Beginners guide to Campervan Solar Panels | Which one is right for you?

[@racheledwinaphelan6732]

mate no need for music i am listening to this guy

[@clenilma100]

This panel can put out close to 100 watts kzbin.infoUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.

[@davidburns5988]

Thanks for an excellent solar tutorial. Everything one needs to know.

[@ttblade]

I've been deliberating whether solar panels are worth the effort and expense on my van. My conclusion so far is that they might work in cooler climates in the UK etc but when I'm in southern Europe I generally seek as much shade as possible. Instead I've bought a Bluetti power station and portable solar panel so I can park in the shade and place the panel in the sun. I can also charge it while on the move through my van's 12v auxiliary socket. It's horses for courses I suppose.

[@stonkeng]

I have 2 x 130 watt panels in parallel, a CTEK MPPT (maximum power point tracking) controller and a 100 Ah AGM battery on my self built T6. It ran my fridge last summer in Scotland for 8 weeks no problem. Hardly any driving, so not much charge from the engine. Well explained video, keep up the good work.

[@snappyfish]

Link to your kit?

[@stonkeng]

@@SpecialSalads Its a Dometic 50 Ltr. fridge.

[@vanlifenomad]

Thanks for this its answered my T4 build issue

[@DonaldTrumpton]

I had a single 100 watt panel that managed to keep the leisure battery topped up through the winter on my Motorhome. This year I doubled the panel both wired in series and the difference is astonishing with the setup keeping both the Batteries fully charged, no longer ant need for plugging in now. The Campervan has 265 watts cells and an mppt controller, that will run the fridge and lights etc with no hook up.

[@JohnCranberry23]

I was watching the video to get this type of answer. I assumed the panels would fully charge your battery faster than you can use up the electricity. You can also get a bugger storage unit installed? To hold more electricity I mean. Also, wondering about hail storms?

[@MaSa-pt7uj]

Ciao ho letto il tuo commento :potresti dirmi la marca e il modello dei tuoi pannelli solari e del tuo mppt? grazie

[@tobyclough3870]

How many leasure batteries can i have at one time? I just want lights, maybe an electric heater on every now and then plus a small 16watt tv

[@BryanKrauss-u7y]

Can you have enough solar to run a energy efficient induction cooktop incinerator toilet tv and other necessary appliciances like 12 volt fridge and tv

[@jonjolliffe7757]

Still deciding on my solar panel size as i will want to run a fridge and a microwave oven occasionally. i am also looking at fixing a flexible panel to composite board with air holes drilled and making a low profile frame to support it above the roof to keep it well ventilated.

[@resrudeboy]

Great explination, but what about cabling and how its connected up?

[@TransitCustomCamper]

Good video and break down of the solar options. I installed a CTEK to give the option of solar in the future - good info on this one again 👍

[@markbruce-om7ue]

Wanting to put solar panels into my caravan. Can I wire the panels into battery charger from the grey plug?

[@michaelk7539]

Very informative and helpful also in simple terms to understand.

[@MrPantss]

The aluminium panel you were showing, please can you tell me the make and model? I need to replace my panel and it looks exact like that and pretty much the same size.

[@Deepthought-42]

2:53 I’m a beginner, what does PWM and MPPT stand for?

[@CombeValleyCampers]

A PWM (pulse width modulation) controller can be thought of as an (electronic) switch between the solar panels and the battery: The switch is ON when the charger mode is in bulk charge mode. The switch is “flicked” ON and OFF as needed (pulse width modulated) to hold the battery voltage at the absorption voltage. MPPT or Maximum Power Point Tracking is algorithm that included in charge controllers used for extracting maximum available power from PV module under certain conditions. The voltage at which PV module can produce maximum power is called maximum power point (or peak power voltage).

[@MaSa-pt7uj]

Buongiorno a tutti chiedo alla platea: quale tra le aziende VICTRON - CTEK sia di miglior resa e qualita' indicando una breve motivazione ?anticipatamente grazie per l aiuto?

[@Ytnzy250]

Do solar panels have to be attached to your vans roof? Can it be unfolded out of a box placed on the floor to charge for a few hours then unplug to put back in a box inside your van? Just curious 😁 👍

[@robertcrofts2108]

I've got that basic controller in my ldv maxus leaned alot about the controller will be looking into the mppt victron controller

[@mrstevenmac]

Do you think you will do a video showing how to install a solar setup?

[@timogronroos4642]

Also the height of the vehicle might be critical. With a flexible or a semi-flexible panel you may be able to stay under 2 m and be able to use underground parking. BTW semi-flexible panel is shown in the video, which is more rare and expensive type of solar panel, but much better than cheap flexible ones.

[@clungebucket23]

But.... How does the output connect to the battery?... Directly? Or via the main control panel? Do all control panels have the option to take in solar top-up?

