Best way to integrate portable solar panel with current system.

[Ayjay]

A recent trip got me thinking that we could maybe do with a bit more solar power. I've currently got what I would call a ‘conventional’ leisure system comprising:

• Renogy 100Ah Smart Battery
• Victron IP65 Mains Charger
• CTek D250SE DC to DC Charger
• 150W Solar Flexibler Solar Panel stuck to poptop and into the Renogy via the Ctek

Pictures that I posted after the install a couple of years ago here at posts #685 and #690

TBH, I’m not convinced by the current solar panel - it does charge but I’ve never measured any more that around 130W coming out of it and into the battery. I’m a lazy so and so and really don’t fancy going through the rigmarole of replacing the current panel with something larger (with all the associated work that will entail) which got me to thinking that something like a 160W folding / briefcase panel might be the solution. My idea is that the new panel could simply be plugged in whenever needed and work in parallel alongside the current roof mounted panel to effectively double the amount if juice going into the battery. Another advantage is that the new panel could also be plugged straight into my Jackery Explorer 1000 to give that a boost when needed. Looking at the documents for the CTek, it should be up to the job of handling both panels but is what I’m thinking practical and would the wiring be a relatively simple thing to do?

As always, thanks in advance.

 

[soldas]

I run my roof mounted 150w flexi panel into my jackary and then use that to run a 20a changer to my 105ah fogstar battery.

I also have a portable Jackery panel I plug into the Jackery as and when.

Great little setup for fast charging the fogstar.

 

[Bluesman]

I think I've got what you are looking for on my van but with different components. My leisure battery has got Ctek mains and DC DC chargers and a fixed 100W solar panel on the roof which slowly charges the leisure battery in bright sunshine but otherwise isn't very good. There is a socket attached to a connector in the back of the van which I thik is called an MC4 and I just plug a 160W portable panel into it, point it at the sun and it starts charging - if both panels are pointing at the sun, charging is much better and faster than either individually so I guess they must be working together OK (and have neen for about 3 years). I dont thin there much slower than the mains charger when conditions are 100%. The wiring was installed by an auto electrician so I can't advise on how to actually do it sorry. I'm sure that one of the forum electrical gurus will be along with some solid technical advice quite soon. @Dellmassive seems to be the man for this stuff.

 

[Ayjay]

@Bluesman. That sounds exactly what I'm thinking about, thank you. Hopefully an expert will come along with advice soon as I really want to take advantage of some reduced Amazon Prime prices today or tomorrow. @Dellmassive?

 

[Ayjay]

Come on people! With all due respect to soldas and Bluesman, any other response would be nice, even if it’s to tell me that what I’m thinking just isn't possible.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Come on people! With all due respect to soldas and Bluesman, any other response would be nice, even if it’s to tell me that what I’m thinking just isn't possible.

I'm sure it's possible ... You can certainly run multiple panels, just have to get the wiring right, does the CTEK manual not give you any hints on how to do it properly?

 

[Stay Frosty]

I'd go for a bigger battery, more panels and at least a 2kw inverter on the off chance that the van isn't parked in the ideal spot/angle, that and park well away from that lovely shaded spot.
Most of what you've got can be added to however moving portable panels every five minutes and adding power poles or other sturdy plug and socket arrangements to introduce the extra portable stuff is equally a ball ache.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Ok so I read the manual a bit.

TIP 1
Do not connect two solar panels in series. Max. input voltage 23V

So presumably you could connect them as long as they're in parallel and the voltage doesn't exceed 23 volts.

 

[d8smt]

A recent trip got me thinking that we could maybe do with a bit more solar power. I've currently got what I would call a ‘conventional’ leisure system comprising:

• Renogy 100Ah Smart Battery
• Victron IP65 Mains Charger
• CTek D250SE DC to DC Charger
• 150W Solar Flexibler Solar Panel stuck to poptop and into the Renogy via the Ctek

Pictures that I posted after the install a couple of years ago here at posts #685 and #690

TBH, I’m not convinced by the current solar panel - it does charge but I’ve never measured any more that around 130W coming out of it and into the battery. I’m a lazy so and so and really don’t fancy going through the rigmarole of replacing the current panel with something larger (with all the associated work that will entail) which got me to thinking that something like a 160W folding / briefcase panel might be the solution. My idea is that the new panel could simply be plugged in whenever needed and work in parallel alongside the current roof mounted panel to effectively double the amount if juice going into the battery. Another advantage is that the new panel could also be plugged straight into my Jackery Explorer 1000 to give that a boost when needed. Looking at the documents for the CTek, it should be up to the job of handling both panels but is what I’m thinking practical and would the wiring be a relatively simple thing to do?

As always, thanks in advance.

I've sort of done this with my van. If you have an existing solar panel, which should go into your PWM/MPPT controller (assuming the DC-DC had it integrated?), then there's no reason you can't parallel connect (not series connect) other panels providing (1) the wiring can cope with it and (2) the solar converter can cope.
The way I've done it is to connect an XT60 AWG12 cable into the PWM controller (AWG12 cable is good for 20A, which most controllers will support 20A as well), and then just put an XT60 splitter on the end of the cable (see photo). The roof panel has an MC4 to XT60 cable which I bought in Amazon and the portable connects with an XT60 connection that came with the panel (200W Dokio). Works fine for me, the combined current for both is just under 20A max. and the two solars charge my 100Ah battery in about 6 hrs in good sunshine.
If your roof panel is just connected directly to the battery without going through a solar controller, I'd buy a solar controller to go between the battery and the panels (if you are buying a portable panel, v they normally come with one on the back of the panel that you could use). So you will have a system that looks like

panel 1--)
.............. }-combiner--controller --12v to bat
panel 2--)

and don't forget to put appropriate fuses in!

This works for me with my Dokio 200W portable solar panel and 150W fixed found through the Dokio PWM. I'm now going to replace the Dokio portable panel with a second fixed panel this week, tbh I've only really used it once to test it.

This assumes the voltage is each panel is 12v or matched voltages obviously, you can check it on the back of each panel.