Solar Panels for charging

[Niel]

What spec solar panal (glass free) will be requirred to properly charge a 105 Amp deep cycle battery. The panel should preferably be as compact as possile Any other comments re the above is also welcome

[ToyX4]

Niel, I want to know the same. Decided against the dual battery system on my bakkie. I'll rather go for a solar panel to charge the extra battery.

There was a guy at Sodwana that uses a solar panel to charge 2 batteries. But I can't remember what the spec of the panel is. I'll try to get hold of him to find out.

I haven't done any homework on this yet, but I think I read somewhere that 50 or 75 watt panel will charge the 105 A battery. But I'm not sure.

[ToyX4]

Niel, this guy sells these panels on bid or buy.
He says to keep the 105A battery charged you'd need a panel that puts out 2.5amp or more. According to him that is a 75 Watt panel.
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/jsp/item/Item ... Id=6445033
Check the Q&A section on this page.

[Niel]

Good stuff, at least we are 2 investigating the same thing and we can share info.......

Have a look at http://www.flexopower.com. I have seen some nice stuff there. I was told not to take a panal that is less than 75-80 w. But I am no expert. These things are expensive.

[ToyX4]

Thats what I don't like about this power option, the price!
Otherwise I think it is more convenient than the dual battery system that's fitted to the bakkie.

If I'm going this route, I'll fit it to the top of my canopy(which I also don't have yet), and when I'm going out for a drive or whatever, the panel can be removed to stay in the sun charging all day.

The uncle at Sodwana put his panel out during a very cloudy day. I asked if it will charge and he said it does, but not as effectively as in open sun light.

Let us know if you get any info.

[Niel]

That is a good price but I think it consisit of some glass that ight breack if man handelled?

Will do only thing with them is they are small and compact but ja the price is a bit mal.

[Family_Dog]

We use SP's to charge Deltch 105A/Hr batteries that we use on our radio repeaters on remote hills where there is no Eskom power. The absolute minimum you can use is a 75-80W module, but you also get different efficiency levels amongst various types of SP's. You would require a minimum of one such panel which could provide around 4.5A charging rate, but if you plan on running a fridge/freezer on this while you charge, you're cutting it fine. And if you run the fridge/freezer at 24 hours a day, you will run out of juice eventually. The SP will never deliver its maximum theoretical amperage, but only about 50 - 70% of that, depending upon amount of direct sunlight received.

A 75/80W panel is expensive, and it's big - about 1,2 metre long by 550mm wide (actual sizes vary slightly). For optimum results, it requires direct sunlight, anything less results in considerably lower amperage output. You would also require a Solar Regulator, to prevent too high a terminal voltage being applied to a battery.

SP's are initially expensive, but their lifespan is 25 years plus. They require no maintenance other than being wiped clean occasionally and thus cost nothing more to run. They cannot be used on their own, they do require a battery to store power. The beauty of such an installation is that it can be used, say, for example in Riaan's case on the farm, in the event of power outages. It will not provide loads of power, but will be sufficient for him to run a small Inverter and charge his cell phone and still use his laptop to browse the Hilux forum :)


-F_D

[Niel]

Eric, what will the approx cost be of this panel with all its goodies? I got onto this after chatting to Fransdw2002 and he did not want his warrenty to expire because of a duel battery system and we started talking solar panel. This is on his 4 month old 2.5 d4d sc.

[Family_Dog]

Niel,

We start work on the 14th Jan, will get the prices then.


-F_D

[Niel]

Thanks Eric, hope you enjoy the rest of your leave :D

[DOELLOOS]

Bastard...

:?

[Cookie Monster]

Some ppl have all the luck I only had public holidays off

[DOELLOOS]

Bastard...

[Family_Dog]

You've got to know how to do things... I also had constant calls from customers who were inconsiderate enough to expect me to work whilst on leave. I have now left my office keys in Bulldog's cubbyhole, (no, really! - an innocent mistake ) and am therefore unable to entertain out of hours calls anymore...


Ewald, did you get my PM?


-F_D

[Knersus]

Niel ek gebruik 'n 35watt sonpaneel wat my ongeveer 2.5 amp lewer en dis omtrent 500x600mm groot. Ek plak die panneel met velgro op die cannopy vas as ek op 'n plek staan waar daar nie krag is of waar ek langer as 2-3 dae op een plek staan sonder om te ry. Ek het 'n duel battery systeem met 'n 105a/h battery maar ek vind die paneel baie hulpsaam om alles aan die gang te hou as ek nie ry nie. Wel ek weet nie wat die pryse is op panele nie maar dis maar duur om aan te skaf. Ek stel egter voor dat jy maar eerste na die duel systeem moet kyk en 'n sonpaneel as alternatief moet bykry as jy lank sal staan op plekke.

