Portable solar panel
Submitted: Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 15:47
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Richard P1
Regulated and unregulated
I would like to add a portable fold up panel that can top up my caravan solar system and also be used at times to connect to my Anderson plug in my Land Cruiser, to keep my car batteries topped up for the car fridge. The application for the caravan would need to be unregulated ( already have battery charger and regulator in the caravan) and the application for the vehicle would need to be regulated. Can you purchase say a100-120 watt portable solar panel that will do both, or can it be modified, and if so how?
Any advice appreciated.
Reply By: HKB Electronics - Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 16:23
Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 16:23
Can be done, purchase a panel with a good quality mppt controller but make sure it has a connecting cable going to the mppt controller that will allow you to cut, install a socket on the panel side of cable and a plug on the input side of the controller. Install a socket on the output side of the controller and a plug on the connecting car to the car/van.
When you want to charge the car plug in controller then plug your cable into controller.
When you want to charge van, unplug controller and connect cable directly to panel socket.
When you want to charge the car plug the controller in and then plug cable into controller.
Cheers
Leigh
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532635
Follow Up By: HKB Electronics - Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 16:24
Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 16:24
Sorry about the doubling up, should have read what I wrote before I submitted:(
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Reply By: RolaSolar - Friday, May 30, 2014 at 00:08
Friday, May 30, 2014 at 00:08
Richard,
If your caravan's fixed solar system is being connected to the same regulator as the portable solar panels, you must ensure that the regulator has the capacity to connect both systems. Also if used in this way, all solar panels may need to be matched.
Another way is to operate the portable solar panels independently of the caravan fixed solar system, connecting a regulated input through the caravan anderson plug or through the vehicles rear anderson plug as required.
Regards
Dave G
AnswerID:
533418