How to fit a solar panel.

Discussion in 'How To' started by Zebedee, Jul 21, 2014.

  1. After looking around to see how to make my leisure batteries charge last that little bit longer I bought a secondhand 45w solar panel off another forum for £35.

    As i never use the roof rack on my westy i decided to mount it there.
    Some aluminium brackets and nuts and bolts and its secure :thumbsup::
    [​IMG]

    I bought a cheap charge controller off ebay for £6.17p including the postage and mounted it in the spare wheel well (i have the spare on the front panel):
    [​IMG]

    Wiring diagram:
    [​IMG]
    I've got a separate fusebox from my leisure battery so i left the Loads(DC) unconnected.
    It appears that by connecting stuff to those terminals then they'll only get power when the solar panel is producing it so no use in the dark.:confused:

    I bought one of these waterproof connectors so i can unplug and remove the solar panel easily:
    [​IMG]

    And ran the 2 wires from the panel down the vent to the engine bay (so i didn't have to drill a hole in the roof) and through a gromitted hole into the spare wheel well where they are connected to the charge controller:
    [​IMG]

    The 2 wires from the terminals on the charge controller marked Battery then run back out through the same gromitted hole in the spare wheel well through a 10amp fuse to the battery.
    Please excuse the pitiful leisure battery covered in silicone sealant. I forgot it was outside the shed one cold night and it froze and leaked. :(
    [​IMG]

    All the wire i used was 4mm2 which is total overkill as its rated at 39amps. The panel puts out a 1/10th of that but i was always told to 'Go big, or go home'.:D

    Hopefully i'll get to test it all out at some point soon.
     
  2. Looks good! I have two flexible solar panels that I stick on my roofrack and plug in using the se charger as yours, works great!
     
  3. rickyrooo1

    rickyrooo1 Hanging round like a bad smell

    i fancy a solar panel but not sure if it would actually do much while "in use" but would like it more to keep the battery full while not using the van, like your idea apart from the wire on show by the vents but i get your desire not to drill the roof.
     
  4. That's great as I'm looking to fit solar to my bus
     
  5. The wire showing is the only thing thats bugging me about it really. I might stick some tinsel on it and make it a feature.:D
    I couldn't think of any other way to get the wire though to the battery though without drilling the roof.

    It puts out just under 4amps in perfect conditions so probably 1/2 that in normal use. I have LED lights in my camper anyway and a hand pump for the water so its just charging phones/using ipad and the radio that take the power.
    Hopefully it'll be enough to replenish what they took out of the battery during the night.

    Maplin had a corking deal a few weeks back on an 80amp solar panel, regulator and everything else. Back up to normal price now though.
     
    minirob likes this.

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