Dash Solar

[marksmithuk]

I have tried to find some details on this and have found some great posts, but nothing that is quite what i am looking for. I am going to have a CTEK 250SE between my starter and 105Ah leisure battery and will eventually have a proper solar setup, but for now I was looking or something I can connect up and pop on the dash to keep my batteries topped up when he is sat on the drive for a while.

Any cheap and cheerful temp solutions for a flexi / foldable solar panel?

 

[Dellmassive]

yes, have a look here:

[Guide] Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -

Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It - There is loads of background to this . . . . . but for now here is a vid for you all. =] . . Just remember W = V*A and as a general rule a good 100W panel will give you up to 6A charge with good sun. 25w = 1.5A 50W = 3A 100w = 6A 200w = 12A...

www.t6forum.com

.

 

[Dellmassive]

here:

Temporary / Part Time Solar Help

Looking for some advice around attaching a foldable solar panel to my CTEK. I don’t want to fit a permanent solar panel to my roof, but instead occasionally attach a foldable panel to the CTEK, but also use the same panel to charge my newly purchased Allpowers 372Wh portable power generator...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Dellmassive]

and here:


have a look at the Dokio range :


Dokio 100w 200w 12v Portable Foldable Mono Solar Panel Kit Camping/Car Battery | eBay
DOKIO Portable Solar Panel. DOKIO P ortable Solar Panel. Dokio is a factory with nearly 20 years of experience in solar panel production. Foldable Solar Panel. Flexible Foldable Solar Panel. F FS P-100M (100W).
rover.ebay.com

.


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have a look at the BlueFusion range :


BlueFusion Portable Folding Solar Panel Charger 50W, 100W, 120W | eBay
Flex Power 50W, 100W, 120W. Peak Power (Pmax): 50W 100W 120W. Premium Solar Panels and Accessory for Leisure and Marine Applications. Lightweight and Portable. Panel Model: MD1199/50W MD1199/100W MD1199/120W.
rover.ebay.com

.





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SOLAR:

Solar Pwm & Mppt Controllers - How I Done It -
.
Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -
.
What Solar Panel & Controller ?
.
Solar Panel Cutting Hole In Roof !!!
.
300w Solar Club -- How I Done It --
.
Solar Sheds & Other Non-t6 Solar Projects - How We Done It -
.

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Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread
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Kit List And Stuff -- How I Done It & What I Use --
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[marksmithuk]

what wattage would you suggest for plugging into my CTeck just to keep it ticking away when not in use?

 

[Dellmassive]

Any panel that is within the range of 18v - 23v max

VOC MAX 23V

So 100w to 200w range.

But you need to look at the panel specs to ensure VOC is below 23v.


..

 

[Blitz]

Any panel that is within the range of 18v - 23v max

VOC MAX 23V

So 100w to 200w range.

But you need to look at the panel specs to ensure VOC is below 23v.


..

View attachment 67791

Sorry Dell I know I'm throwing loads of questions on multiple threads.
Similar question
Fitting the CTEK and prob a 200w portable panel later. Thinking of a 50w ish to go on the dash for extra use.
How do I connect this to the Ctek controller. Can I just have two separate connections onto the terminals or is that a problem?
Ie the 200w and the 50w connected separate via ring terminals.
Or would this push the VOC over max ?

 

[Dellmassive]

Sorry Dell I know I'm throwing loads of questions on multiple threads.
Similar question
Fitting the CTEK and prob a 200w portable panel later. Thinking of a 50w ish to go on the dash for extra use.
How do I connect this to the Ctek controller. Can I just have two separate connections onto the terminals or is that a problem?
Ie the 200w and the 50w connected separate via ring terminals.
Or would this push the VOC over max ?

Yes you can do that.

Or use MC4 solar branch or y connectorors so join them up.

With series conection you add up the VOC but the ISC stays the same.

With parallel connection the VOC stays the same but you add up the ISC.

With your ctek the VOC max of 23v is very important... dont go above it...

That means you need to parrallel the two panels.... so you just connect both panel positives to the ctek input.... both negitive go to ground... this will give you 100w + 50w keeping the VOC lower but adding up both the ISC currents...

Most likely 6A per 100w panel...

So 100w(6A) + 50w(3A) = 150w(9A)

In theory, in practice the values will be a bit lower.

Ideally joined panels should always be matched..... ie 100w + 100w.