Wat bertef die laai van enige battery kyk ek altyd na die hoeveelheid amps wat ek gebruik in 'n 24 uur periode uit die battery. Dan weet ek ek moet ten minste 'n laai systeem he wat die hoeveelheid amps +20% kan terugsit in die battery en dit laat my nooit sonder krag sit nie. So die som is as volg : Ek gebruik 'n Engel yskas wat 2.3 amp trek as hy loop en sou hy 'n volle uur loop dan het die battery omtrent 2.3 amps verloor het van sy lading. Dus as die yskas vir 10 uur aanmekaar sou loop ontrek dit ongeveer 23 Amps uit die battery. So om die verlore amps terug te laai moet ek sorg dat ek ongeveer 27 amps moet terug laai. As 'n sonpanneel vir jou 4 amp lewer moet jy die battery laai vir ongeveer 7 ure aanmekaar om weer die kapasiteit terug te sit in die battery.
Wel dis hoe ek my gebruik uitwerk vir laai en sommige mense sal seker verskil maar ek het nog nooit sonder krag gesit nie. Ek werk die 20% eksta in om op te maak vir enige verliesse van krag. Ek sal ook nie glo dat 'n 105A/H battery my 'n volle uur sal konstand 105 amp lewer nie.

[ToyX4]

Dankie vir die inligting, Knersus. Dit help baie.

[Niel]

Ek het 'n duel battery systeem met 'n 105a/h battery maar ek vind die paneel baie hulpsaam om alles aan die gang te hou as ek nie ry nie. Wel ek weet nie wat die pryse is op panele nie maar dis maar duur om aan te skaf. Ek stel egter voor dat jy maar eerste na die duel systeem moet kyk en 'n sonpaneel as alternatief moet bykry as jy lank sal staan op plekke.

Het self n NL db sysytem alreeds maar dis vir daai staan dae wat ek n alternatief soek. Dankie vir die terugvoer.

[Engel]

die toppie sal omval as hy hard werk

Depending on the load vs the amps required to charge will decide what size panel. So if your fridge has run your battery down at night, and now in daylight need 2A to run your fridge but also 2A to charge, you need a bigger unit [depending how flat it is] The problem on the new 135w units are price [about R7000] and size but will fill up your battery. So work your need out cos a too small unit will cost you fustration. The biggest killer is a inverter at night [charge camera batteries, tv etc] so check your consumption![of electricity not klippies and coke]

[Niel]

The problem on the new 135w units are price [about R7000] and size but will fill up your battery. So work your need out cos a too small unit will cost you fustration

Wow a lot of money for an alternative but I only want to run the 105 A deepcycle on it.

so check your consumption![of electricity not klippies and coke]
die toppie sal omval as hy hard werk

so check your consumption![of electricity not klippies and coke

Gelukkig raak ek nie aan daai 21 nie - 2 l coke en 1 l klippies nie :D :D

[BenHur]

Barney

Maar jy is dan die grootste kroegvlieg wa ek ken

[Niel]

drink Sprite Zero meneer, net Sprite Zero met geen byvoegsels nie 8) 8) Dit maak seker van my n engeltjie of hoe Gelukkig nie bull vlieg nie 8)

[Scooter]

Why not give "Plan My Power" a call, they have a range of SP's and as forum members we get a small discount too. You can find them in the shopping section I think.

[HennieJ2]

Hi Niel en Riaan,

Het julle toe enige verdere inligting toe by mekaar gemaak? We are going (planning to) again to Botswana in July and I must still it out my D4D with alternative/additional power sources. The Overland forum has a specific site with designs/drawing on dual battery systems and all the other goodies, but I have not found a complete system yet, that caters for:
1) Dual / tripple batteries
2) Invertor wired in, but only operating from additional battery/ies and not main batt.
3) Solar power to re-charge additional battery, with-out affecting main batt.

I don't have a clear idea of what I want, but it should be a system that can operate on it's own, for when you are standing at one spot for extended days, etc. This would mean plug-in-out type sustem, that you can leave it in camp or either take it on the day trips. I am concernd, that should an alternator be charging all the time, whether it's the main or auxiliry batteries, one increase running the risk of alternator failure in the bush.

I hope you guys have tested your systems already, so that we greenies can pick up tips.

Regards

Hennie

[ToyX4]

Hennie, I thought about this......... and forgot about it....till now.....

[Niel]

Hennie, I looked at solar but at the price ..... I decided to rather carry 2 additional batteries. I t is a hell of a lot cheaper than solar.There is a thread here somewhere that show the system.

[glevey]

Contact Renzo at www.bushpower.co.za. He is an expert in this field and has also designed some flexible panels as well.