[@thegamergamingguy]

does anybody know what model the black stealth low profile frameless mat panel is?

[@ThinkScalextric]

Super helpful, thank you, great channel

[@andycooper136]

As I have a split change relay in place and a site hook up, does adding solar into that system create any issues or does the controller step down the voltage based on what the other charge elements are doing?

[@CombeValleyCampers]

The mppt controller does regulate voltage to safely charge the battery alongside the 240v and split charge

[@RICHLES01]

Watched someone do a test on the cheap vs the more expensive. Very little wattage difference being put back into the battery..negligible difference

[@FieryToast1]

I can't find the forms they mentioned for the power audit on the website. Can anyone help me out?

[@ryankiddy3999]

I am the same

[@RedBatteryHead]

Are those flat thin panels better in flat mounted generation or is it just the same as every other design? Cause normally a panel is angled to the sun. So without a pop top you won't be able to. And that wattages mentioned are, I expect the max all WP, angled to the best sun position, right? So let's say a 320WP calculated isn't even that being mounted flat I think?

[@Mambafpv]

Omg i just received my 4way stretch it came from you guys 🤩 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 you just appeared on my feed 😄

[@daniellee5413]

What's the difference in cost of the panels please?

[@jabbadal1507]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@vet3shaw]

I want to do this. :) Will a car wash mess up your solar panels?

[@littleboatcaptain6962]

What about the bigger charger 🤔

[@springbean19]

Many thanks

[@johnobrien7134]

why not put the better solar panel output onto the aluminum frame to lessen the heat therefore loss ? best of both worlds??

[@8leg.studio]

Thanks guys. Can I ask if it’s better to connect my fridge to the load on the solar controller or directly to the battery? If so/ not why? Thanks very much.

[@CombeValleyCampers]

From the battery for sure. As you can fuse, and manage the power feed from the battery more conveniently and in a safer manner than directly from the solar management

[@Maxrom]

I actually had my Waeco fridge running from the load output on my Epever Tracer 20A MPPT unit. It handled it no problem with other light 12v loads, and by doing it this way, depending on your solar management unit, it will account for the power usage of the fridge. Wiring direct to the battery will not allow it to be managed by the MPPT unit, nor will the MPPT unit accurately show the total load on the 12v system. Either option can work, but for me, I wanted everything on the output from the solar management unit for these reasons. I could also isolate the whole 12v system using the MPPT box, or set it on a timer to only power up during certain hours of the day. Again, depending on your MPPT unit, some will shut off the 12v load if the battery voltage gets low, protecting your leisure batteries easily without additional hardware specifically for the fridge or anything else wired directly to the battery.

[@lecsu131]

@@CombeValleyCampers That's some pretty bad advice. You want all your loads on the load output of the charge controller to take as much power as possible from the panels directly when in sun and from the battery only when no sun present. You can put fuses anywhere on any wire of any device - that's no reason to connect to battery directly. That load output rom the MPPT should go to a fuse box where you connect everything you need.

[@giutubospatubo1546]

YOU DID NOT COVER VOLTAGE

[@nige99]

Why did you say you need to travel to charge up your battery with a alternator...it works by engine turning not the wheels just run it for 20 mins full battery !

[@uniwerksdesign]

Like.

[@אודילישא-בנוגעלגוף]

So much snow is in the background 😢 Annoying music And a bad microphone 😢 So hard to listen

[@CombeValleyCampers]

We get this a lot, and I apologise. This was an early video of ours and we have learnt a lot since! The mic was on the camera, not a lapel, and you can see by our most recent videos things have improved!

[@chrisferrario1540]

Am I the only one thinking…THIS IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS!?

[@DavesGuitarPlanet]

The "music" is truly hideous. Why don't videographers ask someone who knows something about music if they (obviously), don't.

[@milcotto4153]

This video is actually not saying more than a salesman would say...and that is not much.

[@clfehr08]

Does say beginners guide, so maybe that’s what should be expected.

[@CombeValleyCampers]

A beginners guide is all it is. To HELP AND TEACH, for free

[@PCongeries]

Can you ask this Einstein to translate all this knowledge written in manual book to simple language that rest of the people on the world using please? This is 2nd video and I'm disappointed.Simple question -simple answer ..this is not bunker with full of scientists Albert so pls simplify this university for mass :D

[@kennyenergy1]

If you don't understand any of this then you should pay an expert to do this for you. This video explains things quite basically.

[@PCongeries]

@@kennyenergy1 Commercial bla bla bla

[@DizzySaxman]

Not sure they have the time or crayons mate 👍😅

[@Scan-vr3hk]

I missed the video cos these 2 were so boring l fell a sleep....

[@onlylexus]

Get rid of the silly music!