Yes I am a bit of a Philistine asking this here

[Chebeag]

Happy New Year an aw that.

I know I am a bit off topic but hope someone can help.

Horror of horrors !!

I have bought a Caravan. Plan is to use it as a base in the north of Scotland and still tour about in the Campervan.

My plan is to fit solar panels as there is no mains power on site. The question is how do I do this so that I can utilise the caravans electrical system.

Planning on 200w solar and 4x110ah lead acid batteries.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[maingate]

Your first step would be to find a diagram showing you how to link 4 batteries together in series. There are some online if you check.

You have not said if it is a static caravan or a mobile one, which makes advice difficult. If it is a mobile, it should already have a battery fitted (or at least the cables) already in place. Just connect to them. I would get an electrician to look at it first as you may need to uprate cables if you will use any 12 volt power with a high current draw. For the North of Scotland I would probably add more than 200 watts of solar but it depends how much time you will spend in the caravan.

 

[Molly 3]

Buy a power station put a 3 pin plug on hook up lead , 240 into van , 200 watt on roof should keep up ,not sure about leaving power station on charge when unattended

 

[runnach]

2 to 3000 watt inverter a definite addition too.

One of our member is selling a 1000W solar generator including 2 x solar panels, drop him a PM for further info.

https://motorhomer.com/threads/jackory-power-bank-and-200wx-solar-panels-for-sale.49377/

 

[Chebeag]

Your first step would be to find a diagram showing you how to link 4 batteries together in series. There are some online if you check.

You have not said if it is a static caravan or a mobile one, which makes advice difficult. If it is a mobile, it should already have a battery fitted (or at least the cables) already in place. Just connect to them. I would get an electrician to look at it first as you may need to uprate cables if you will use any 12 volt power with a high current draw. For the North of Scotland I would probably add more than 200 watts of solar but it depends how much time you will spend in the caravan.

Hi It's a Mobile caravan but will be permanently sited. (Can't get a static onto the site because of a low bridge.)
There wont be any heavy draws on power, Lights USB sockets and TV. Fridge and water heater are both Gas. Don't have any plan to use 240 side, but I have a Genny if I need it for anything.
Really just wondering if I can just hook up to the original wiring, so I'm guessing that is a yes

What would be the best solar controller for this kind of set up, that would allow for more panels in the future?

 

[Chebeag]

Buy a power station put a 3 pin plug on hook up lead , 240 into van , 200 watt on roof should keep up ,not sure about leaving power station on charge when unattended

I already have the panel and batteries, although I had thought about a power station. I'm only needing 12v power for the caravan for lights USB and TV.

 

[TJBi]

Do you already have the lead acid batteries? If not, any reason for specifying lead acid?

 

[Chebeag]

2 to 3000 watt inverter a definite addition too.

One of our member is selling a 1000W solar generator including 2 x solar panels, drop him a PM for further info.

https://motorhomer.com/threads/jackory-power-bank-and-200wx-solar-panels-for-sale.49377/

I already have the panel and batteries, although I had thought about a power station. I'm only needing 12v power for the caravan for lights USB and TV. Thanks anyway

 

[Chebeag]

Do you already have the lead acid batteries? If not, any reason for specifying lead acid?

Yeah already have Batteries and Solar panel

 

[maingate]

Here is a web page showing the connections for multiple batteries. I cannot find the exact one I wanted but this is good enough for what you need.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/blog/power/series-and-parallel

Again, I apologise for my erroneous information in post 2. I should have said wire the batteries in PARALLEL and not series.

 

[Geek]

Buy a power station put a 3 pin plug on hook up lead , 240 into van , 200 watt on roof should keep up ,not sure about leaving power station on charge when unattended

That is a rather expensive way to do it.

 

[Molly 3]

That is a rather expensive way to do it.

Yep have you seen the price of 3 pin plugs

 

[Geek]

3 pin plugs with a power station attached, just to increase the capacity of a 12v battery.

 

[merl]

Your first step would be to find a diagram showing you how to link 4 batteries together in series.

First step is to Ignore Jim cos he gets series and parallel confused
It probably won't make a jot of difference if you're only drawing low currents but here is how to correctly connect 4 batteries in parallel so that they are loaded equally.

This essentially gives you a 12 volt 440Ah battery, just connect it onto the existing 12v system where the original single battery fed the system. Assuming the batteries will be positioned close together like the image then put a fuse in the positive lead close to the batteries, however you'll need to fuse them differently if the batteries aren't close to each other.

 

[Molly 3]

I already have the panel and batteries, although I had thought about a power station. I'm only needing 12v power for the caravan for lights USB and TV. Thanks anyway

Last caravan I had had gas lights

 

[maingate]

First step is to Ignore Jim cos he gets series and parallel confused
It probably won't make a jot of difference if you're only drawing low currents but here is how to correctly connect 4 batteries in parallel so that they are loaded equally.
View attachment 77511
This essentially gives you a 12 volt 440Ah battery, just connect it onto the existing 12v system where the original single battery fed the system. Assuming the batteries will be positioned close together like the image then put a fuse in the positive lead close to the batteries, however you'll need to fuse them differently if the batteries aren't close to each other.

Nobody likes a clever bugger Merl.

 

[Glynno]

Happy New Year an aw that.

I know I am a bit off topic but hope someone can help.

Horror of horrors !!

I have bought a Caravan. Plan is to use it as a base in the north of Scotland and still tour about in the Campervan.

My plan is to fit solar panels as there is no mains power on site. The question is how do I do this so that I can utilise the caravans electrical system.

Planning on 200w solar and 4x110ah lead acid batteries.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Always connect your batteries in parallel for motor home /caravan. This way you will keep 12volt system. You could end up with 48 volts if in series and blow the lot. All batteries then should be of the same output age and condition. It sounds as though yours are all new and the same anyway.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Maybe instead or parallel or series, just say neg to neg & pos pos on the other battery, or pos to neg on the other battery.

Then simple feckers like me won't get con fused.

 

[Chebeag]

Thanks for all your answers, going to be more straightforward than I expected. Had all kinds of silly stuff going round my head.
Now to get it done.
Thanks again.

 

[Glynno]

Maybe instead or parallel or series, just say neg to neg & pos pos on the other battery, or pos to neg on the other battery.

Then simple feckers like me won't get con fused.

Positive to positive through all batteries and system wires with the red wire then negative to negative through all batteries and system wires with the black wire. Best wishes with your project.