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

[Skyliner33]

yes, if its 12v battery and the VOC is within the range of the controller.

Voyager - 20A PWM Waterproof Charge Controller w/ LCD Display and LED Bar

The 20A Voyager is Renogy's first waterproof PWM charge controller. Featuring a sophisticated and comprehensive LED bar, suitable for 12V off-grid applications

uk.renogy.com

Max. PV Input Voltage: 26V

12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine

12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-grid

www.photonicuniverse.com

Open circuit voltage: 23.9V

These are the specs so that should be ok

Solar panel specifications:

• Peak power: 160W
• Maximum power voltage: 18.8V
• Maximum power current: 8.48A
• Open circuit voltage: 22.9V
• Short circuit current: 9.02A
• Power allowance range: 0~+3%
• Dimensions: 1480 x 670 x 35 mm
• Weight: 12 kg
• 4 mounting holes
• 5m of special cable with MC4 connectors attached

 

[Dellmassive]

These are the specs so that should be ok

Solar panel specifications:

• Peak power: 160W
• Maximum power voltage: 18.8V
• Maximum power current: 8.48A
• Open circuit voltage: 22.9V
• Short circuit current: 9.02A
• Power allowance range: 0~+3%
• Dimensions: 1480 x 670 x 35 mm
• Weight: 12 kg
• 4 mounting holes
• 5m of special cable with MC4 connectors attached

yes . .

Open circuit voltage: 22.9V

 

[Dellmassive]

I've just ordered a 100w Lensun panel and Sikaflex EBT black, to go on the aluminium mounting plate I bought from another member. The cheap 100w panel I've had for 2 years seems to have dropped in power quite a bit this summer so time to replace and make the install permanent.

What I need now is a convenient mc4 release tool...

Nice one @Loz


i have these types and can vouch for them . .

Renogy Black . .

Renogy® MC4 Assembly Tool Spanners/Wrench for Solar Panel : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

Renogy® MC4 Assembly Tool Spanners/Wrench for Solar Panel : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

amzn.to

****

Generic Blue, . .

ILS - 1pair MC4 mc4 Spanner Solar Panel Connector: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

ILS - 1pair MC4 mc4 Spanner Solar Panel Connector: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

amzn.to

.....


and the basic package with spare connectors and crimper . .

Proster Solar Connector Crimping Tools for 2.5/4.0/6.0mm² Solar Panel PV Cable + 20pcs Male Female Solar Panel Cable Connector + 1 Pair Solar Connector Assembly Tool Spanner Wrench Tool Kit: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop Proster Solar Connector Crimping Tools for 2.5/4.0/6.0mm² Solar Panel PV Cable + 20pcs Male Female Solar Panel Cable Connector + 1 Pair Solar Connector Assembly Tool Spanner Wrench Tool Kit.

amzn.to

And Metal . .

1Pair Metal Wrenches Solar MC4 Connectors Tool Spanner for Solar PV System Wire and MC4 Connectors Assembly : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Great prices on your favourite Home brands, and free delivery on eligible orders.

amzn.to

*********************


TBH, they are all much the much / same same.

i find it better to have four of them dotted around in places where you might need thgem . .

than say just one fancy metal one . . . . and loose it.


*********************


The crimp set is well worth it if you want ta make your own cables up . . . it works out much cheaper than buying pre-made leads up.


and you can make bespoke leads to fit your van . .


.

 

[tji100]

The Lensun is a better quality build and has better "cells" internally. Most now have the matt finish to help yield . . .

having said that the BlueFusionhas a better build quality than the ACOPOWER - But both are very good.

Lensun quote the full specs . .

View attachment 78866

Bluefusion just say they use "solarWorld Cells" from Germany.

View attachment 78867



.......................

100W is a nice size panel, you normally get around 6A (ISC)

------------

Regarding series linking of non similar panels . . .

I have done this myself, but snot documanted it on here.

there are pros and cons . . .

i have 3x150w panels series linked on the shed build (450W @ 75V VOC on a victron 100/20):

Solar Sheds & Other Non-t6 Solar Projects - How We Done It -

Solar Sheds & Other Non-T6 Solar Projects - How We Done It - @Pete C requested it, so here it is . . . . . Dell, What do the batteries in your shed power ? I too have a solar powered shed - perhaps we should have a separate thread for sheds :) Pete Lets Post here any NON - T6 related ECO...

www.t6forum.com

what i found was that there theory dosent always work out . .

due to the differences in VOC and ISC from panel to panel you get a net effect of "down rating" to the weakest link . .

series linking and a higher VOC is the most efficient, you can use thinner cables etc longer runs . . . but you need a better controller . . . etc etc. Shading is a real problem though as ANY SLIGHT SHADE will bring down the whole pannel array to its knees.


on the other had you have Parallel combining . . . which i done at T6F summer camp 2020.

here i combined a 200W Lensun fold out, with 2x 110W Lensun flexables . . . all together with some 4way MC4 branch connectors . . . then run one MC4 cable back to the Victron 100/20.

single panel shading doesnt effect the whole array . . just one panel . .




