Stand alone solar

[Polomint]

Thank you bob, does the charge controller come with a panel or do you need to purchase separately??

 

[bob_summers]

Comes as kit from Amazon - but check Mark's video above as the 12v socket adaptor is harder to find.

 

[4x4 joker]

So just set up 100w dokio.
I got my dealer to put some flyleads in off the leisure battery before I collected new van, incase I wanted to attach anything like this.
So made life very easy, just cut croc clips off and through crimped wire onto flyleads.
Getting 5-5.8a.
Panel could of done with instructions and pull out legs (like the justkamper one I was looking at) being only £107 and the justkamper one was £230 think I can live without them!
This is only going to be used as an extra boost if needed as I will have a 118w Solbian panel fitted to the roof when it turns up.

 

[bob_summers]

So just set up 100w dokio.
I got my dealer to put some flyleads in off the leisure battery before I collected new van, incase I wanted to attach anything like this.
So made life very easy, just cut croc clips off and through crimped wire onto flyleads.
Getting 5-5.8a.
Panel could of done with instructions and pull out legs (like the justkamper one I was looking at) being only £107 and the justkamper one was £230 think I can live without them!
This is only going to be used as an extra boost if needed as I will have a 118w Solbian panel fitted to the roof when it turns up.View attachment 92987View attachment 92988

Exactly what I’m after, cheers for putting up pics. Out of interest did the dealer say anything about warranty implications?

 

[4x4 joker]

They are a westy dealer and all the extra bits don’t interfere with the westy electrics.
They fitted inline fuse on live off battery, and solar charger controller for dokio gets unplugged after use.
I have a victron controller fitted by dealer too, ready for Solbian roof panel so shouldn’t be any issues.
Dokio is just a plug and play thing very easy to pull battery and solar plugs

 

[4x4 joker]

Getting 4.7a this morning and the 100w panel sits nicely on windscreen

 

[Corradobrit]

Getting 4.7a this morning and the 100w panel sits nicely on windscreenView attachment 93009

Curious what sort of power you get from inside the windscreen. Would be a good way to leave unattended and still get the benefits of charging.

 

[4x4 joker]

Curious what sort of power you get from inside the windscreen. Would be a good way to leave unattended and still get the benefits of charging.

So just done a quick test and I mean quick few mins set up inside as I’m trying to charge my leisure bats want max gain.
Max inside was 2.5a compared with 5a outside.
I think if you just want a little top up then these very thin portable panels are a great idea.
Could of done with some eyelits to secure to van you could drill some holes on edge just to make it a little harder for some to just walk off with or use strap handles.
My charge control is in van so wouldn’t be ideal for someone to pinch as they would have to source a new one.

 

[Mr T]

So just done a quick test and I mean quick few mins set up inside as I’m trying to charge my leisure bats want max gain.
Max inside was 2.5a compared with 5a outside.
I think if you just want a little top up then these very thin portable panels are a great idea.
Could of done with some eyelits to secure to van you could drill some holes on edge just to make it a little harder for some to just walk off with or use strap handles.
My charge control is in van so wouldn’t be ideal for someone to pinch as they would have to source a new one.
View attachment 93010View attachment 93011

Interesting. Although there appears to be a bit of shadow from your roof overhang which will make a difference too.

 

[4x4 joker]

Interesting. Although there appears to be a bit of shadow from your roof overhang which will make a difference too.

Yes I did think you may get a fraction more on a cali, but half power was pretty impressive didn’t expect that much.
For £100 it’s a bargain and should be easy to store in van

 

[bob_summers]

The main draw for me is if the Cali is parked a certain way for the view or whatever, the orientation of a fixed panel might not be great, especially with the roof up. It’ll be useful to be able to orient the panel by hand.

 

[bob_summers]

Could of done with some eyelits to secure to van you could drill some holes on edge just to make it a little harder for some to just walk off with or use strap handles

Tbh I’ve never had anything nicked off a campsite in decades of using them. I did suspect something got nicked once but it’d blown away!

 

[bob_summers]

Tbh I’ve never had anything nicked off a campsite in decades of using them. I did suspect something got nicked once but it’d blown away!