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roamingman

Member Since: 15 Mar 2012
Location: nearly thier
Posts: 152

Solar pannel

Can anybody please help, am thinking of fiting a solar pannel, allready have twin battries on a split charge system, is it possible and easy fit. Do I connect to crankng battry or to the twin battries.

thanks in advance. Live Life Ti'l You Die
Teddys are out thier

http://teddybearspicnic.webs.com
http://130sasha.co.uk/

2nd Jul 2013 2:46pm

Innuendomaster

Member Since: 29 Mar 2013
Location: South East
Posts: 230

Anything is easy to a certain respect. Why would you need to fit a solar panel to a charge system that has a auxillary split charge set up?.

However, I did have the exact system on my D3, had twin AKT 10w 12v solar panels with blocking Diodes so that you don't get a drain when Dusk/Dark. I connected mine to the Aux Battery because that was where all my current drain was on camping trips, thus completely protecting the cranking battery.

I now have the panels on the Sankey roof, wired direct to the twin battery's, and never once in a year had I needed to charge the twin Optima Yellow tops fitted.

2nd Jul 2013 7:23pm

jaketravels

Member Since: 12 Feb 2012
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 39

Solar panel

Have a look on here http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu0-prodshow/CK40WM.html.
We had a 30w with regulator that plugged into a power socket, worked well. Plug and play, not hard at all.
It was enough to put back what the fridge took out of the batteries, but not any thing else.
We have now upgraded to a bigger 80w panel and wired it into the batteries via dual battery controller.

2nd Jul 2013 9:08pm

VeeTee

Member Since: 06 Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1512

I have a 60 W mobile solar panel which I use to top up the domestic battery (which powers the Waeco CFX40 fridge) when camping and there's no 230 V. It is a mobile panel so I can aim it at the sun, it is then connected via the usual lighter sockets.

Cheers, Vincent
1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold)
1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold)
1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold)
1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold)
2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold)
2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold)

MySite

2nd Jul 2013 9:17pm

roamingman

Member Since: 15 Mar 2012
Location: nearly thier
Posts: 152

Ok seems easy enough, will decide on how to fix to the roof, probebly will make brakets and also silafix. Live Life Ti'l You Die
Teddys are out thier

http://teddybearspicnic.webs.com
http://130sasha.co.uk/

3rd Jul 2013 12:27am

Innuendomaster

Member Since: 29 Mar 2013
Location: South East
Posts: 230

I made my brackets with some aluminium angle 1"x1" and some 13" double glaze window friction hinges. Does mean you need to RivNut the panel frame but its better that £40 per bracket on proper Solar ones.

3rd Jul 2013 6:30am

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2664

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey

I fitted a C-TEK adapter wired permanently onto the battery, with a "Comfort Indicator" to check battery ststus.

So now I have a permanent "umbilical" connected to the battery, I can connect the (Maplins 13w) solar panel at any time, or indeed the CTEK charger (wneh I'm near a mains plug). I can also use the socket as a connector for accessories (charging phone, cool box, work light etc).

Thread here http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17923.html?highlight=ctek Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

3rd Jul 2013 8:29am

Defender SVX

Member Since: 29 Jan 2009
Location: Co Durham
Posts: 726

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SVX Soft Top Santorini Black

Solar panel advice.

Rather than start a new topic I've done a search and think its best to add to this existing thread

We have a Genesis split charge system and twin 1500 Oydessey batteries in the 110 DCPU, all works brilliantly aux battery used mainly to run an Engel mt45, cheapo cool box and various Led flood lamps on the vehicle.

As said a great setup for what we need (cold beer and frozen meat and flood lights without risking the crank battery) and when we went to Morroco with almost daily driving never run down periods of 24 hours (cheapo cool box off) without running the engine.

However at events like Billing etc we generally get there on Friday afternoon in plug the cool box and don't drive the vehicle until Monday morning, by Satuarday night the aux power is down so in plug the Engel and use the led lamps by Sunday aux power is dead and we run the engine for about an hour ( which I personally detest

wastes fuel, noise, fumes etc ).
it's then good for the rest of the weekend.

So I'm looking into a solar panel to counteract this situation and as normally use the 110 as a daily driver I don't want fixed panels so I would like opinions on this

http://bit.ly/16KT8Xz

I would connect it direct to the aux battery when parked and chain to the roof rack. Would this work? Is it overkill for my needs? And is it just two panels hinged and expensive as its a kit.