View attachment 78869

.
branch connector 1-4 . . . Eidoct 1 Pair Solar Energy Panel MC4 T Branch Connectors Cable Coupler Combiner - 1 Male to 4 Female(M/4F) and 1 Female to 4 Male(F/4M): Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors
branch connector 1-3 . . . ANFIL T-type MC4 Branch Cable Connectors Coupler Combiner Solar Panel - 1 Male to 3 Female (M/3F) and 1 Female to 3 Male (F/3M): Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science
branch connector 1-2 . . . MC4 Solar Panel Branch Connector, Multi-Branch Optional - Male Female Solar Energy Panel MC4 T Branch Connectors Cable Coupler Combiner for solar panels,Photovoltaic Systems (M/2F, F/2M): Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science



View attachment 78870


running this lot:

View attachment 78871


i also had the Bluefusion 120w charinging the Leisure battery on the van , . . . ( via dash socket)

View attachment 78872

via a Renogy voyager 20A PWM controller - which is awseome BTW . .

View attachment 78873

.


we also had the BlueFusion 50W on the dash inside running the starter battery via dash socket



View attachment 78874



120W BF . . . The Renogy is IPx rain proof . . .

View attachment 78875

Thanks for such a comprehensive reply, good to know. I’m now pondering over the Lensun fully laminated folding panel...

When I do start playing with combining panels I’ll start with series simply because I already have a Victron 75/10 so haven’t got the current headroom for parallel. Good to know the limitations you’ve seen in practice though.

 

[Loz]

My new Lensun panel now fitted to California roof plate that I got from another member.
Because the roof of the California is curved and the rails are flush on the higher edges, the custom plate curves with the roof so I had to adapt the Landsun panel mount so that it wasn't quite as curved due to its length being longer than the gap available between the rails (if you follow).
I then used a spacer and clamps to curve the plate whilst I bonded the panel in place so that it is glued in the curved position before I put it on the roof. This seems to have worked out okay and I mounted it this morning.

 

[Dellmassive]

Looking good @Loz ....

Nice mastic gun =)

Show us some readouts/performance from that panel when you can.

Looks like you got space to add a second one too.....

 

[Dellmassive]

heres a new little take on the semi flaxable solar panels i have . . .

i decided to hang then on the side fence panels . . .

The black on black worked well . . . . . the missus didnt even notice them . . .





they blend in even bette rin the evening . . . .




......


His is now . . . .






this is the 120w bluefusion "folding" charging up the 15Ah 12v battery that i use for the flag pole . . . .






this is the Renogy 100W solar suitcase (lying flat atm) . . . . . that was charging the 3-in-1 ALLPOWERS battery bank . . . .


and these guys were charging the 138ah Lifpo4 battery box after it overheated the Voctron Orion earlire . . .





2x 110w panels with a MC4 branch connector . . .

and a MC4 extension lead . . . .






which then plugged into the Victron 75/15 mppt......





and finally charging the battery box via the Anderson connectors . . . . .

 

[Dellmassive]

with Forum Fest comin up in a couple of weeks time . . .

https://www.t6forum.com/calendar/events/forumfest-10-11-12-13-of-september.7/

and the weather not being so great with summer sun . . . (sept 2020 end of summer)

i thought it was time to step-up the Power.

The plan is to use a 4way branch connector to join 4x separate panels up in parallel for maximum yield . .

the to add a long extension lead to feed that power over to the solar controller . . . . .

which will be next to the battery box . . .


we started with this . .

9m/30ft of red & black PV cable (with one mc4 end on already) - 9m sounds a lot, but once its rolled out its not that long really.>>

and this time, due to the length, I've gone for 6mm instead of 4mm cable - to give the best chance of solar power transfer.

ANFIL 9m / 30 Feet 6mm² / 10AWG Solar Panel Extension Cable with Female and Male Connector (30FT Red + 30FT Black): Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

ANFIL 9m / 30 Feet 6mm² / 10AWG Solar Panel Extension Cable with Female and Male Connector (30FT Red + 30FT Black): Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

amzn.to

and added the 4way branch connector . . .

