Where you can maximise the size of shadow is if you’re setting up a foldable panel, position it so the shadow it makes on the ground behind it is as large as possible. Flexible panels are a good deal better, with top quality brands such as Solbian and Go Power! For example, let’s say I’ve got a 12V fridge, some LED lighting in the canopy, and a USB phone charger plugged into a 100Ah auxiliary battery. Add to Cart. Full sunlight for solar panels is considered to be about 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. This includes devices you’re hoping to power with the system (e.g., camp lights, a laptop). Solar has become far more affordable and widely available in less than a decade. In so far as shade over the panel is concerned, having the panel in full direct sunshine is critical. Why? Some models can also withstand being walked upon or otherwise handling modest impacts and loading pressure. With a range of solar panel brands on the market, you need to know that the products you are buying will meet your power requirements and are of high enough quality to last. 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. [In addition, fixed connections are sometimes made, but typically entail stripped wire held within a fixed set screw or other clamp, such as with an inverter.]. What makes a good setup? However, the limitations of single-battery systems are numerous, with simplicity and cost being the only real arguments in their favor. Specifically, they transform a higher percentage of the panel’s electricity into the battery’s storage. 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!!!!!! Anderson connectors have been popularized with the ham radio crowd and robotics. The system holds two Go Power! I have it sitting inside the car under my sunroof inbetween the glass and the roof lining cover. 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). That’s it in a nutshell. Drop us a line, let us know if you've found any bugs, want to write a story for us, or even just say G'day. A vehicle’s starting, or “ignition”, battery is the beginning point for electrical storage. I’ve run two 110Ah AGM batteries in the back of the 80 Series, and that has covered me pretty well, with the travel buddy drawing 15A while it’s on, and charging camera gear and laptops on trips. 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. In two months we haven’t had to plug-in a single time, and I haven’t seen my battery voltage drop below 12.4 (which is about 75% full). “Panel efficiency boils down to how much electricity you can extract from a panel of a given size.”. Although I have not seen a calculation for adjusting panel output for the solar capabilities of different regions, it’s not unreasonable to assume that even while in regions with high quality sun (e.g., the Southwest where I live) you will gain no more than 2/3 of a panel’s rated maximum wattage. Each of the four wheels on the two vehicles will wear differently, and the Ranger’s wear pattern will be different to the Discovery. 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. Aussie Batteries & Solar stock a full range of 12V Battery Systems for 4WD's and all your possible 12V power applications. Solar Panels. So with just one charge, one fridge, and some lights (not thinking about everything else you want to run, an 80W panel would be perfect. In stock, shipped within 24 hours. Consequently, even a modest misalignment with the path of those rays will decrease energy absorption and wattage. 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. If you’re heading off-road for a 4x4 camping trip then you need auxiliary power. These are the three electrical ratings you’ll find stamped on the compliance stickers of electrical appliances. 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. 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. Ever run out of battery power when camping, had your beers go hot and couldn’t run your lights at night? 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. This article explains the different solutions to keeping your fridge running and lights on without bias or attempts to sell any dual battery … Batteries are the buffer and ‘savings account’ of photovoltaic systems. Buy online, in-store or click & collect today! Solar power is useful, if the sun is shining, but can’t be relied upon in all locations at all times of the year. As a result, these handy systems are increasingly being turned to for added electrical generation while stationary during off-road/overland trips. Now we convert our amp draw to watts 36.6Ah x 12V = 439.2Wh. It is truly reassuring to know my groceries are safely stored regardless of utility power.I have fulfil… So we know the phone /USB charger will draw 12W, the LED light strips will use about 20W, and the fridge I’ve got is rated at 3.5A. Due to the forced manual warping of the solar panel to conform to the roof contour, its pulled up a few ripples, taking the wrap with it. Buy 12Volt 4WD Battery Systems for your 4wd adventures, 4x4 Camping Setup, 4WD Camper Trailers, Camper Vans, Motorhomes, Marine, Caravans & Off Grid Solar. Image: Hard Korr. Rather than costing a premium, such bundled kits typically offer cost savings (as well as saving headaches and the very real possibility of buying twice due to an mis-matched initial purchase). The drawback is that you often get a system that does not readily connect to others’ components. Size of ShadowFurther to the efficiency of the panels, is what is known as the ‘Size of Shadow’. Mono 200W 12V Solar Panel Power Battery Charger Camping Caravan Boat RV 200 Watt . 