200 watt solar panel unregulated
Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 21:36
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Craig S20
Can anyone offer me some advice where to buy a solar panel must be portable so I can just use it as an external source of power on my caravan.. happy for any recommendations please I’m not familiar with
Melbourne..I would like to get something out of
Melbourne if possible cheers
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 22:00
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 22:00
Find a local solar installer and pick an ex house panel (250W?) and get it for a small donation to their favorite charity or a six pack?
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
AnswerID:
647534
Follow Up By: mountainman - Tuesday, Apr 15, 2025 at 22:16
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2025 at 22:16
Can ya give us a rundown on that
I'm finding heaps of house ones available going cheap
I got a redarc unit already that cost a good chunk on money
But I can pick up some house panels for 2 or three of them for around $100
But the voltage setup is alot higher but the current supply is only 5 to 6amps on most of them
What kind of regulator would ya need if you ran two or three of them
YouTube isn't a good search option as Soo few videos on this idea
FollowupID:
928884
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 08:19
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 08:19
What are the specs for the controller you have?
This is how Victron MPPT controllers are described......
Victron solar controllers
Example....
MPPT 100 / 50 the 100 is the maximum voltage and the 50 is the maximum 12V charge current (not the panel current).
If you then check the specs page you will see that the maximum watts for a 12v system is 700W which might be 2 panels.
For these larger panels, I would choose smaller controllers and fit one for each panel to provide both shade protection and back-up in case of failure.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
FollowupID:
928885
Follow Up By: mountainman - Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 12:59
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 12:59
Just a Jaycar 10 or 20amp controller
FollowupID:
928887
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 14:02
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 14:02
Need specs.
You said you had a RedArc unit?????
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
FollowupID:
928889
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 19:05
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 19:05
Correct. That regulator won't be suitable for the higher voltage of the house panels.
You could use one larger MPPT controller for 2 house panels, or 2 smaller ones. Your choice, but I would choose the 2 smaller ones.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
FollowupID:
928891
Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 20:43
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 20:43
I see that the Max PV Open Circuit Voltage is - 50.0 V. You can use any panel with an open circuit of less than 50V with that controller. You will be able to use multiple panels in parallel, but you will not be able to use them in a series connection. If you wish to series connect your house type panels, you will need a controller that has a Max PV Open Circuit Voltage that is greater than the combined maximum voltage the panels in series are capable of producing.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Thursday, Apr 17, 2025 at 09:52
Thursday, Apr 17, 2025 at 09:52
Peter D, the current controller is PWM. I doubt it can optimise charge rates from elevated panel voltages.
It makes this statement:
"Note: Solar panel nominal voltage must match battery voltage - eg. 12V solar panel on a 12V battery system."
I suggest that the OP needs to choose an appropriate MPPT controller for domestic house panels.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
FollowupID:
928893
Reply By: RMD - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 22:01
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 22:01
Hello Craig. Not sure if this suits what you want and many panels have solar connectors on them, not Anderson. You would require a Positive and Negative MC4 connector and some suitable cable size to connect to the Blue Anderson you need.
My panel is semi flexible and thin. not a RIMMED solar panel with Glass which makes it heavier by far.
Panel is a SUNWAY, ie cheapie, I think it was purchased from SUNYEE in Melb West. Best to ring and visit to buy and pick up if possible. Saves hassles!
Specs, if true are
250W can't be that good but ok.
Voltage Vmp 20.5V
Current 12Amp Hmm probably not that good.
OC voltage 22v
Dimensions 1010mmx670mm x2.5mm with MC4 plugs.
I work on it being around 180 w perhaps.
Because it is thin it can be stored easily and hung up by the corner eyelets or propped against a frame or van wheel or placed on roof while stopped. It is as a back up for me.
Most times you would need a suitable MC4 or ANDERSON plugs fitted and an Anderson extension of Heavy Cable ending in BLUE to carry the energy with minimal loss to the Blue VAN plug.