But I've found that if the individual panels VOC are similar..... within a few volts.the ISC currenta will add up ok.

You can test all the above yourself with a dc clamp meter and volt meter.

 

[Blitz]

Got you. So its basically two separate systems so they run parallel each system has a max VOC of 23v.

Ooh question I was going to ask....have you tested solar panel efficiency through the wind screen ? Any major loss ?

 

[Spaghetti]

Got you. So its basically two separate systems so they run parallel each system has a max VOC of 23v.

Ooh question I was going to ask....have you tested solar panel efficiency through the wind screen ? Any major loss ?

I’ve used my 50w blue fusion folding panel on the dash connected to the CTEK and there is some loss, but the beauty is, you can leave it there in all weathers. Mine had charged the leisure fully by 12pm and is now charging the starter, it’s overcast, been raining and it’s on the dash.

 

[Blitz]

How does the Ctek operate with the two batteries.

Does it always put all voltage to the leisure then switch to starter when full ?

If you connect solar to the starter battery does it charge that first until full and then the Ctek sensors than and draws excess voltage away to the leisure until that's full ?

Wondering because my internal lights are running as normal off the starter battery so that could eventually go flat ?

 

[Spaghetti]

I’ve only got one leisure and one starter, but it charges the leisure first and then switches to the starter when just on solar.

The +12v signal from the ignition starts the DC-DC charging from starter to leisure when the alternator is running.

With only a 50w panel, it’s unlikely that it’ll top off the leisure whilst I’m using it, unless it was a few lights only. If I was using the USBs and the fridge, it’s unlikely that it’d fully charge the leisure, so it wouldn’t switch over to charging the starter. A bigger panel would probably do that though.

 

[Blitz]

So if I'm static for a few days I would be worth been able to switch the dash panel to starter motor battery if required via different leads etc. Iv ordered two BM2 so can monitor the starter battery too. Obviously I'd need to connect via another solar controller.

 

[Spaghetti]

That would work, although you wouldn’t use the controller for the battery charged by the CTEK.


I initially put a cigarette plug on the output of the solar controller. I could then plug it into the leisure ciggie socket, or the starter ciggie socket. The thing is, the PWM controller with the small panel is less efficient than the CTEK.

 

[Blitz]

That would work, although you wouldn’t use the controller for the battery charged by the CTEK.


I initially put a cigarette plug on the output of the solar controller. I could then plug it into the leisure ciggie socket, or the starter ciggie socket. The thing is, the PWM controller with the small panel is less efficient than the CTEK.

Yes true, that's a consideration.

 

[Big.mac]

How does the Ctek operate with the two batteries.

Does it always put all voltage to the leisure then switch to starter when full ?

If you connect solar to the starter battery does it charge that first until full and then the Ctek sensors than and draws excess voltage away to the leisure until that's full ?

Wondering because my internal lights are running as normal off the starter battery so that could eventually go flat ?

The CTEK will use solar to charge the leisure battery and once that is full it will switch to the starter on a trickle charge. If you connect to the starter that is all it will charge (it needs ign on to start charging from starter to leisure).
I have the same 50W foldable panel that @Dellmassive has and use that connected to my CTEK and leave it on the dash. Works a treat. I made up a some short pigtail cables which i connected to the CTEK. I can then simply unplug the solar panel and fold it up when not in use. If you look at the thread below you’ll see how I did it(post 95 if the link doesn’t go straight to it)

[Guide] Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -

Next up same test . . . . but with the two Lensun panel in series . . . . (110w + 110W = 220W) heres the setup: the two panels in series: and connected with two power meters, one on the PV side and one on the Battery side. first up PV side we have 39.6V @ 0.4A and battery side is...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Blitz]

That's exactly what I wanted to do thanks.
Do you use the cig socket to charge the starter battery or have you got permanent wires attached ?

 

[Big.mac]

That's exactly what I wanted to do thanks.
Do you use the cig socket to charge the starter battery or have you got permanent wires attached ?

I connect to the CTEK as that will charge both batteries if the van is laid up. If I wanted to connect just to the starter I would use the cigarette socket but as I have a Victron mains charger as well I’d most likely use that to charge the starter battery.

 

[Dellmassive]

@Blitz all as above.

Thank you @Spaghetti & @Big.mac you have saved me some typing in answer to this one.

@Blitz Have a look at the thread link above to see what we all done with the mobile panels.