Which solar

[horacebat]

a very good point Zildjian .. the syncro has chewed through a load of batteries as its sat around over the winter period due to lack of use (tut tut on our count for not using it!).

Maplin were doing a small trickle charge that are supposed to counter this (at around a tenner!), so I have invested.

[Big Jim]

Where does your cable enter the camper ? I like the idea of bringing it down the exterior side wall about 50mm and coming in there through a gland . I don't like the idea of drilling a hole in the roof . The last time I went to France was in a small motorhome , it had a battery maybe 110 , no solar and a basic battery charger and charged off the engine. I think we hooked up once over 2 weeks and never ran out of power . I think I will try one battery (110) and a 100w flexi panel . I have found these mounting brackets which look quite neat .http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-6-x-Corne ... SweW5VYj1Y

[sabconsulting]

I also wasn't keen on the idea of drilling into my roof. My camper had an absorption fridge with a roof-mounted top vent as is common on US campers. I would have run the wires down through that vent. In the end I rebuilt the roof and replaced the roof vent with one on the side of the camper, but added a connector box on the roof in its place, so the wires went through there. Probably doesn't help much with your camper.

Steve.

[zildjian]

connector box looks best option for going through roof, you have a vertical hole BUT is has a box sealed over it then your power cables come into that horizontally,
alternatively as I did you could run cables along roofline then down rear wall 6" then in horizontally but its quite a long run of cable and i'm not sure thats so good on loss,
perhaps someone would know more about that

[derestrictor]

those rooftop boxes are pretty small after all and easily sealed down well to any roof surface

[Big Jim]

Solar panel kit ordered
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331682478700? ... EBIDX%3AIT

My external battery cupboard is not big enough for a bigger battery , currently 75AH . There is plenty of internal cupboard space I can fit another and get it right up against the front bulkhead. Is there any safety issue (fumes ) regarding an internal battery , providing I fit it in a battery box ?

[TrueDink]

Each battery should be vented to the outside using the batteries venting tube. You can join more than one battery to the same venting tube.

[cthodgson]

I used this http://www.bimblesolar.com/extras/mounting/tigerseal to stick our flexi panel on last year and we've not had any issues - in fact I'm about to bung another panel on this week using the same stuff.

If you are planning to add more panels in the future you need to make sure your controller can handle the current - we spent a bit more and got one that can handle 30 amps and up to 390 watts - so will have another 110 to add next year if we still need it.

[Big Jim]

Hi
I revived most of the kit , no instructions which is a bit disappointing . I am using 100w panel , 10 amp controller and 2 75ah batteries . I see most people add a fuse to the system before the first battery ( on the + ? ) What size of fuse is best ?
Thanks Jim

[Big Jim]

Fitted and wired , but not sure it is right . If I measure the voltage between panel and controller I get -1.7v .and no PV light on the controller. Doesn't that suggest the wires leaving the panel are back to front ?