Solar Project

I am asking for some technical help installing a solar system.
I have a 40w panel that sits on the dashboard and it charges my power bank and phones. It has a DC5521 connection at the back of the panel, also a usb connection. I want it to also charge the 60ah leisure battery under the drivers seat.
So i have found a dc5521 cable and plan to to strip the male/female cables and feed into a Victron 75/15 MPPT charge controller.

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I am wondering about the cables from the victron controller to the battery.
What gauge of cable do I need to the battery?
Is an inline fuse required?

To be honest I would not use that size panel with that regulator, The 40 watt solar panel has an output of 2.4 amps of DC power during peak solar hours, this is the maximum it can produce in an  optimum environment, your more likely to see 1amp to 1.5 amps.


If your going to use it the 4mm2 cable and yes a 10amp fuse is needed the regulator needs to be as close as possible to the battery others wise voltage loss 

FreelanderUK wrote:To be honest I would not use that size panel with that regulator, The 40 watt solar panel has an output of 2.4 amps of DC power during peak solar hours, this is the maximum it can produce in an  optimum environment, your more likely to see 1amp to 1.5 amps.


If your going to use it the 4mm2 cable and yes a 10amp fuse is needed the regulator needs to be as close as possible to the battery others wise voltage loss 

Which Victron would you recommend?
Thanks for the reply.

Any pmw regulator will be ok with the 40w panel, Mppt work best with higher voltage panels

This would be ok for you 40w if you want Victron

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If you intend to increase your panel size anytime soon buy a bigger regulator

Ok, thanks for the help

Im just wanting to reopen this discussion. Im still looking for a controller for my portable solar panel. Im looking for a controller that will suit the portable panel initially, but also also to suit a fixed solar panel if I get one later.
I was looking at a MTTP controller.

Thanks for help in advance.

I guess you have the slightly difficult decision - make it simple, or try to put in something that can meet your future needs if you decide to go with a fixed panel.

A simple solution could be very easy - just a small controller on the back of the portable panel, wired to croc clips so that it's easy to connect to the battery, with a switch to keep the panel isolated until it's connected.

The more complex solution would have to be mainly built/wired inside the van. You would need to have an idea of what size fixed panel you might want to install later, as that will determine the exact spec of the controller (and, possibly, the wiring). You would then have trailing leads to hook up from the portable unit to the internal wiring via quick connectors (standard solar MC4-type plugs/sockets should be fine, though perhaps a bit bulky).

I suppose im just looking at one of the victon controllers and I have no idea which one to go for that will suit my now and future needs.

come on guys I need some advice so I can get a black friday reduction.

Google Photonic Universe, all you could possibly need from them, Excellent to deal with too

Ebay item number 
233652670430
For the 40 watt panel