Six days in with solar

by FreelanderUK Wed May 24, 2023 8:16 pm

Just a little update on the extra solar and inverter that I fitted, we have been 6 days now with out EHU just relying on the 390w of solar and the 180ah battery and 1500w inverter, I must say that I am very pleased , we have used the electric kettle on average 8 times a day the microwave 5 times over the 6 days and the air fryer twice, Christine’s scooter batteries have been charged every day along with phones and tablets, the battery has been fully charged every day, we have another 5 days here before heading home and the forecast is good, there has been 3 cloudy day but the rest sunshine and occasional cloud, once the holiday is over I will post a log of what the solar produced each day

by FreelanderUK Thu May 25, 2023 12:06 pm

Glad I swapped from a 100/20 amp MPPT Regulator to a 100/30 MPPT Regulator, has been putting 24amps plus out this morning

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by shgooner Thu May 25, 2023 2:45 pm

FreelanderUK wrote:Just a little update on the extra solar and inverter that I fitted, we have been 6 days now with out EHU just relying on the 390w of solar and the 180ah battery and 1500w inverter, I must say that I am very pleased , we have used the electric kettle on average 8 times a day the microwave 5 times over the 6 days and the air fryer twice, Christine’s scooter batteries have been charged every day along with phones and tablets, the battery has been fully charged every day, we have another 5 days here before heading home and the forecast is good, there has been 3 cloudy day but the rest sunshine and occasional cloud, once the holiday is over I will post a log of what the solar produced each day

That’s excellent. Sounds like your mods are working as they should. Will pay for itself in no time

Can I ask, does the AH % reading on your Sargent control panel for your leisure batteries match the figures you get from your Bluetooth controller data? I know Sargent says it’s only an indicator but wondering if they are close?
Cheers

by FreelanderUK Thu May 25, 2023 2:47 pm

shgooner wrote:
That’s excellent. Sounds like your mods are working as they should. Will pay for itself in no time
Can I ask, does the AH % reading on your Sargent control panel for your leisure batteries match the figures you get from your Bluetooth controller data? I know Sargent says it’s only an indicator but wondering if they are close?
Cheers

Nothing shows on the Sargent panel as all bypassed to maximise the solar benifits

by IanH Thu May 25, 2023 4:16 pm

Thought about a mini post retirement career of on site welding Chris? You wouldn't need a genny!!! up!

by FreelanderUK Fri May 26, 2023 6:21 pm

Day 8

Friday night is for a curry and a beer or wine, the extra solar and inverter I fitted have worked great, microwave and air fryer working lovely, Chicken tikka masala, vegetable samosas and poppadoms alll washed down with a few wets

Power used from full battery was 24 amps in total, 900w Airfryer was on for 10. Mins to cook the samosas, 600w microwave was on for 4 x 3 minutes full power for curries , I used frozen curries but I always defrost first, solar is now putting in 10amp at 18.20 so may be fully charged again before the sun goes down

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by FreelanderUK Fri May 26, 2023 8:29 pm

We managed to put 10 amps back into the battery before it was going a negative discharge of .5 amps time 20.59 pm so I am really pleased up!

by kevjan Sun May 28, 2023 10:49 am

Hi Freelander, looks like you are having a good time. How is your gas holding up we have only used the van for 2 day's when we first got it and that was on hook up. we have always had caravans with 2 bottle's in the past so interested to know how much you use. Kevin

by FreelanderUK Sun May 28, 2023 11:05 am

kevjan wrote:Hi Freelander, looks like you are having a good time. How is your gas holding up we have only used the van for 2 day's when we first got it and that was on hook up. we have always had caravans with 2 bottle's in the past so interested to know how much you use. Kevin

When home I will be topping the gas up ready for our next trip so will post the amount then, we have only used the water heater on gas whilst here

by kevjan Sun May 28, 2023 3:18 pm

Hi, that's good then, all cooking done on electric using inverter. What about the fridge have you changed it to 12/124 volt with no gas. Kevin

by FreelanderUK Sun May 28, 2023 3:23 pm

kevjan wrote:Hi, that's good then, all cooking done on electric using inverter. What about the fridge have you changed it to 12/124 volt with no gas. Kevin

Sorry forgot about fridge hugegrins

that's on gas

by kevjan Sun May 28, 2023 3:26 pm

Even better for me. Kevin

by FreelanderUK Mon May 29, 2023 12:14 pm

Bacon and mushroom butties thanks to the solar, inverter and sunshine
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by Relaxez-Vous Mon May 29, 2023 7:21 pm

Chris, how did you manage to fit 390W of solar on your roof and what what make of solar panels did you use? Are some of your panels folding? I did a search and so far haven't found a photo of your van's roof.

I'm impressed with how much you've achieved. I could see if more sites charge extra for EHU in future it makes good sense to have lots of solar power and be independent.

by FreelanderUK Mon May 29, 2023 7:36 pm

I have a large 250 watt panel on the middle of the roof to one side, this covers the center skylight but in all honesty we don’t miss it , we drove around with the blind closed for a few weeks just to make sure , I then have a 140 watt panel across the back area where AS fit the 80w panel, all connected to a 100/30 MPPT Regulator, we stream most of our tv programmes so thinking of removing the Ariel and fitting another 150 watt to take me to nearly 550 watt

The 250 is a hybrid Panasonic panel and the 140 is a Victron panel, search my name on this section as there is a full install write up

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by Dbvwt Mon May 29, 2023 8:14 pm

Having had a quick look at my roof today before I clean it tomorrow, I’m equally impressed by all that clean metal!!

by IanH Mon May 29, 2023 8:21 pm

Happiness is a clean roof (perhaps we shouldn't start that one again, like tyre pressures etc!!)