Eidoct 1 Pair Solar Energy Panel MC4 T Branch Connectors Cable Coupler Combiner - 1 Male to 4 Female(M/4F) and 1 Female to 4 Male(F/4M) : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

Eidoct 1 Pair Solar Energy Panel MC4 T Branch Connectors Cable Coupler Combiner - 1 Male to 4 Female(M/4F) and 1 Female to 4 Male(F/4M) : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

amzn.to

.........


So lets get making . . .

i rolled out the 9m lengh to get the coils out and used Tessa tape to keep them together . .




this is the 6mm PV cable . . .




which already had one set of ends on . . . .




next up was to crimp on the other ends . . . . . easy with the MC4 crimp kit.




..





this is the MC4 4way branch connectors added to the end . . . . just plug and play.






..........



Now for some panels . . . .

here are the twin 110W Lensun flexable panels chilling out on the fence . .






which have been connected with these 3way branch connectors and 4mm 3mtr long previous version extension cables . . .





....



the final result . . . . ?

a 9m long 6mm PV extensio0n cable ready to take 4x solar panel sets . . (in parrallel)




im hoping to run

1x 200w fold
1x 110w flex
1x 110w flex
1x 100w fold

so hopefully 520w total at the far end, all bought back over this link to the Victron MPPT controller . . .


happy dayz . . .


stuff list below:
**************************************************
Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread
**************************************************
Kit List And Stuff -- How I Done It & What I Use --
**************************************************

 

[Blitz]

Hope you have enough traffic cones

 

[Dellmassive]

i hope so . . . . .

i might bring the safety barriers too . . . . .

 

[VanDamMan]

How to make people seem inferior.....puts my panels to shame

 

[Blitz]

i hope so . . . . .

i might bring the safety barriers too . . . . .

Think of the shade they will cast

 

[Dellmassive]

How to make people seem inferior.....puts my panels to shame

stop moaning . . . . Your panels are great, yours have fancy angle brackets . . . . mine just lay on the floor.

 

[VanDamMan]

stop moaning . . . . Your panels are great, yours have fancy angle brackets . . . . mine just lay on the floor.

But I’ve not got fancy traffic cones .......you’ll have to do a famous... @Dellmassive .. How I got them...

 

[tji100]

So I pulled the trigger on the Lensun 100W fully laminated folding solar panel, partly because it seemed pretty robust and partly because it folds up slightly smaller than most of the canvas ones and is extremely thin. Here a a few pictures of it's first outing:

 

[Dellmassive]

that looks like the 100w fold waterproof . . .

did you get a controller with it?

Waterproof Lensun 100W ETFE Laminated Technology Foldable Solar Panel with Bag

Lensun ETFE Laminated technology Solar Charger Waterproof 100W 12V Portable Foldable Panel Ourdoor for Mobile, Camera, iPad,compurter and More 5V device or 12V batteries

www.lensunsolar.com

 

[tji100]

That’s the one. No controller included, but I already had a Victron 75/10 to go with it so just chose the one with MCA connectors.

BTW, for anyone planning to buy from the Lensun website, if you have a fee-free foreign currency credit card (eg Halifax Clarity in my case) you can save a few quid by choosing to buy in US dollars from the drop down.

 

[Dellmassive]

ForumFest 2020 is over and the mobile solar done a great job running the whole week end off grid . . . > Forumfest 10-11-12-13 of September.


Due to the late month of year o decided to take more panels to eeek out as much fre power from the sky as i could

we had:
200w lensun fold
100w renogy fold
2x 110w lensun flex

giving 520w in therory , , , but due to them all being connected in parallel we had the weakest link scenario . .

we had a 4WAY MC4 branch connector and the 6mtr MC4 lead back to the Victron MPPT 100/30





the array was enough to charge at 7.9A 112w on a cloudy day . . .

so enough to run the two comtressor fridges and still charge the battery box ready for the next night . . > 12v Lithium Leisure Battery Box 138Ah 1766Wh -- How I Done It --




.



.

it was great to see other peoples solar setups running over the weekend . . .




.




.




.



.



.

 

[boxelder]

Such a useful resource, this thread - thanks Gents. I now know I want a 100-150W folding set-up that I can connect to my CTEK like @Big.mac or have out of the van using the supplied controller for other stuff. Anyone used seen Eco-worthy panels?
Another probably stupid question @Dellmassive - with a 100W folding panel, does it potentially give 50W when folded in two (i.e. doesn't drop to the output of the 'weakest' section). The 120W panel I'm looking at is a bit too long for the dash, so would just fold it.

 

[Dellmassive]

Depends on how the cells are internally wired...

Most panels will drop to no power output... the same as shading...

So no, they won't drop to half power when folded....

BUT... if you had 2x 50w panels and covered one panel that would work.... or get 2x 100w panels even better.