Portable Solar Panel

Hi Ricky,

The panels you have referenced look to be good quality and reasonably priced and buying from the guys around the corner would give you additional piece of mind.

Either one would be suitable, the 130w just taking a little longer.

Just one thing to keep in mind.
Most portable panels include an on board regulator and if you are connecting the panel to your Recarc, the on board regulator will need to be bypassed, so that only one controller is in the circuit.

I have a 120 watt panel array and have added a second cable circuit (bypassing the panel's regulator) to connect to my Ctek dc-dc charger's solar input port. The Ctek has a MPPT solar regulator built-in and is more efficient than those normally mounted to the panels.
With this arrangement an uncontrolled circuit can be connected to an "external" controller, or the original controlled circuit can be used to connect direct to a battery bank should you desire.

Probably quite good and using the guy around the corner is also a good idea, but for $239 panel on fleabay...I would be thinking very hard about my pocket...cheers

Hi I would buy the biggest panel you can handle maybe a 200 w that is a big battery and a big fridge to run in hot weather.

Hi Ricky
I have just purchased this one

https://www.vicoffroad.com.au/sport-outdoor/solar-panel/pair-led-tail-lights-stop-indicator-lamp-e205-truck-trailer-boat-12v-waterproof.ht

And it seems to work good

Warren

hi rick I have the130 watt sharp panel you are looking at with the redarc bcdc 1240 and waeco 80 ltr fridge and 2 x 105 AH batteries . you must bypass the MPPT controller for the BCDC charger to work this 130 watt panel has no problem keeping the charge up to the 2x batteries cheers.

That depends how portable you really need. I've got this solar panel.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200W-Folding-Solar-Panel-Kit-Caravan-Camping-Power-12V-Mono-Charging-Battery-/251801381192?hash=item3aa0882948:g:D~UAAOSwHoFXs8xh

There is even a bigger sized folding solar panel. But the question is, how much power is required.

My solar panel puts out 10A, running my waeco 60L fridge/freezer and an inverter to keep up TV and some LED lights on going. Used a couple of times a day, but keep fridge running all the time. Entire power consumption is nearly 7A, but constant current drawing is approxi 4.5A.

Guess you could get even a small portable one, and AGM batteries are always highly recommended!

hi
Ricky,
I have purchased 2 sets of panels from these guys b4.
Both 195watt 1x sharp 1x Kyocera both trifolds
Good warranty 1st set arrived damaged they replaced them promptly.

You can customize order
whatever wire size say 8b&s x 6mtrs long
plug ends, andersons etc
wire it with a bypass [so u can use with or without controller on panel ]
possible to order without controller
There alloy cases are rubbish select the carry bag
If its available get a three piece [tri fold = little easier to carry ]

check all there crimp terminals ,u will find some loose ,I did
consider storage eg overall size

Most modelling suggest 200watts per 100ahr battery
eg sun harvest =say 5.5 hrs effective sun shine min winter 4 max summer 6
[per 200 watt] 11amps x 5.5 hrs = 60.5 amp
solar system is more like 80% efficient = 48.4 amp harvest
50% is the recommended capacity use of agm
100ah batt = 50ah usable

Refer to camper trailer Australia site
Fridge/freezer can double consumption in hot weather over 25 deg cel compared to 35 deg cel
At a guess an 80lt could consume 40ah to 80ah in a 24hr period

Solar at least 160 watt set up
swamp

I am also interested in that 130w panel from Aussie batteries and solar - especially seeing as it's currently on special it seems like a very good price.

Would love to know what they mean by "heavy duty" cable though.

you will be limited to maximum of 250w (300w peak) input for solar per redarcs instructions.

i can't say anymore than what has already been mentioned however from a space perspective maybe look at folding polycystaline panels. large fold out units are painful to carry at times (humble opinion why i only have a 80w unit)

Bloke over in WA has both 80 w and 120w which when folded up (concertina like a map) compact is about 100mm thick at best and compared to another company doign similar thing priced competitive

not sure if sending links is permitted

http://www.rei.net.au/solar-battery-charging/