Each of these Gear Doctor articles will feature products with different functions or targeted uses, and will give a glimpse into the company behind their innovations. This product is selling fast, hurry! Conversely, if you will be able to reorient the panels to face the sun’s ever changing arc then expect much better efficiency. 1. Unlike most solar panels you’ll see on the market – the Adventure Kings 110w Fixed Solar Panel comes with a mounting kit so you can mount it on several different surfaces. Controllers prevent over draining of the battery by again acting as a flow preventer if the battery voltage drops below a safe level. Unlike with dual battery installations under a vehicle’s hood, trailer mounted systems often can handle a larger battery, or even a bank of two or more batteries, and are much simpler to integrate. Charge controllers, also termed charge regulators, function as voltage and/or current gatekeepers for how electricity reaches a battery. First ask how much you need a controller that is effective across the extremes of low and high temperatures? You will achieve this by ensuring it is perpendicular, or at right angles to the sun. How to hook up the Renogy 100W solar panel to one battery and a 30amp charge controller along with a power inverter! Image: Hard Korr. So we need to put back at least 439.2 watts of power, over 24 hours, just to maintain our batteries. 4.7 von 5 Sternen (7) Insgesamt 7 Bewertungen, EUR 74,90 Neu. They can also be mounted using aluminium angle mounting kits that allow you to adjust the angle to better capture the sunlight. Adjust for shorter daylight hours if you explore into the colder months and that figure could drop yet again. Simplified versions of all-in-one’s have become popular as well. Follow his trips and gear at thegeardoctor in Instagram. Sign-up to get our latest reviews and news before everybody else does. ABOVE The same panel, however late afternoon where the sun was at around 30 degrees to the panel, offering a much smaller ‘size of shadow’. 10 years ago, you’d pay a small fortune for 400W of solar panels. They also allow you to charge from their USB ports. Ever run out of battery power when camping, had your beers go hot and couldn’t run your lights at night? Bought a 120w panel and fabricated some mounts for the underside of the HD rhino bar. P3 Solar Real life outputs will routinely disappoint you using even the best of panels, whether rigid or flexible. However, that solution offers little margin for extra capacity (or safety), and requires that the battery be a dual function design. PowerFilm If you are using four 75 to 80 Watt solar panels, your charge controller should be rated up to 40 amps. These are the types of panels that our family, as well as other homeowners and businesses, are using for large roof-mounted renewable energy systems. The rule of thumb, is to have at least 20 per cent more input that you’ll use. For all our best intentions, the circumstances that conspire to keep you from harvesting solar energy are many. Odyssey This simple 4-piece setup would allow you to run or charge 12 Volt … All of REDARC’s BCDC dual input chargers have a built-in MPPT solar regulator, so like any regulator, it requires an unregulated panel on its input. Solar panels have dropped in price significantly. Situated immediately after the solar panel, charge controllers turn electricity from your panels into the electricity your batteries need. Their costs are not cheap if you wish to have meaningful power levels. I currently have a solar panel setup to charge my deep cycle battery. This Australian brand is staffed by experts with over 10 years experience, both with the products and with camping. When your goal is enjoying time in the field, spending it fretting over and fiddling with panel orientation is not going to be a welcome activity. Setting up the kit can be done in minutes – simply unpack the case, unfold the solar panels, adjust the legs and set them up in the sun. More easily overlooked are winds, potential for theft, stop-n-go travel, and forgetfulness from any manner of camp distractions that mean panels are overtaken by shadows. If you’re serious about selecting a solar power system, and want to be sure of the quality you’re getting, there are several proven manufacturers to consider in the 4×4 market. Goal Zero MPPT controllers are priced higher to match their increased performance. My problemis that I want to mount a permanent panel to the roof and I have a190w house panel that outputs 40v. Here again, before you hope to chain different brands of panels be sure to check their connection types. There are batteries, such as the Odyssey line from EnerSys, that offer both deep cycle and starting capacities. Add to your power draw the everything else, or the kids in the fridge every 5 minutes, and your requirements are going to go up. We supply a range of high quality deep cycle batteries for 4X4 setups, 4WD camping, marine, 4WD solar, tools and all your 12Volt or Off Grid 4WD power needs! What this means, is that the bigger the shadow the panel makes on the ground behind it, the more energy it will generate – a panel at 45 degrees to the sun (with a smaller shadow than at 90 degrees), will not generate as much as a panel perpendicular to the sun. day use vs night use.This is not only critical when sizing your solar, but also your batteries. Because I have solar panels (Two REDARC portable solar panels at 80watts each totalling 160watts) I can just get away with that single battery if I only stay somewhere for less than 3 days and don’t park in the shade. SAE connectors are simple, commonplace and, unlike the other three, rely only on friction to resist separation. Thanks to these handy tips, you can easily get the best solar panel setup for campers, caravans, 4WDS and recreational vehicles. 