Solar Panel Size

[Deleted member 7040]

Hi,

We are caravanners but know that the motorhome community knows a thing or two about solar panels. We are looking at putting a solar panel on the top of our caravan. We 95% of the time intend to use it on the hookup.

We want to be able to go away for the weekend and not have a dead battery at the end. We have a 100amp hr battery on the van at present. So is a 100watt panel going to be good enough or would people advise using a suitcase panel instead as won't use it off grid that often?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[Molly 3]

I get by with 200 amph batterys and a folding 100 w solar panel . In winter solar is virtually useless. , In storage a 100 w panel would possibly maintain your battery from natural drain only .

 

[Exwindsurfer]

Hi,

We are caravanners but know that the motorhome community knows a thing or two about solar panels. We are looking at putting a solar panel on the top of our caravan. We 95% of the time intend to use it on the hookup.

We want to be able to go away for the weekend and not have a dead battery at the end. We have a 100amp hr battery on the van at present. So is a 100watt panel going to be good enough or would people advise using a suitcase panel instead as won't use it off grid that often?

Thanks,

Paul

Hi Paul I would say put as much solar on your roof as you can get you can never have enough mate .l have 400watts of solar and 200amp of lithium battery’s and I’ve never had a problem even in the winter but I can also tilt mine up to 90 degrees with a remote .and it makes a big difference in the winter .

 

[Deleted member 7040]

Thanks Exwindsurfer I hear what your saying if you are using a motorhome or van for lots of off grid. We will not be off gridding much with the size of our caravan but if had a motorhome would do.

 

[Exwindsurfer]

I fitted one for my mate a few years ago I put 150watt panel on his caravan and he’s never had a prob with his battery since .

 

[SquirrellCook]

What ever you decided upon, double it. Tears and regret will be avoided.

 

[trevskoda]

100w is fine, use a good regulator mppt type and not a cheap pwm that comes with panels some times.

 

[jagmanx]

maybe go up to 150watt if you can do that with a single panel (space)
We only hda 120 watt and a single battery..fine (now we have 2 x batteries..bought for a big trip which covid prevented)

 

[maingate]

My Brother in Law uses his caravan for steam and vintage vehicle rallies. He manages fine with a 100 watt panel. I did change all his lights to LED which made a big difference.

Welcome from Gateshead.

 

[wildebus]

Looks like I don't agree with anyone on this thread

If you are on-grid 95% of the time and by the sound of it don't intend to change that pattern I personally see very little value (benefit AND cost) or filling the roof with solar panels. You will be spending money on stuff you really don't need and adding dead weight to a caravan that, if like the typical caravan, is already payload-challenged.

I would go for a folding solar panel kit, ideally one with an MPPT controller and just deploy it as you need. It will be more efficient then a roof-mounted panel as you can tilt it and point at the sun and when you are going away to a campsite with EHU you can just leave it at home or in the car boot.
I am not against roof-solar by any means and usually would agree with filling the roof (I have 460W on the campervan and 270W on the Motorhome - as much as I can tidyily fit), and roof-mounted panels means you can just turn and and are ready to chill. But with a caravan, you have all your setting up to do first and adding setting up a solar panel would add less than 5 minutes to that.

Horses for courses, and your horse does not need roof top solar.

 

[Winks]

Like the man said. Free standing panel, MPPT controller and crocodile clips.

Cheers

H

 

[Full Member]

Looks like I don't agree with anyone on this thread

If you are on-grid 95% of the time and by the sound of it don't intend to change that pattern I personally see very little value (benefit AND cost) or filling the roof with solar panels. You will be spending money on stuff you really don't need and adding dead weight to a caravan that, if like the typical caravan, is already payload-challenged.

I would go for a folding solar panel kit, ideally one with an MPPT controller and just deploy it as you need. It will be more efficient then a roof-mounted panel as you can tilt it and point at the sun and when you are going away to a campsite with EHU you can just leave it at home or in the car boot.
I am not against roof-solar by any means and usually would agree with filling the roof (I have 460W on the campervan and 270W on the Motorhome - as much as I can tidyily fit), and roof-mounted panels means you can just turn and and are ready to chill. But with a caravan, you have all your setting up to do first and adding setting up a solar panel would add less than 5 minutes to that.

Horses for courses, and your horse does not need roof top solar.

+ one.

Colin