel, daughters laptop, iPhone (x3), iPad, iPod, PS Vita, GoPro and Nikon charged up on our 12 week trip to the Kimberley.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Axl on September 26, 2014, 03:48:11 PM: Folding 120 watt, from jetcrew :cup:
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: GregS on September 26, 2014, 10:39:19 PM: 450W on the van and 120W folding (as an extra for the van or for the vehicle, whichever needs it)
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: DaveR on September 27, 2014, 05:26:14 AM: I have had a 120 watt folding type for a while with a set up to plug into the tug via 10 amp controller.
This was enough to keep up with the 100 litre trailblazer.... just.
Now we have toys, LED lights and a water pump, I have just got a 120 watt folding blanket from Jetcrew and have set up a 30 amp controller in the CT so I can plug both panels into it.
I did some calcs and discovered that the pump, lights and toys (mostly the toys) draw the same amps over a day as the fridge.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: GeoffA on September 27, 2014, 05:56:28 AM: 3 x 100w Mandrake panels.

They're carried in a frame on top of the front box on the camper, and plugged in.
They can be used in the frame, or demounted for use around the camp site.
Title: Re: What size solar panel do you use for camping
Post by: Mandrake on September 27, 2014, 07:17:59 AM: 3 x 100 watts on Penguin , 1 x 100 watts on DMax plus a couple of 80 watt foldups for emergency use .
The CF50 and the 110 in Penguin draw about 7 Amps together so I'm well covered ..
1 x 120 Ah , 1 x 100 Ah in DMAx , 2 x 45 Ah and 2 x 40 Ah in Penguin ... 390 Ah of sparks enough for 6 days of dark weather ..
:cheers:
Mandrake