1st Outdoor & 4x4, C/o Willow & Kaymor Rd Stikland Bellville 7530 S 33 53 53.9 E 18 39 58.9 Call us now: +27 21 948 2006 Email: info@1stoutdoor4x4.co.za Solar has become far more affordable and widely available in less than a decade. Throughout the process nothing is used up; the electrons continue to travel around the circuit, equalising themselves out as more are knocked through, charging your batteries as they go. This critical function is the responsibility of charge controllers. Choosing the right solar panels for your four-wheel drive can be a daunting process. Buying solar panels from eBay is not a new thing; there have been thousands sold in the last year alone, and many more before that. Full sunlight for solar panels is considered to be about 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. Start there, and then you can begin looking at which hardware to equip yourself with. A Deep Cycle Battery - Preferably AGM type. They can be set up any number of ways, can be strapped down through their simple corner grommets (e.g., Nite Ize GearTies), will pack up relatively small, are not prone to breakage, and can endure rough treatment (e.g., dropping them), including accidentally stepping on them, depending upon the surface underneath. With either controller, however, be sure that you size the controller to your panel wattage, as well as thinking through your future needs. Where the amorphous cells, like those used in some solar blankets, really shine is in their weight difference. In particular, be mindful of appropriately sizing wire gauge to avoid ‘choking off’ electrical flow (and potentially dangerous overheating). Panel set-up is vital to optimizing solar rays, and places a premium on adaptability. ABOVE The Ranger runs 2WD on-road with a live rear axle, the Discovery all-wheel-drive and fully independent suspension. Install your solar panels on your roof or in your yard. The drawback is that you often get a system that does not readily connect to others’ components. This is a great setup as my auxiliary battery can be charged after just a few hours of driving. When you put that against the amorphous panels, they will generate upwards of 25 watts per kilogram. Think of water seeking its level between two basins. What’s the difference between volts, watts and amps. While it’s true that you do not want to risk damage to an all-in-one battery unit rated for 120w input by pairing it with a 200w set of panels, in reality, panels routinely fail to exceed 50-60% of their maximum rated output. Make sure you mount the Adventure Kings 110w Fixed Solar Panel something where it won’t get any shade – the smallest amount of shade on most solar panels will reduce it’s ability to charge batteries incredibly. Energy and light from the sun knocks electrons loose from silicon atoms (the most common construction material used) on the top side of the cell to the bottom, creating an overbalance on the bottom of electrons. As with everything, the poor man pays twice, and when you’re looking to get proper off-grid for weeks at a time, you really don’t want to have to run your 4X4 for a few hours every day to stop the fridge falling over and wiping out your food (or beer). Regulated or unregulated panelWhen utilising your solar set-up with a dual input DC-DC charger (like the set up I’m going to use in the HiLux), you will need to run the panel directly into the charger, without using a regulator. Genesis Offroad This article explains the different solutions to keeping your fridge running and lights on without bias or attempts to sell any dual battery … If you’re heading off-road for a 4x4 camping trip then you need auxiliary power. Flexible solar kits provide quick solar power as needed, reduce dependence on outside power sources and generators, and are very durable - perfect for 4x4 camping, offroad trailer and leisure applications. Fully testing your intended configuration (virtually, before purchase, and physically, after purchase) is a key step to avoid frustration. Dual battery configurations are the most common alternative. Aussie Batteries & Solar stock a full range of 12V Battery Systems for 4WD's and all your possible 12V power applications. Experts in 12V Setups for 4WD and 12V 4x4 Systems with Australia Wide Delivery. Similar to the adage about panel capacity, battery storage (i.e., amp hours of storage) should have an added margin that you budget for in estimating how long you will need to operate between reliable recharging. There are 4 major connector options: SAE, Anderson Power Pole, MC4 and Delphi Weather Pack. That resulting