I'm open to any advise and other suggestions. Formerly mao99999
16 Focus RS Nitrous Blue.
11 FFRR TDV8 Vouge SE Black Black.
08 DEFENDER SVX SOFT TOP (SUPERB)
08 DEFENDER 110 DCPU Stornoway grey (Overland Exploration Unit)
05 Fiesta ST 150 Van
04 Jaguar XKR 4.2 Supercharged V8
02 DEFENDER 90 TD5 (next years soft top project)
95 DEFENDER 110 CSW 300 TDi Phoenix black
95 DEFENDER 90 HT Monti Carlo blue COUNTY 300 TDi
67 109" SERIES 2a TUNED 200 TDI
64 DAVID BROWN 990 rat look
55 86" SERIES 1

18th Jul 2013 9:57am

Go Beyond

Member Since: 30 Jan 2012
Location: Headcorn, Kent
Posts: 6676

Would it not be cheaper to increase your battery capacity, ie take along a portapak or have a third battery installed ?

I'm just thinking that this product probably relies on there being a fair amount of sunlight to get the claimed output

18th Jul 2013 10:59am

MartinK

Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2664

My Maplins Solar Panel works fine, but it does need to be pointing directly at the sun (I manually move it)...and even then it does take a bit of time to do much.

Motorhomers use this setup a lot (many new motorhomes have solar panels on the roof to charge aux batteries) and that seems to work fine.

This is an interesting article: http://www.motorcaravanning.co.uk/shopuk/solar_panels.htm Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)

18th Jul 2013 11:36am

x-isle

Member Since: 26 May 2011
Location: Midlands
Posts: 1327

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

I installed a panel on the top of my motorhome, can't remember if I put an 80W or 100W up there, but it's simple.

All you need is a panel some cable and a controller that converts into 12-14v, most panels generate 24v.

The output just needs to go back into the battery circuit via a fused connection.

I've used it a few times when I've been "wild" camping (although it's not really wild, just no campsite) and has been perfect.

Last time it was used in anger was when I was in France to watch the Paris-Roubaix. Early spring and although is was very sunny, the sun was of course low in the sky. Over the 3 days we where there, we didn't have to worry about using any of the electrics on board, including watching the TV. Everyday the battery topped up what we'd used over night.

I will be putting another panel up there in time to give 160W (or 200W if it's 100W that I installed). Craig Rogers

2007 Puma 110 XS
2011 Evoque Coupe Dynamic Lux
www.craigrogers.photography

Last edited by x-isle on 18th Jul 2013 11:55am. Edited 1 time in total

18th Jul 2013 11:52am

db950

Member Since: 01 Feb 2012
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 559

My caravan set up is similar
I have a 120w panel permanently attached to the roof, through the solar controller then connected to 2 x 110ah numax batteries which run all the 12v system and a 1100w inverter to run all the 240v
With this you can be self sufficient for as long as required, no electric hook up needed!
The panel is this one,
http://www.sunstore.co.uk/120w-12v-Solar-B...eluxe.html
Highly recommended. 1997 Ex-MOD 110, Pop Top Camper, build thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72352.html
2014 Discovery 4 SE Tech
Instagram @the110camper

18th Jul 2013 11:54am

x-isle

Member Since: 26 May 2011
Location: Midlands
Posts: 1327

Hmm, thinking about it, I think that's the panel I used, so I must of put a 120W up there. Craig Rogers

2007 Puma 110 XS
2011 Evoque Coupe Dynamic Lux
www.craigrogers.photography

18th Jul 2013 11:56am

db950

Member Since: 01 Feb 2012
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 559

If adding another panel you would need a bigger solar controller as the one that comes with the panel is maxed out at 10amps.
In good sun the one panel produces 8.5-9 amps! 1997 Ex-MOD 110, Pop Top Camper, build thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72352.html
2014 Discovery 4 SE Tech
Instagram @the110camper

18th Jul 2013 12:14pm

x-isle

Member Since: 26 May 2011
Location: Midlands
Posts: 1327

I always planned to have 2 so the controller I fitted is 25amp. Craig Rogers

2007 Puma 110 XS
2011 Evoque Coupe Dynamic Lux
www.craigrogers.photography

18th Jul 2013 12:36pm

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