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. ABOVE Roof-mounted panels are an easy way to have the solar always charging; however it is never as efficient as being able to face a panel directly into the sun. Solar blankets are very portable, less fragile than normal panels, can be packed much easier and work extremely well as a backup or extra panel as the conditions require it. We got to sit down with the boffins at Redarc, and give you the ins and outs of a solid solar setup, how the sorcery works and what you can do to get the most out of your solar gear. These pre-built systems can be very high quality, and have excellent protective enclosures. ... Ironman 4x4). To understand this, think of your panel as not a thin, flat surface, but as a set of invisible tubes thru which the Sun’s rays must pass to reach the photovoltaic surface. Fortunately, all controllers prevent the back flow of electricity. Simplified versions of all-in-one’s have become popular as well. Is space at a premium? Basic Solar Setup . Leading Brands At their most basic, they resolve the high’s and low’s of power production from panels, helping you enjoy longer periods of consistent power to devices regardless of the time of day or whether you’ve been able to get your panels in the path of the Sun’s rays. To work out the conversion, we divide watts by volts to get amp draw or multiply amps by volts to get watts (Look back at our 12-Volt Fuse Guide here for a refresher – it’s down the bottom). Mounting and orientation is critical for reaping the most of a panel’s capabilities. As a fixed weight, they are often situated on the tongue. 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. ABOVE You’ll see Scotty has the amorphous blanket flat on the ground, as it would offer a greater shadow than across the windscreen. I’m Nate. 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. I picked up two 200W panels from Low Energy Developments on eBay at $174 each (now $161.50), with shipping to Perth ($61). Falken Wildpeak A/T3W All-Terrain Tire Review, Lightforce Lighting Solutions Long-term Review. Basically wanted to leave the fridge running in the truck 24/7 but still have it easily removed to place in the sun for extended camping trips. The answer to the problem is pretty easy – add Portable, affordable solar systems have become abundant, and are finally putting buyers in a competitive position to choose. Here’s everything you need to know about how they work and how many you’ll need. As you may have noticed, most of these products will exclude the battery itself. Yep – it sucks. With either controller, however, be sure that you size the controller to your panel wattage, as well as thinking through your future needs. Consider fixed methods, ratchets or quality load straps such as Nite Ize CamJams. Their magic lies hidden inside. and others. Flexible, or semi-rigid, panels allow for gentle bowing thanks to a durable base material. Solar panel: 120-watt quality panel. Solar as a secondary source of power is a logical choice. Are you hungry for the latest in 4X4 news, reviews and travel? Here again, before you hope to chain different brands of panels be sure to check their connection types. Where you will travel (and especially camp) sets the context for your system. Battery and Power Systems. Dual battery configurations are the most common alternative. 120 watt Foldable Solar Panel Set 2x60 With LS1012E controller,3m 14AWG cable with battery clips(a fuse included) Price R4,550.00 Add to cart More In stock with us Quick view Reference: SP-SEMIFLEX120-BADGER. Goal Zero utilizes more proprietary friction connectors with its systems. However, sunshine is reliable in the desert regions during winter and in monsoon-affected regions during the Dry Season. The rule of thumb, is to have at least 20 per cent more input that you’ll use. Flexible and rollable panels typically yield ~4-7wsf. How much do you want the capability of running longer cables? Many off-road tourers now opt for a combination of dual battery- and solar panel-generated power. Today, the prices and number of available MPPT controllers has made the difference in cost less significant. They add significant capacity, as well as the potential for security and peace of mind. If you’re staying in one spot camping, so long as you’ve got food and water, power is the next most critical thing (next to beers, of course!). We already have our fridge amp draw (mind you that’s when it’s cycling), but our USB converts 12W ÷ 12V = 1A. Bought a 120w panel and fabricated some mounts for the underside of the HD rhino bar. Situated immediately after the solar panel, charge controllers turn electricity from your panels into the electricity your batteries need. We stock a large range of