Just an option to consider. If extension cable to van isn't a heavy lead, then quite a percentage of the panels output can be lost through cable resistance. ie NOT best harvest!
Two smaller, more easily stored panels could be useful and they can be connected in Parallel to DOUBLE their output of amps while keeping OC voltage within acceptable limits
I see Peters post above. A possible option, though House panels are often 30V Open circuit and while heavy and good out put, they might be quite a bit above the threshold Voltage max of your charger's solar input, Be wary there and check what the charger will accept. I have 10 house panels for various uses and they run at least 35v OPEN CIRCUIT. More than the specs say!
AnswerID:
647535
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 23:29
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 23:29
That semi flexible would be about 120W tops......
Chances you will need another controller anyway for an extra 200W panel.
If you can pick up a nearly free panel adding another controller would give a better result as it can be chosen to be perfectly appropriate for whatever panel you find. Install it near the battery.
Cheers,
Peter
FollowupID:
928606
Follow Up By: tonysmc - Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 09:52
Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 09:52
RMD mentioned SUNYEE, When looking for reviews on panels some time ago I saw a Youtube video that compares 2, cheap vs expensive flexible panels and the cheaper SUNYEE came out on top and performed better than the expensive one. Probably worth a look and they are in Altona in
Melbourne. A flexible panel would be nice and light as my framed panel is 9.6kg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-sc4rlV93g
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 17:11
Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 17:11
Tony : It was sad to see "seek Adventures" to give the YouTube channel away . I used to enjoy his videos and he was someone you could trust I think with his reviews .
Two of the negatives for flexible panels is they do not like heat and they don't last as long as the glass panels as I understand . Although I do have one on my rooftop tent and it gets extremely hot on top .but it works just fine
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: qldcamper - Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 08:47
Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 08:47
I have found on every flexable I have seen the major failure point I can see straight up is the cables, round, go into
the junction box through cheap glands that can not tighten enough to stop the cable twisting back and
forth if used as portable which will break the wire. The two panels I got stitched up with already had broken strands right out of the box.
I've replaced the round cables that entered the box through their own indicidule gland with a 4mm twin sheath through one gland. The flatter profile holds it firmly.
FollowupID:
928612
Follow Up By: Member - Bigfish - Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 11:37
Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 11:37
I had 4 sunyee panels at various times. Everyone of them was rubbish. Had 2 brand new fold up ones that were crap out of the box...full refund from both. Had another that was faulty from brand new..0 voltage output. Other one crapped out after 5 weeks...refund again Nowhere near the rated output. This is a case of buying cheap and paying the penalty. I now have 4 x 200 watt Renogy panels that are 5 years old and never miss a beat as
well as delivering about 10% more than the rated output when used with a Victron MPPT regulator.
FollowupID:
928617
Reply By: Member - nick boab - Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 08:06
Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 08:06
Solar RV a great business to deal with in
Melbourne area . Good range of panels & good advice, I've used them , good prices
I've also bought from Ebay & upgrade to a quality regulator.
Solar RV
AnswerID:
647536
Follow Up By: Briste - Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 21:36
Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 21:36
I've had excellent dealings with Solar4RVs. Exellent support. I am very happy wih their Exotronic 200W suitcase style panels. They're glass and so a little heavy and bulky but still portable, but by golly they work to spec, unlike others that I have had. And esp for the price.
FollowupID:
928611
Reply By: Member - pedro1 - Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 21:49
Reply By: Batt's - Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 10:07
Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 10:07
Google search it can't be that hard no matter what town you're in.
AnswerID:
647543
Reply By: Derek X - Saturday, Mar 08, 2025 at 08:49
Saturday, Mar 08, 2025 at 08:49
I hate to be the one to say it but there is a 200W folding panel for sale, just today apparently, carpet selling technique, at Kings for the gobsmacking price fo $150. I cannot vouch for its value but they are good at getting things returned. No regulator on that price.
AnswerID:
647549