exterior simplicity spells R&D headaches and added costs all to overcome interior complexities that result from assuring a clean exterior package and simplified user experience. The differences aren’t any clearer in their names: PWM and MPPT. Cascadia 4x4 designed this hood solar panel specifically for the shape of the Jeep Wrangler JK hood. It only takes one incompatibility in a would-be system to render it a non-functional pile of expensive parts. Better still, buy matching panels (e.g., Flexopower builds their larger wattage Mojave and Atacama systems by pairing multiples of the same 120w and 79w panels, respectively, rather than making a single larger unit). Your solar panels should always be connected through a regulator and then the regulator connected to the battery/s. The simplest, oldest and most economical designs are the rigid panels. Go Power! This covers pretty much everything you’d ever charge from and keeps you going out in the bush for longer, provided you have A comprehensive design guide for 12V systems or dual battery systems used in vehicle setups for touring and camping. You’ll also want to keep in mind compatibility with external connections. Regulated or unregulated panel When utilising your solar set-up with a dual input DC-DC charger (like the set up I’m going to use in the HiLux), you will need to run the panel directly into the charger, without using a regulator. A decent panel will put out the rated power or better – not just claim arbitrary numbers to sound the best – We’ve all seen the eBay ads “OnE mIlLiOn MeGa WaTtS!!!!!! How much more does this performance cost? This means that one might only benefit from half of the watts a 240w array can produce if a PWM controller is used. Renogy. A solar panel needs a controller that’s compatible with your battery/isolator system. With a few tools (e.g., connector-specific crimp pliers) and modest wiring skills, you can re/configure wiring of solar system elements to assure you have compatible connectors. Two rival solutions to the traditional vehicle-based dual battery system have recently grown in popularity: trailer-mounted auxiliary batteries, and, in particular, stand alone all-in-one battery/inverter/controllers. The most important function is to keep batteries from being harmed from overcharging. This includes devices you’re hoping to power with the system (e.g., camp lights, a laptop). So annoying is the prospect that on our overland trailer we built a dual-axis rotating array. Only a few years ago, consumers had but one option in choosing a photovoltaic panel: rigid ones. There are also apps available for iOS and Android devices that will help calculate your solar requirements. Our complete solar panel kit includes a solar regulator, anderson plugs and alligator clips to charge up your 12V AGM Deep Cycle Battery in no time! PWM controllers function by acting as a switch, opening and closing many times per second, so as to mitigate the voltage flowing to the battery. What are your individual circumstances? While there is no denying the convenience of clean, condensed packaging in such systems, some users prefer a more customized configuration. A regulator is required to ensure that none of the high voltages present at the output of a solar panel during good light conditions can damage the battery/s. Add to Cart. To install the solar kits for caravans or RV's, only a few basic tools are required; pliers for twisting/crimping wire, a drill with screwdriver attachment for screwing mounting brackets to panels, silicone gun for applying adhesive, wire cutters for trimming cables to length, and a crimping tool (if your pliers cannot crimp). The more perpendicularly aligned the panel is to the sun the more unimpeded those rays will pass thru that “tube” and reach the panel’s absorptive surface. What makes a good setup? Solar panels come in two categories - mounted or portable – with both options having advantages and disadvantages. They usually lack the structural rigidity to simply lean them against an object, though they can be laid on a flat surface facing the sun (e.g., windshield). I installed this solar-power setup specifically to enable a very large fridge-freezer to keep ice frozen indefinitely. If your panels will reside in a fixed position, such as flat on your roof rack, where they can’t be adjusted at will, you can expect only a relatively short time of optimal solar absorption. Consequently, even a modest misalignment with the path of those rays will decrease energy absorption and wattage. Solar power is useful, if the sun is shining, but can’t be relied upon in all locations at all times of the year. Monocrystalline Panels. Their magic lies hidden inside. With these simple devices you can easily add temporary light and power. Buy more wattage than all the online calculators prescribe. We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. That’s right, panels leech electricity from your battery if something doesn’t stop it! ABOVE The shadow from the swag severely limits the amount of power able to be gained from the panel. So far this 445-watt solar panel setup, combined with the alternator, has worked perfectly. 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