Solar panel fitting and review

It might be worth speaking to Roger Donoghue about the suitcase type. He is very knowledgeable about the solar panels. He suggests that you need about 100w to keep the fridge going.
If you were going away from your Beach, would you be able to leave a freestanding one out? You would be able to angle it at the sun more effectively though throughout the day.
Would you be able to hook some brackets onto it so it could be hung on the roof when stationary perhaps?
 
Has anyone had this fitted in a Beach yet and if so how was the cable routing behind multiple trim panels? And what is the total cost for panel, kit and fitting etc?
 
A few months ago I had Rogers Solar kit fitted to my van. From memory he fitted the positive & negative cables directly to the battery in the rear, which is of course wired in parallel to the other leisure battery under the front seat.

Since the fit I have not really paid any attention to it.

However, I suspect there may be a problem and would appreciate others views on their Solar set up, either Rogers or other.

The input from the Solar panel is not reflected on the VW control unit, my understanding of this is because of the wiring direct to the battery rather than the positive to the battery and the negative to the upstream of the shunt ?

Also, will this mean that the % of battery left on the VW control unit is now meaningless as it will also not be taking account what the batteries are receiving from the Solar panel ?

If my assumptions are correct, this means that for those of us with Rogers kit, the only indication of batteries health/capacity is the voltage shown in the VW control unit ?

Your thoughts please ?
 
Correct just rely on voltage on control panel. Somewhere Roger gave list of voltages at full, 3/4, 1/2 etc.
% on control panel is not accurate.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
 
BerndRos said:
A few months ago I had Rogers Solar kit fitted to my van. From memory he fitted the positive & negative cables directly to the battery in the rear, which is of course wired in parallel to the other leisure battery under the front seat.

Since the fit I have not really paid any attention to it.

However, I suspect there may be a problem and would appreciate others views on their Solar set up, either Rogers or other.

The input from the Solar panel is not reflected on the VW control unit, my understanding of this is because of the wiring direct to the battery rather than the positive to the battery and the negative to the upstream of the shunt ?

Also, will this mean that the % of battery left on the VW control unit is now meaningless as it will also not be taking account what the batteries are receiving from the Solar panel ?

If my assumptions are correct, this means that for those of us with Rogers kit, the only indication of batteries health/capacity is the voltage shown in the VW control unit ?

Your thoughts please ?
Click to expand...

Did you not have the MT 50 display fitted with your solar system?
Well worth it imo, it shows you what charge is going into your batteries and when the panel is producing electricity. Although on Saturday afternoon during a 3 hour thunder and lightning storm according to my MT50 the nightime symbol came on for an hour it was that dark!
 
Andy said:
Correct just rely on voltage on control panel. Somewhere Roger gave list of voltages at full, 3/4, 1/2 etc.
% on control panel is not accurate.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Thanks, that's exactly what I thought.....would be nice to have it wired correctly though to the upstream of the shunt if that means the VW control panel is then correct re % remaining.
 
snowy55 said:
Did you not have the MT 50 display fitted with your solar system?
Well worth it imo, it shows you what charge is going into your batteries and when the panel is producing electricity. Although on Saturday afternoon during a 3 hour thunder and lightning storm according to my MT50 the nightime symbol came on for an hour it was that dark!
Click to expand...
Yes, but that is only an 'actual time' situation, it does not show what's left in your battery bank.
 
I have the MT50 unit fitted, which I think is a little more accurate than the Control Panel.
Today MT unit shows this
image.jpeg

and Control Panel shows this

image.jpeg

Fridge on Control Panel

image.jpeg

MT unit shows

image.jpeg

If it is daylight and the Control Panel has a voltage greater than 12.7 v then I know the Solar Panel is working and I can check the amps on the MT unit.
I do know that if I arrive home with the Control Panel showing less than 100% then within a day it is upto 100% just using the Solar Panel for charging.

Hope this helps.

I would suggest switching Off then On the Control Panel occasionally.
 
WG....

Are you saying that if say your VW control panel is at say 60%, if you leave the van in the sunshine with the Solar producing that the 60% will increase over a couple of days ?

OR like mine will it stay the same ?

Thanks
 
BerndRos said:
WG....

Are you saying that if say your VW control panel is at say 60%, if you leave the van in the sunshine with the Solar producing that the 60% will increase over a couple of days ?

OR like mine will it stay the same ?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Mine definitely increases upto 100%.

Have you tried switching the Panel Off then On using the L lower button? Does the % change?
 
My control panel will also increase to 100% with only solar panel charging.
 
Remember that even partial shading of the panel will greatly reduce its output.
 
I made this box to charge things and check the voltage.



I also fitted a battery % display which reacts alot faster then the Cali control unit.
Both the voltage and % agree more or less with the Cali CCU which seems to be well buffered.

 
As a matter of interest, how is the Battery Charger connected to the Leisure batteries?
 
snowy55 said:
It has a cigarette plug so it can be used in any of the sockets.
Click to expand...
Sorry. How is the Mains Battery Charger on the SE/Ocean wired to the Leisure Batteries.
In the later SEs and I presume Ocean the Mains Charger is located above the rear/3rd Leisure Battery. Is it not wired direct to that battery?
 
WelshGas said:
Mine definitely increases upto 100%.

Have you tried switching the Panel Off then On using the L lower button? Does the % change?
Click to expand...

Yes, it's now dark here and the CCU was showing still at 90% despite the van being in hot sun all day long and nothing turned on. Turned the CCU off/on and it went to 100% with 12.9v

Are others saying that their % on the CCU rises while the Solar is inputting, without having to turn on/off...?
 
snowy55 said:
I made this box to charge things and check the voltage.



I also fitted a battery % display which reacts alot faster then the Cali control unit.
Both the voltage and % agree more or less with the Cali CCU which seems to be well buffered.

Click to expand...
Are you please able to advise how/where your self made unit is getting its info from ?

How does it get the info to show your % remaining in the leisure batteries ?

Thanks
 
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