solar power
Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 09:22
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jennifer78
Hi guys its Mick,
Have just bought a CUB camper that comes with its own battery charged buy the tow vehicle was just wondering if a solar pannle would be an advantage on an extended trip.
Thanks Mick
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 10:26
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 10:26
A solar panel will enable you to maintain some sort of charge into the battery, when stationary and the camper is disconnected from the tow vehicle.
A solar Panel of around 80 watts should provide adequate recharge power to maintain the battery, unless you a drawing excessive amps from it.
Depending on the size of the battery and what you are running off it, maybe even a 40 watt panel will surfice. (my 40 watt panel maintains a 75 Ah battery system supporting a 40 litre Engel fridge on a continuous on/off cycle and a versalite for a few hours at night).
AnswerID:
195275
Reply By: Robin - Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 13:02
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 13:02
Hi Mick
Its a lot of fun playing with solar , but you probably don't need
it on the average road trip.
You also need to be able to tell if battery is charged or not
so you don't overcharge, else you should use a solar panel regulator etc.
Value for money you can't beat the $98 2 stroke gennie's which
will get you out of trouble , and can allow you to take the odd
appliance from home with you.
Robin Miller
AnswerID:
195297
Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Thursday, Sep 28, 2006 at 21:11
Thursday, Sep 28, 2006 at 21:11
But... you can't use generators in National Parks in West Aussie and possibly other states, also when you book into a caravan
park on an UNpowered site, as you do with
solar power, you can't use a generator either....
In some 'free' sites in WA & NT you are not permitted to have the generator running after 8PM and are relegated to a specific area
well away from the general
camping fraternity, simply because of the noise and the smell.
FollowupID:
455466
Reply By: Hairy - Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 13:07
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 13:07
Try this site, might help www.renewablestore.com.au
AnswerID:
195299
Reply By: Member - Maureen C (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 16:34
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 16:34
Mick,
We have mounted a 64 watt panel on the rack that becomes the floor support of our Aussie Swag camper. This charges the battery as we go along (check for dust on the panel as we travel) and allows use of lights and computer etc. with confidence.
The panel can stay on the trailer for one night stops or is easily removed for longer stays.
John 'n' Min
AnswerID:
195346
Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Thursday, Sep 28, 2006 at 21:19
Thursday, Sep 28, 2006 at 21:19
"We have mounted a 64 watt panel on the rack that becomes the floor support of our Aussie Swag camper. This charges the battery as we go along (check for dust on the panel as we travel) and allows use of lights and computer etc. with confidence"
Maureen, as you travel the vehicle alternator will charge your DC battery much faster than any Unisolar panel..
The real benefit of
Solar power is that it allows you to
camp continuously in the same place without starting the vehicle at all, if the initial set-up is done correctly.
FollowupID:
455470
Follow Up By: Member - Maureen C (NSW) - Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 10:30
Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 10:30
Thanks for your comments. The system was set up for our previous tow vehicle that did not have space for an auxilliary battery, hence we mounted it on the trailer. The car battery protection unit did not like such a long lead (with its resistance) in its monitor circuit for the main and trailer batteries voltage difference and there was a danger of draining the car battery so we were not using the car alternator to charge the trailer battery. We now have a new tow vehicle and are reviewing our set-up. Mounting the panel on the trailer is the most convenient way of carrying it and it is easy to take it off if we need to point it towards the sun.
FollowupID:
455931
Reply By: Richard & Leonie - Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 19:23
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 19:23
Why bother with a generator or solar panel. You have a very adequate charger on the car (alternator) and running your engine 20 minutes a day will generally top up battery for fridge and light use overnight. It works for me.
Richard
AnswerID:
195383
Follow Up By: Member - Maureen C (NSW) - Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 11:01
Monday, Oct 02, 2006 at 11:01
Hi Richard & Leonie,
We met and had dinner together at
Marla Roadhouse in June. You talked us into joining Exploroz. Good to hear from you.
FollowupID:
455933
Reply By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 22:41
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 at 22:41
We set up our previous camper with 1 deep cycle, digital read out gizmo, and a portable solar panel. We found from the car the battery charged too slowly. We'd stop, put the panel out facing the sun, go for a walk and return to find it in shade, but the battery nicely charged. We'd leave it facing east, and at first light it would start charging - soon much quicker than the car. It was enough to run the caravan fridge and a couple of lights, although if it was cool, we'd turn the fridge off over night. I hope this helps.
AnswerID:
195434
Follow Up By: Swanny78 - Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006 at 09:15
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006 at 09:15
Thanks for that motherhen, I think that it will be useful on the long stays without access to power.
Mick
FollowupID:
453553
Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Thursday, Sep 28, 2006 at 21:26
Thursday, Sep 28, 2006 at 21:26
A quality Solar panel with high technical specs and small physical size charging an AGM DC battery through a digital solar regulator will cost more than a generator, but, it will be all you need to recharge your aux battery and you will enjoy your
camping trips without the need to be looking for power every few days.
FollowupID:
455476