Portable solar panels and running a cable into a locked vehicle to charge a Bluetti?

[Sim667]

So I’ve been thinking about electrics so we can get camping…… I really struggled getting insurance to crack on with the conversion I want to do (insurance companies said the value of my van + conversion plans are too high value for keeping it on the street), so my plan for a leisure battery and split charge is on a back burner for the moment.

We want to get a Bluetti elite 300 and then use the portable solar panels we already own to keep that topped up, but obviously I don’t want to leave the bluetti sitting outside the van when we’re at festivals and off and about. So I’m wondering anyone has got suggestions on getting the cables into the van to leave it on charge.

Obviously I realise the obvious answers are slightly open window, or a tailgate vent latch, but I’m also wary of people being able to open the van from the inside through those gaps (like we did with my FIL’s Saab when he locked his keys in it today with the window cracked.

So does anyone have any suggestions? I considered the gromit in the bonnet, and I think there’s a gromit under the seat? But I’m worried about water proofing and getting through the carpet in the van itself.

Also as an aside, does anyone know how much it would actually be to get a lifepo4 battery, split charge and solar mppt that I could hook to the portable panels fitted? I don’t have the confidence to do that myself. I’m guessing about £1700 but I don’t really know what to go off when asking about insurance, and I don’t want to ask companies for quotes when I know full well I probably won’t be getting the work done anytime soon.

 

[Graham Jones]

So I’ve been thinking about electrics so we can get camping…… I really struggled getting insurance to crack on with the conversion I want to do (insurance companies said the value of my van + conversion plans are too high value for keeping it on the street), so my plan for a leisure battery and split charge is on a back burner for the moment.

We want to get a Bluetti elite 300 and then use the portable solar panels we already own to keep that topped up, but obviously I don’t want to leave the bluetti sitting outside the van when we’re at festivals and off and about. So I’m wondering anyone has got suggestions on getting the cables into the van to leave it on charge.

Obviously I realise the obvious answers are slightly open window, or a tailgate vent latch, but I’m also wary of people being able to open the van from the inside through those gaps (like we did with my FIL’s Saab when he locked his keys in it today with the window cracked.

So does anyone have any suggestions? I considered the gromit in the bonnet, and I think there’s a gromit under the seat? But I’m TV worried about water proofing and getting through the carpet in the van itself.

Also as an aside, does anyone know how much it would actually be to get a lifepo4 battery, split charge and solar mppt that I could hook to the portable panels fitted? I don’t have the confidence to do that myself. I’m guessing about £1700 but I don’t really know what to go off when asking about insurance, and I don’t want to ask companies for quotes when I know full well I probably won’t be getting the work done anytime soon.

My setup for using 120w portable solar panel...no problem locking up..Cheers

 

[Drive Wayne]

I must be honest to being far too trusting when it comes to leaving my Bluetti AC180 outside in the awning coupled up to the Renogy portable suitcase panels.
It's in a waterproof padded bag, hidden behind stuff in the vanside corner of the little awning we take to forum and festival.
Sometimes there's a jormax in front for a little more privacy/security, been lucky so far, but the do's we go to are usually surrounded by forum friends.
Wifey wasn't happy about getting up the steps for this photo! This is our normal setup.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Mine goes through the grommet in the plenum chamber behind the battery with Anderson connectors, then panel wires up the front of the van (outside) to the panel which sits on the roof (sometimes).

 

[Dellmassive]

Through a crack in the window, behind the Cliamair wind deflectors.

 

[doncarlyon]

Loads of routes into the van, similar to EHU.

 

[Sim667]

My setup for using 120w portable solar panel...no problem locking up..Cheers

View attachment 328701

View attachment 328702

Is that just trapping it in the gasket then when the tailgate is closed?

 

[Sim667]

Mine goes through the grommet in the plenum chamber behind the battery with Anderson connectors, then panel wires up the front of the van (outside) to the panel which sits on the roof (sometimes).

This was my main consideration. I just wasn’t sure the grommet would accommodate two cables. I was thinking about putting a short cable in there permanently so I can connect the bluetti inside and the panels outside.

 

[Graham Jones]

Is that just trapping it in the gasket then when the tailgate is closed?

Yep...thick wire too..no trouble closing tailgate and no damage to cable

 

[StratosFearXX]

This was my main consideration. I just wasn’t sure the grommet would accommodate two cables. I was thinking about putting a short cable in there permanently so I can connect the bluetti inside and the panels outside.

Easy squeezy, you don't need a big thick wire unless you have masses of huge solar panels. My panel is only 120w so max amperage of 7 or 8 or so.

Edit: think I used 30amp ...

 

[Sim667]

Easy squeezy, you don't need a big thick wire unless you have masses of huge solar panels. My panel is only 120w so max amperage of 7 or 8 or so.

Edit: think I used 30amp ...

I only have 200 watts but would be interested in more eventually

I’ve got a small ecoflow and a length of cable. I remember doing it on my t5 but was always worried about knackering the cable

 

[Sim667]

I actually just had a look at the gasket and it looks a bit more bouncy than the T5 ones

 

[Clubdecker]

I recently found a gas drop vent type hole with grill cover when I took out the bottom drawer below the microwave. Bought a quick connector block for the EHU cable to pass through the hole for if / when I need to connect the Anker to the external EHU point to power the van. Haven't used it yet but that's my plan. I can also pass the portable solar extension cable inside to charge either the Anker or the Victron mppt via sb50 fly lead. Will see how it works at CJ in couple of weeks

 

[Clubdecker]

The hole I found and cable connector.

 

[Sim667]

That drop vent is probably there if you have gas on board, and iirc good practice was to put one under AGM leisure batteries too as they could off gas as they got knackered.

Because mines a base kombi I don’t have a drop vent, and I’ve got no intention of having gas installed and batteries will be all lifepo4 so vents won’t really be needed.

My friend who did her own is very insistent I could do my own leisure battery install for much less but I’m too scared to get it wrong

I was having a nosey under the glove box to see if I could find the other side of the grommet in the plenum space, and I found a plastic cap, is that the other side or is that just holding the carpet down?

 

[Clubdecker]

I'm not sure about this plastic cap you mention but it's my understanding grommets are rubber Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can answer this for you

 

[rippelep]

my easy solution, but for internal leisure battery:

 

[Sim667]

my easy solution, but for internal leisure battery:

View attachment 328753
View attachment 328754
View attachment 328756

I’ve got a tailgate