Very slightly less solar than Chris tho...... hugegrins

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by FreelanderUK Mon May 29, 2023 8:42 pm

We head home tomorrow so we will have had 12 day without EHU, I have used the kettle numerous times throughout the day, microwave 4 times x 6 days with the air fryer used 4 times and the toaster 7 times, Christine’s mobility scooter batteries charged most days along with phones, tablets and Alexa echo dot power pack charged every day, the gas oven has not been used or the hob, the fridge and hot water have been run on gas which I will fill the tank tomorrow and post my usage wich will include 4 days we had previously using just gas and battery but no invertor,

The photo below shows the power that the solar has produced for 11 days, most day I was fully charged and in float mode before dinner time, f you look at the numbers you will be able to tell which days were sunny but cold and which were sunny and hot

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by FreelanderUK Tue May 30, 2023 4:18 pm

kevjan wrote:Hi Freelander, looks like you are having a good time. How is your gas holding up we have only used the van for 2 day's when we first got it and that was on hook up. we have always had caravans with 2 bottle's in the past so interested to know how much you use. Kevin

Just topped up the gas tank and it took 17.4 L to fill as a break down on what we have used,

Last trip 5 days no EHU, no inverter, water heater every morning for two showers, fridge all the time, gas heating on around 22 degrees every evening and then 12degree threw the night, kettle on hob 5/6 times a day and oven used twice

This trip 12 days , No EHU, gas for hot water every day for 2 showers in the morning and on till stopped flashing in evening to wash pots, gas for fridge used every day, heating on 2 evenings just on 22 degrees for an hour to warm the van before bed, No hob or oven used at all

17 days in total

by kevjan Tue May 30, 2023 5:49 pm

Thanks for that, it seems to last longer than i had thought i must admit i am still a bit sceptical but my son assures me it will be fine. As i say always been used to 2 bottles and a car to go out to get a refill if one ran out. Really doe's sound like you have done a good job with the solar. My son built his own van and put large panels on the roof to run a big inverter that did everything he could do three weeks with no hook up and no gas. Thanks again Kevin

by kevjan Tue May 30, 2023 6:00 pm

Freelander, sorry to keep on with the question's but looking at your piece about fitting the solar and the inverter i noticed you have the same on/off button for the under slung tank heater odes this do both tanks or just the waste water as it say's on the label, if it does only do the one where is the switch for fresh tank please. Kevin

by glyne lock Tue May 30, 2023 6:18 pm

so aprox £1.00 a day for gas.
so what did you level lights say red warning lights or just in the green
so your savings this time paid for the inverter
the best bit I like I get out my kayak go in the camper put on the kettle powered from inverter have a shower to wash off the salt now when all cleaned up then sit and have a cup tea and have a lot of faces looking
you cant have to much solar as you have shown Chris
with a solar system that works and not for a sales person talks looks after the batteries and gives you power as for your needs.
the main POINT now the alternator is not having to work hard when you start up and cook the batteries on heavy charge making them a shorter life as NOTE the solar has kept you all charged lots of ++++ as for solar that works and not just for show

by FreelanderUK Tue May 30, 2023 6:24 pm

kevjan wrote:Freelander, sorry to keep on with the question's but looking at your piece about fitting the solar and the inverter i noticed you have the same on/off button for the under slung tank heater odes this do both tanks or just the waste water as it say's on the label, if it does only do the one where is the switch for fresh tank please. Kevin

by FreelanderUK Tue May 30, 2023 6:28 pm

glyne lock wrote:so aprox £1.00 a day for gas.
so what did you level lights say red warning lights or just in the green
so your savings this time paid for the inverter
the best bit I like I get out my kayak go in the camper put on the kettle powered from inverter have a shower to wash off the salt now when all cleaned up then sit and have a cup tea and have a lot of faces looking
you cant have to much solar as you have shown Chris
with a solar system that works and not for a sales person talks looks after the batteries and gives you power as for your needs.
the main POINT now the alternator is not having to work hard when you start up and cook the batteries on heavy charge making them a shorter life as NOTE the solar has kept you all charged lots of ++++ as for solar that works and not just for show

When I pulled up at the lpg pump I was showing 1 red led on the gauge Glyne , when I have had 1 green led left I have only managed to get 10/12 L in till full,

Just found a 110w slim panel that will fit where the tv ariel is if I remove it and that would give me 500 watt of solar up!

by glyne lock Tue May 30, 2023 7:30 pm

with 2x80w panels in the summer works ok for me . I fit a third 80w in the winter on the roof when not using my kayak and also have a panel I can put in the screen and works better with the low sun as to the angle
when people ask about fitting panels I always say its what will fit best as to the roof space
for my own use I had to have the panels that would work even with my kayak loaded on the roof

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