Any suggestions for a single solar panel, 12v system, 100+ watts

[RandyP]

At the link you provided

https://www.redarc.com.au/images/up...225_25A_in-vehicle_battery_charger_130408.pdf

It states "Allows for flexible installation in 12 or 24 volt vehicles" there referring to vehicle battery system voltage.
Page 2 Specifications notes: Solar input voltage range 9-28V (suitable for 12V panels only).

I'm seeing this as a challenge, not a problem. I have noticed that in Australia 200w 12v panels are common. But in the USA, I cannot find one to buy. I found one in Canada, but the purchase info is not included on the panel info site that I have.

Thank you for the info, you are right, if the MPPT controller that I have worked with 24v or 36v panels, the panels would be cheaper per watt than the 12v panels I am limited to with the Redarc battery charger.

 

[IdaSHO]

Oops,

no, this link

https://www.redarc.com.au/images/uploads/images/BCDC1225_Instruction_Manual.pdf

Page 3, first paragraph states that it will work work a 24v panel

 

[RandyP]

Oops,

no, this link

https://www.redarc.com.au/images/uploads/images/BCDC1225_Instruction_Manual.pdf

Page 3, first paragraph states that it will work work a 24v panel

Page 3, first paragraph:

" 1 PRODUCT FUNCTION

The BCDC1225 is a multi stage, 12V, 25A, DC-DC battery charger that operates from an input of either 12V or 24V nominal or a 12V nominal solar panel input. The input voltage of the BCDC1225 can be above, below or equal to the output voltage making it ideal for charging an auxiliary 12V battery where the distance from the main battery may cause a significant voltage drop. The BCDC1225 is also designed to isolate the main battery from the auxiliary battery, to avoid over-discharging the main battery."

So the BCDC charger will work with 12V or 24V battery/alternator systems or 12V nominal solar panel input.

Page 4 of the same manual includes turn on off thresholds, over voltage shutdown data for solar that makes it impossible to use with 24V or 36V solar panels.

So I'm now searching for two 200w 12V nominal solar panels.

 

[RandyP]

12V 200W Solar Panel Kit Home Generator Caravan Camping Power Mono Charging

From australia e-bay
$167.30 and shipping from AU.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-200W...van-Camping-Power-Mono-Charging-/331639809484

 

[RandyP]

200 Watt Solar Panel 12V * *Yes 12V Jumbo Size 200W**

$329.95 plus $145 shipping.....from Florida.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200-Watt-Solar-Panel-12V-Yes-12V-Jumbo-Size-200W-/281205426530

 

[IdaSHO]

So the BCDC charger will work with 12V or 24V battery/alternator systems or 12V nominal solar panel input.

Ah, good catch.

I read it quick and didnt catch the way they worded that.

As for panels, shoot for a monocrystalline panel if you can

 

[RandyP]

12v nominal 195w solar panels

I found 12v nominal 195w solar panels on eBay in Canada. Decided to order two of them for $465.98 plus $52.77 (in US dollars) shipping. That's a sale price of $232.59 USD per panel not counting shipping.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291590039018?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Note that the prices displayed on this link are Canadian dollars. Need to convert to USD.
Specs are at
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0408/8521/files/195w_69e64115-daf6-4a55-bdff-fb50c5c5dd2c.pdf
We'll see how the shipping works out .

This did not turn out well! Solar-Power-Canada will not ship this panel to the US because the US customs fee on this Chinese panel is 298% and they know that I do not want to pay that additional cost. Apparently the 298% customs fee on 195W Chinese panels entering the US is why I am not able to find any for sale in the US. I did find one Italian made 200W panel, but it's eBay price is $329 plus $145 shipping for a polycrystalline panel sold by a company in Florida. Too expensive for me. And it has 72 cells, but they still claim Vmp of about 18v (12v system).

 

[AndrewP]

Not sure what you are going to get. Normally "12volt" panels have 36 individual cells, and a Voc of 18-20 volts.

The panels in the picture in your link have 72 cells, which makes me think they are "24 volt" panels and likely a Voc around 40 volts.

If they are the higher Voc panels, no big deal, you'll just need an MPPT controller.

Post up what you actually get.

