Solar or generators???

[GQ TANK]

im running a hybrid system for my work coms trailers

Battery's, with solar panels and a diesel generator that auto starts & stops if the battery volts drop below a set level (plus we have the option to remote start the generator if needed).

We can leave the trailers for more then a week with out the need to refuel.

[rookiepatroller]

One thing to keep under consideration sam, when u get your panels make sure you keep them clean!! Any shading of the cells will reduce the efficiency of the panel dramatically. You will also get more sun hours on the panels if you face them north!

[FNQGU]

im running a hybrid system for my work coms trailers

Battery's, with solar panels and a diesel generator that auto starts & stops if the battery volts drop below a set level (plus we have the option to remote start the generator if needed).

We can leave the trailers for more then a week with out the need to refuel.

Nice work Tank, although starting to get complex with auto switching etc. for the average camper. I like it though, but no doubt there would be cost involved. Victron make an excellent charger with inbuilt switching for two sources, based on minimum battery voltage. Was just looking at them actually but hadn't heard of a vehicle mounted setup like yours.

[rainsey]

ImageUploadedByTapatalkHD1392418521.619018.jpg

I have put 2 x 200 watt solar panels on the roof of my canopy connected back to the vehicle via a Redarc 1240 DC-DC charger.

On the camper I have a 40 watt on the roof and a fold out 160w, both connected back to the battery via a Ctek s250 dual.

I am running an ARB 45 litre fridge in the camper and a Waeco CF50 in the ute.

Single 100ah in the camper and 2 100ah in the ute.
Have joined the 2 DC-DC chargers back to the main battery & alternator via 4 guage wire.

Fridges always cold and batteries always charged. Have managed so far never to need a generator... Touch wood

Cheers
Rainsey


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[Robo]

It all depends on what you want to do while your out n about.
How many of you are there to consume power?.
wash cloths by hand, or manual portable washer or camper van style 240v washer.
kids will put a larger strain on power reserves.
led lights or halogen, how many lights.
TV, stereo's lots of campers like a little music at times.
sat night few shandies and cars cranking out the vibs draining power.
inverters can drain a battery faster than you think.

then there's the type of regulator pwm or mppt.
pwm cheaper than but not as effective mppt.
Just some things to chew over.

2 days camping and simple will do (usually).
a week and you'll be needing to consider options
m2cw

[FNQGU]

ImageUploadedByTapatalkHD1392418521.619018.jpg

I have put 2 x 200 watt solar panels on the roof of my canopy connected back to the vehicle via a Redarc 1240 DC-DC charger.

On the camper I have a 40 watt on the roof and a fold out 160w, both connected back to the battery via a Ctek s250 dual.

I am running an ARB 45 litre fridge in the camper and a Waeco CF50 in the ute.

Single 100ah in the camper and 2 100ah in the ute.
Have joined the 2 DC-DC chargers back to the main battery & alternator via 4 guage wire.

Fridges always cold and batteries always charged. Have managed so far never to need a generator... Touch wood

Cheers
Rainsey


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Rainsey, that is a good little setup you have there. It is just a big of a shame in my opinion that the T-van doesn't have much more roof space for a larger solar panel up top.

[rainsey]

Rainsey, that is a good little setup you have there. It is just a big of a shame in my opinion that the T-van doesn't have much more roof space for a larger solar panel up top.

Ditto,

But it is amazing as to how much you can squeeze out of the 40 Watt that is on the roof.

I have a Vicrton Energy monitor in the T-Van and I am so impressed with it I put one on the dual batteries in the ute.

It can be a crappy day and I can still get a but under an amp out of the panel to trickle charge. Did not believe it at first so I stuck my clamp ammeter on the panel output.

But that is why I got the fold up. When travelling I just have it lying on the bed in the camper. If we are stopping for a good part of the day it takes 30 seconds to unfold and plug in. I installed an Anderson plug right next to the 240 plug on the camper, hidden away and wired it to the Ctek that lives inside.

Bottom line I am stoked with the performance of the setup.

Cheers
Rainsey


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[FNQGU]

Good one mate. I am looking hard at the Tvan as a possible future purchase myself. They look like a great bit of kit whilst still keeping things simple.

[Drew]

Solar is preferred but comes down to your usage and whether you are in direct sunlight or it's shady or cloudy

I have a genny as when the panels couldn't keep up I kicked it in the guts to top up

There's a spreadsheet somewhere that you can work stuff out

[rainsey]

Solar is preferred but comes down to your usage and whether you are in direct sunlight or it's shady or cloudy

I have a genny as when the panels couldn't keep up I kicked it in the guts to top up

There's a spreadsheet somewhere that you can work stuff out

Plus other thing to remember with a genny is to have a decent ac -DC charger.

Last year pre solar we were away for a period with the Candy Canvas slide on. Same battery set up only no camper trailer.
Had borrowed a friends genny as a backup in case the driving could not keep the charge up.

My the standard charger in the Candy Canvas ( gee I hate that name ) is a 7 amp unit. After about 10 hours of the genny running I was no better off .. Relatively speaking. By the third day it was good to leave, not for the company, just needed the batteries charged really needed a 25 amp unit for the time I could run the genny without having those around me Shanghai me.

Those around me with their fold out solar had no worries.

In weather like we are having my way at the moment, do doubt no matter how much solar you have you will need some backup ( been pouring ). But with my current solar setup, if I can get a good 5 to 7 hours of sunlight, I can keep the batteries topped up to pretty well full charge.


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