Hi all, lurker on this forum but not posted before, after a bit of solar advice please.
Done lots of research including on here, loads of advice just still a bit unsure of exactly what to get. The big solar thread was super informative, and i think im settled on the photonic universe panels, and then a victron smart mppt controller.
Slightly unsure on how much power i need. Upgraded all the electrics in the van last year, now have an exide 142ah battery, powering a standard waeco compressor fridge. Nothing else silly in there really, otherwise its just charging usb stuff like phones, speakers etc and an eber. Muvonics leisure charger runs it all now. Options seem to be 100w,120w,160w. Ideally the goal is to be able to do 2 weeks in the alps/europe in summer and not have to get hookup at all. 120w is probably the best money wise as i was hoping to keep it to around £300, by my calcs would give me required juice, will that be enough or is the 160w a better option? Top is normally up evenings and can usually face south, often left in towns and things closed during the day so i think the better quality panels charge better flat which is where they are likely to spend most of the time in midday sun.
i think i would need the 75/10 mppt for the 100 or 120w panel and the 75/15 for the 160w?
Is there any performance difference between the semi flexible fibreglass panels and the reinforced ones? I like the new reinforced ones with the circular gland, seems the neatest way of installing it. Have a reimo flat poptop roof with no ridges, will this lack of channel cause any issues with heat dissipation? Was thinking of using 3m tape to fit it.
Finally, does the output from the mppt go straight to the leisure battery or can it go into the split charge system. Currently on EHU i can switch between the EHU charging the van or leisure battery which is really useful as the van often spends weeks unused. If the solar could take care of this as well and charge the vehicle would be even better.
Thanks
Done lots of research including on here, loads of advice just still a bit unsure of exactly what to get. The big solar thread was super informative, and i think im settled on the photonic universe panels, and then a victron smart mppt controller.
Slightly unsure on how much power i need. Upgraded all the electrics in the van last year, now have an exide 142ah battery, powering a standard waeco compressor fridge. Nothing else silly in there really, otherwise its just charging usb stuff like phones, speakers etc and an eber. Muvonics leisure charger runs it all now. Options seem to be 100w,120w,160w. Ideally the goal is to be able to do 2 weeks in the alps/europe in summer and not have to get hookup at all. 120w is probably the best money wise as i was hoping to keep it to around £300, by my calcs would give me required juice, will that be enough or is the 160w a better option? Top is normally up evenings and can usually face south, often left in towns and things closed during the day so i think the better quality panels charge better flat which is where they are likely to spend most of the time in midday sun.
i think i would need the 75/10 mppt for the 100 or 120w panel and the 75/15 for the 160w?
Is there any performance difference between the semi flexible fibreglass panels and the reinforced ones? I like the new reinforced ones with the circular gland, seems the neatest way of installing it. Have a reimo flat poptop roof with no ridges, will this lack of channel cause any issues with heat dissipation? Was thinking of using 3m tape to fit it.
Finally, does the output from the mppt go straight to the leisure battery or can it go into the split charge system. Currently on EHU i can switch between the EHU charging the van or leisure battery which is really useful as the van often spends weeks unused. If the solar could take care of this as well and charge the vehicle would be even better.
Thanks