You will not be sorry if you contact him

Cheers

Geoff Levey
PC Panic cc
ZS6GRL (WAZS)
Vice Chairman - West Rand Amateur Radio Club (ZS6WR)
GP 0717 - Professional 4X4 Overland & Tourist Guide
Honorary Officer North West Parks & Tourism Board

[HennieJ2]

Thanks Geoff, will do so. The panels that they had in the "WEGRY" about the panels also had some valuable info, but to speak to the specialists will also help.
Regards
Hennie
Ps: Saw alot of your postings on the overland forum. Nice to get some interaction between the forums. Welcome here and hope you will frequantly visit to bring along your knowledge.

[Martin K]

Not sure anyone is still interested in this thread but anyway I will post my experiences with SP from my last trip.

I have had endless trouble with my dual battery system and had one more go to get it to work. Gerbers redid the thing and I bought a 75 watt panel, glass, that folds up in 2 a bit like a siutcase if you know what I mean. I paid I think R3500 with the controller. I was told that I would need 5 hours of sun a day to run my 40 L Engel. I spent 9 days in Lesotho and on 7 continuous days did not start the bakkie once. I ran a pump for a shower and a small inverter to charge a lot of camera batteries and run a laptop. The fridge worked constantly and the battery stayed charged no problem the whole time. We had a few periods with little sun and one 24 hour period when didnt even bother to deploy the SP due to rain.

It made a big difference to our comfort and for me this is now a working system.

[Niel]

Martin do you have some pics of the setup and secondly where did you buy the panel because that is a very good price

[Martin K]

I bought it from Gerbers in Pamona Kempton park. I think that was the price but you would need to confirm it. Sorry no photos, never thought about it. Gerbers mounted a Brad Harris on the rear bumper so the panel controller just jacks into that. Neat and easy to use. The dual battery is mounted under the load bed.

http://www.gerbers4wd.co.za

[HennieJ2]

Hi Martin,
Did you buy the solar panel and controller also from Gerbers? Can you please check what is the name of the panel and also do you know what warrantee you got? In the Wegry, they have a 75W panel measuring 123 x 55.6 x 2.5 cm and it weighs 7.8kg. It is a crystal/silicone unit with an alledged 25year warrantee - Price is R4 200 - excluding the controller and other accesories. It is supplied by Plan My Power in Gauteng.

Regards

Hennie

[Martin K]

No problem Hennie. I will check my invoices and bring in the panel to work tomorrow so that I can take a photo for you.

[Martin K]

Checked my invoice for the SP. It says 2 X 30watt panels with controller R3500 excluding VAT. Each panel is approx 60 by 40 cm (by memory here) and are joined by a hinge. They therefore fold open into one large panel and each panel connects to the controller. This is the glass and silicone type panel. The way it folds up is very convenient as it is much easier to pack and transport.

Photo tomorrow

[Knersus]

I think the 2x 30 watt pannels is more than efficiant to keep everything going. 60 watt will deliver about 5 amp charge rate and that is more than enough to keep everything running and the battery level full. One 30 watt will also work but you might be running out of power after a few days of use. I am using one 35 watt pannel when I camp at the west coast to charge the battery and I have never ran out of power.

[Martin K]

Hope this works. If it does it is the images of the SP. Checked size and it is 40 by 60 folded

[Martin K]

Sorry, not getting it right

[Niel]

Martin, is there a stand you have to use or do you just put it in the sun on your canopy, bakkies roof ...... Does the angel of the sun in relation to the panel play a role in the effectiveness

[Martin K]

I know from using a more sophisticated controller and looking at the output that the angle to the sun does make a difference. The problem is you then spend the day obsessively moving the panel around and really it is not necessary. I just lay it flat on the ground in a place where shadows will not fall and leave it. It is more than adequate that way. My general thing will be to be out and about taking photos so I am not always around the vehicle to achieve the best position with the SP. In the evening I will charge the 4 camera batteries and download the days photos on the laptop all running on an inverter. We will also shower using a little electric pump and use the external light on the canopy to cook and read and so on. We did all this pretty much every day and ran an Engel 40L fridge set at about 3 degrees for a week without once starting the Lux. Everything worked just great.

This was in Lesotho though so if you were in the desert in summer for example then the fridge would work like hell and you might use more power. But then again in the desert you get more sun. I think it is also important to be careful with the opening and closing of the fridge and the Engel is not well insulated so we added one of those covers that give extra insulation. Sorry to go on about stuff you most likely all know better than me but I struggled with all this over many holidays and learn't the hard way that there are many things that go into keeping a fridge running smoothly and if you want to do extra stuff like I do it just gets more complicated.