Newbie solar advice

[campergeek]

We've just bought a T6 that's in the queue to be converted to a pretty standard full-conversion. I'll be wanting to add solar at some point, but it's stretching the budget a little far right now. Will be using a compressor fridge, charging phones, night heater and internal LEDs. From what I've read, a 200w system should handle that. So is this something that's easy enough to add at a later date, or should I be sorting it all now at the point of conversion? Is there any pre-emptive wiring I should ask them to do at the point of conversion (LB's under driver seat, electrics in rear cupboard)?

If we want to start with just a portable system (with its own regulator), can this just connect directly to the leisure battery? If we then want to add a panel to the roof (pop-top), what's needed to get this wired so that it keeps both the leisure battery and the starter battery topped up when we're not using it much in the winter (is there some kind of fancy regulator/controller to manage all this)?

...I have done a bit of searching on this, but all the options are currenlty making my head explode!

 

[Pete C]

200W should be fine as long as you have a decent DC-DC battery charger fitted to charge the leisure battery when you are driving.

Where would you want the solar panels fitted - definitely worth getting wiring put in now, but it does depend on location.

You can have a portable solar solution (we have). It would just attach to the leisure battery. If you can get the wiring in for this now then that would also help.

There are a number of devices available to charge the starter battery from the leisure using solar. Ablemail do one.

Pete

 

[Eclipse Custom Vans]

Your conversion company should help you of course and should advise accordingly, but I would recommend fitting the roof solar panel now during the conversion, it’s a headache and more costly to fit afterwards. Rooftop ones are more efficient and a 150w will be fine.

We use Bluetooth regulators and they intelligently send charge to the leisure and main battery as required if wired correctly. I see so many fitted which come in which are not connected to the main battery, an extra 1hrs work they have saved but lost the charging functionality – bonkers…..

Here is one we fitted recently to a customers van with a pre fitted roof/conversion

All the best,
Ian

 

[Eclipse Custom Vans]

PS, they look much beter on a SCA or REIMO (flat roof) without the ridge in the middle.

 

[nstirling5]

Can anyone advise whether fitting a rigid frame solar panel to crossbars that are attached to the roof rails classes as a modification for insurance purposes?

Thanks

 

[campergeek]

Thanks Ian and Pete. If it's going to cost more to retrofit, i might as well bite the bullet i suppose. Let's see what they can quote for that lot

 

[Skyliner33]

Can anyone advise whether fitting a rigid frame solar panel to crossbars that are attached to the roof rails classes as a modification for insurance purposes?

Thanks

Yes, anything that changes from how the van left the factory is a modification and the insurance company should be told.

 

[fidav]

What size /type of wire should you run from solar panel to charger and what’s the best route to run it from the roof ?