What Have You Bought Today?

A recent trip got me thinking that we could maybe do with a bit more solar power. I've currently got what I would call a ‘conventional’ leisure system comprising:
  • Renogy 100Ah Smart Battery
  • Victron IP65 Mains Charger
  • CTek D250SE DC to DC Charger
  • 150W Solar Flexibler Solar Panel stuck to poptop and into the Renogy via the Ctek
Pictures that I posted after the install a couple of years ago here at posts #685 and #690

TBH, I’m not convinced by the current solar panel - it does charge but I’ve never measured any more that around 130W coming out of it and into the battery. I’m a lazy so and so and really don’t fancy going through the rigmarole of replacing the current panel with something larger (with all the associated work that will entail) which got me to thinking that something like a 160W folding / briefcase panel might be the solution. My idea is that the new panel could simply be plugged in whenever needed and work in parallel alongside the current roof mounted panel to effectively double the amount if juice going into the battery. Another advantage is that the new panel could also be plugged straight into my Jackery Explorer 1000 to give that a boost when needed. Looking at the documents for the CTek, it should be up to the job of handling both panels but is what I’m thinking practical and would the wiring be a relatively simple thing to do?

As always, thanks in advance.
Even though I didn't exactly receive an overwhelming number of helpful responses to my plea for advice above, I went ahead and ordered a Dokio 100W portable solar panel from Amazon and it arrived this morning - this one but mine was a £70 Prime deal):
After opening the box and looking at it all, I began to realise that I had maybe made a mistake when I went to plug the long cable into the short lead coming out the panel itself (I believe they're called SAE connectors) and discovered that there was no grip at all between the two parts to the extent that once they were pushed together if you tried to move either side. the connectors immediately came apart and even I know that loose connections like that are a potential recipe for disaster. On top of that, when I kept the two halves of the connector pushed together and plugged the lead into my 50% charged Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 (with the supplied adapter), there was NO charge going into it, despite the panel being directly under the very bright mid-day sunshine. After that I did a quick check with a muti meter and found that although there seemed to be almost 19V coming out of the panel, there were no amps or watts showing so I can only conclude that I got sent a wrong un and it's going back - I would have sent it back anyway simply based upon the potentially dangerous connector. Maybe I just made a mistake in buying the cheap panel but I did do a bit of research and saw some favourable reviews.
 
Just ordered a pair of rear windows (Transporter HQ) for the current conversion. Will try to get them fitted this week before a group riding weekend in the Lake District this coming weekend.

NOT MY VAN
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Even though I didn't exactly receive an overwhelming number of helpful responses to my plea for advice above, I went ahead and ordered a Dokio 100W portable solar panel from Amazon and it arrived this morning - this one but mine was a £70 Prime deal):
After opening the box and looking at it all, I began to realise that I had maybe made a mistake when I went to plug the long cable into the short lead coming out the panel itself (I believe they're called SAE connectors) and discovered that there was no grip at all between the two parts to the extent that once they were pushed together if you tried to move either side. the connectors immediately came apart and even I know that loose connections like that are a potential recipe for disaster. On top of that, when I kept the two halves of the connector pushed together and plugged the lead into my 50% charged Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 (with the supplied adapter), there was NO charge going into it, despite the panel being directly under the very bright mid-day sunshine. After that I did a quick check with a muti meter and found that although there seemed to be almost 19V coming out of the panel, there were no amps or watts showing so I can only conclude that I got sent a wrong un and it's going back - I would have sent it back anyway simply based upon the potentially dangerous connector. Maybe I just made a mistake in buying the cheap panel but I did do a bit of research and saw some favourable reviews.
I’ve got foldable dokio panels, I too had an issue at first charging my LB…I had the polarity around the wrong way…have u checked this?…I’ve had no issues since with Dokio
 
I’ve got foldable dokio panels, I too had an issue at first charging my LB…I had the polarity around the wrong way…have u checked this?…I’ve had no issues since with Dokio

@bash. I checked for polarity issues and there was still only volts (ie. no amps or watts) being read by the multimeter. Just to be 100% sure, I even used another multimeter with the same result. As I said, I would have been sending the thing back anyway because of the very, very loose connectors.
 
@bash. I checked for polarity issues and there was still only volts (ie. no amps or watts) being read by the multimeter. Just to be 100% sure, I even used another multimeter with the same result. As I said, I would have been sending the thing back anyway because of the very, very loose connectors.
I can thoroughly recommend the Renogy 220 watt solar suitcase array. We still take it out even with the rigid panel on the roof to keep the Bluetti topped up. When you use a longer mc4 extender the polarity was the wrong way when plumbed into the mppt. Fortunately Victron mppt's protect against such issues!

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I can thoroughly recommend the Renogy 220 watt solar suitcase array. We still take it out even with the rigid panel on the roof to keep the Bluetti topped up. When you use a longer mc4 extender the polarity was the wrong way when plumbed into the mppt. Fortunately Victron mppt's protect against such issues!

View attachment 295733
sorry for being Tim, do those plug into your EHU?
 
sorry for being Tim, do those plug into your EHU?
The panels will go into a solar controller, mppt are best, pwm are the cheaper ones. They will be hooked up to your leisure battery.
Unless you have an mppt equipped powerbank, like my Bluetti, which you can plug the panels directly into, with the proper lead.
Independent from EHU.
 
So finally took the plunge on a new power station for Camper Jam. Used BRIGHT 20 and got another £75 Off. So ended up £524
View attachment 291689
How long did it last? I'm off to Dubbed Out in a couple of weeks and need something.

ps. Why is their no reference to Dubbed Out Festival that I can find in the VW Events section for those ITK?
 
How long did it last? I'm off to Dubbed Out in a couple of weeks and need something.

ps. Why is their no reference to Dubbed Out Festival that I can find in the VW Events section for those ITK?
Lasted really well, I do have a LB too so it didn't have to do much at Camper Jam. But really pleased with it. We didn't get there until Friday evening so it wasn't a long weekend for us so didn't need both really. But always nice to have too much 😊
 
Lasted really well, I do have a LB too so it didn't have to do much at Camper Jam. But really pleased with it. We didn't get there until Friday evening so it wasn't a long weekend for us so didn't need both really. But always nice to have too much 😊
150+Ah is going to last a good good while under 'normal' loads, when you start using the Airfryer and an electric kettle regularly that will suck the juice out of it! Good price too!
 
The panels will go into a solar controller, mppt are best, pwm are the cheaper ones. They will be hooked up to your leisure battery.
Unless you have an mppt equipped powerbank, like my Bluetti, which you can plug the panels directly into, with the proper lead.
Independent from EHU.
would i be right in saying, you need a mppt which connects to the leisure battery & the solar panels then connect via the mppt? not up on the solar side of things.. doh 🤪
 
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