Solar setup - please pick apart my plans!

[Apretext]

Ok, so I’ve read lots of posts on this subject, so hopefully I shouldn’t be going too far wrong, but my plan is:
This solar panel (photonic 160w semi flex)

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

This charge controller (votronic dual)

Votronic Charge Controller MPP 165 Duo Dig - 1710

You can order the Votronic Charge Controller MPP 165 Duo Dig - 1710 at Solar Power Supply ➤ A complete assortment ➤ Expert Tips/Advice

www.solarpowersupply.co.uk

Votronic vcc 1212-30 dc to dc charger (which is what the converter usually uses)
Sargent pf200 hook up charger

So, would that work in most situations (we will have a 65 litre fridge, lights, etc, but if off grid won’t use much else)?

also, what battery monitor would people recommend?
Thanks

 

[Deaky]

That all seems good. There’s two choices for battery monitoring. A shunt system that will count the amps used and amps replaced of your battery or a simpler voltage based monitor. I have a Victron smart shunt on mine.

 

[Apretext]

Thanks Deaky. I think the simpler voltage option would be fine, it’s going to be more for making sure the battery level doesn’t get too low, rather than measuring the performance of the system. What voltage type would people recommend?

 

[Apretext]

I say simple, and then this one is the current favourite....

Votronic 5744 VPC Merkur

<p>Product Features</p> <ul> <li><font><font>All information and functions in one device</font></font></li> <li><font><font>Simple, intuitiv...

www.roadpro.co.uk

I really want to be able to monitor both batteries at once, which this will allow. Plus we can plug the phones into charge overnight....

anyone have one?

 

[sparkzer]

Quite timely as one of the youtube channels i follow posted a review of a charge controller that looks quite similar to the Votronic unit you posted...advance warning, it a bit geeky but full of information.

just had a quick google, the land of the rising sun is the cheapest place to find them...if your in a hurry, im sure you can find them quicker for more £££

the unit reviewed can be found here
the unit referenced with the screen can be found here which might meet your monitoring needs also at less than the cost of the Votronic option you mentioned.

i have a variant of the solar panel you listed (mine is 130W) and it does great...so much so, I've not bothered with the DC-DC charger or hook up charger yet (tho i do have a C-Tek battery charger plumbed in to the leisure battery should i wish to top it up when parked)..i can also connect sockets in the van to run from hookup as opposed the default inverter should i wish (which I've never needed to)...i have fridge, lighting and occasional used of the microwave/inverter from it...it does me fine.

 

[Apretext]

Cheers, I’ll take a look