 

[RandyP]

This is the panel Big Dan refered to in a previous post to this thread

I have a 32" x 62" mono , 200W panal on my rig....combined with a 30a MPPT controler for portable add on ) i`m totally satisfied

boondocking for weeks never a problem.......led lamps,laptop ,12V accessories ( cooler ) never out of juice )total cost $400.00 cdn

Dan

 

[RandyP]

I am not able to find any 195W solar panels for sale in the US. I canceled the order for the Canadian sold ones because of a 298% customs duty I would have to pay to get them from Canada.
I did find one Italian made 200W panel, but it's eBay price is $329 plus $145 shipping for a polycrystalline panel sold by a company in Florida. Too expensive for me. And it has 72 cells, but they still claim Vmp of about 18v (12v system).
Also found some Carmahan CTI-160 panels at earthenergy.us.com for $310 each plus $50.50 shipping to California. Not many of these left to buy. Decided they were also a little to expensive for me.
The grape solar 160W panels are out of stock now in the US.
So I Ordered some 160W panels from mlsolar in the US. Most likely Chinese made (turned out to be English panels).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201454368403?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
2x160w panels for $329.95 + tax, free shipping.

 

[RandyP]

Received two 160W panels today, UPS to my front door. No visible shipping damage. The label on the back of the panels reveals that they are shinefargroup.com panels from England. Model SF-M636160. Found the website and specs are here:
http://shinefargroup.com/products1.php?vid=63
One day free shipping (I live close to their shipping point of origin).
I need to install them. Then I'll find out how they perform with my battery / load setup.
Thanks for all the help. Learned a lot about solar panels with this thread.

 

[IdaSHO]

Those should do just fine!

First thing id do is look at the conductor size the panels are wired with (if pre-wired) to determine if if needs to be upgraded.

I know even my Renogy panels came with wimpy 14G conductors. I swapped those out for 10G to reduce voltage drop and increase the efficiency of the system.

 

[RandyP]

Those should do just fine!

First thing id do is look at the conductor size the panels are wired with (if pre-wired) to determine if if needs to be upgraded.

I know even my Renogy panels came with wimpy 14G conductors. I swapped those out for 10G to reduce voltage drop and increase the efficiency of the system.

Thanks for the reminder, panels came with 2.5 mm wire, about #13 AWG, will upgrade to #10 AWG , about 5.26 mm wire.
This change cuts the resistance of the wire per unit length in half.
Already have the MC4 connectors for the new wire ends.

 

[IdaSHO]

Yeah its pretty silly how small of wires most of them come with.

The MC4 connectors are the only way to do it IMO

With a few Y's, the system can be fairly modular as well.


With mine having 36V panels the wire size could have been much smaller than the 10G I went with.
But I may add panels down the road. Im at 200Watts right now, which is good for a max of 18amps (at 14V) in good sun,
but winter travel is proving that if I stay in one place for more than a few days, I'm pushing mu luck.

Another 100 watts would keep me in the green, regardless of most weather.

Still, at the end of the day more power is simply at the turn of the key to start the truck. But I like to avoid that if at all possible.

 

[RandyP]

Installed the two 160 watt panels, upgraded the panel pig tales to 10 AWG, wired them in parallel with mc4 connectors. Found the FWC solar wiring for the single 80 watt panel that came from the factory to be 12 AWG wire and the roof pen to be water tight but with a SAE two wire plug that appeared to be getting some moisture corrosion. Upgraded the wire thru the roof to 10 AWG wire spliced to the factory 12AWG wire soldered and heat shrinked (replacing the factory wire from the roof pen to the solar controller might be a future project, if I decide to do it, I'll use a wire gauge that will only allow a 3% voltage drop, most likely 4 AWG wire). Used 1/4" epdm material and 1/2" 90 degree cord grip connector to upgrade the roof pen. Used 3M 5200 adhesive sealant quick cure to seal all roof pens, including ss sheet metal screws attaching the solar panels aluminum angle brackets to the roof.
Ran the refrigerator last night to draw the batteries (two 125 amp hour AGM batteries in parallel) down a little (to about 90% SOC). They recharged to 100% SOC today. I have a weekend trip Carrizo Plain planned this weekend and Johnson Valley KOH trip next week. That should provide a good test run of these panels. Then a trip to Yuma and Quartzsite mid February.