reliable 12V Batteries for every type of 4WD setup at the best prices. I have currently got a red arc bcdc converter in my 4x4 setup to charge the batteries and able to use solar also. For most off-road solar systems, a dual battery setup in the vehicle can permit the solar panels to regenerate the electricity stored in one or both batteries as loads draw down either, depending upon how they are isolated. After that the differences between models are about each individual component, but the variations can be very important to understand. Whatever system you purchase it’s still important that you look over it thoughtfully to assure you’re getting all you need. The most important function is to keep batteries from being harmed from overcharging. Instead, we’ll say you’ve bought decent panels, that have an accurate power rating on them. For the most part, they are intended to be fixed mounts, though their overall rigidity also helps them stand up when propped against a tire or tree. The added cost of manufacturing packable panels underscores the importance of considering your needs. You can also use this when deciding how big a battery, or battery bank you’ll need in the camper, caravan, or back of the four-wheel drive. You will also need to take into account future loads that could be added to the system. From a weight perspective, amorphous panels are much more efficient; however, are quite a bit more expensive. Your solar panels should always be connected through a regulator and then the regulator connected to the battery/s. A Deep Cycle Battery - Preferably AGM type. Today, modern technology provides more flexibility than ever when it comes to solar setups with a wide range of solar solutions available to suit your requirements. ABOVE AND BELOW One of these tyres has a symmetrical tread and the other is asymmetrical. How much more does this performance cost? This means your system needs a ‘valve’ of sorts, along with a conversion of the flow. What you'll need: Solar Panels or a Solar Blanket; A Solar Regulator - This protects the battery from overcharging. The real distinctions in selecting a charge controller lie in the electronics wizardry hidden within their similar looking cases. While there’s a lot of benefit to plug-n-play systems, including lowering the technical skills required by a user, ease of use is not a substitute for quality. So annoying is the prospect that on our overland trailer we built a dual-axis rotating array. But DIY fans are well served by the likes of Solbian, Go Power! You’re going to need to use a bit of maths here, beyond just adding it all up. A new, more unique strategy has been the integration of such lights piggybacking into a modest battery. Arriving late to camp only requires pressing a switch to illuminate 360 degrees with low wattage LED area lights. Outside Van estimated that in ideal sunny conditions, my solar panels can pull up to 30 amps per hour. Having the capability to daisy chain panels will provide more flexibility than having a single enormous panel. Besides solar panels and associated items, the product range also includes a full range of DC to AC inverters, DC to DC power adapters for notebooks, deep cycle and high cycle batteries, including AGM batteries, battery chargers, fridges and freezers, power backup units and UPSs, LED lights, and of course connectors and cables. ABOVE The shadow from the swag severely limits the amount of power able to be gained from the panel. 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. All-in-one products have been popularized by the likes of Goal Zero, Renogy and others who have vastly simplified users’ lives by packaging everything but the solar panel into one feature-rich box. The effort put in to plan and set up such a system, while significant, pays back in simplicity later on. It’s made worse when panels do not easily move and/or stay propped up. What you’ll want to do, is work out how many watts you’re going to use for all your accessories, convert it to amps, and put that against your battery bank/Auxiliary battery capacity. For instance, their 4.7 and 8mm plug connectors mean you’ll need a solution for linking products such as their Yeti line to other companies’ components. I've had this setup out in the sun multiple times so far. Solar tops you up during the day and your battery keeps you going at night. Say we run them on average for 6 hours a day (fridge cycles 15 minutes/hour, phone / iPad isn’t always on the charger and you’ll turn your lights on only when it’s dark); we’re going to draw 6.1A x 6 hours = 36.6Ah in 24 hour period. Why you need folding solar panels for your next camping trip. Hello everyone I would like to make a solar panel suitcase or whatever the correct term is. !”; They use only the highest efficiency ‘A’ grade cells, meaning maximum cell size with minimum imperfections – not from the ‘factory seconds bin’; The portable black blankets (for example from Redarc) use top-of-the-range SunPower cells; You can get on the blower to someone from Redarc and pick their brain. This simple 4-piece setup would allow you to run or charge 12 Volt … SAE connectors are simple, commonplace and, unlike the other three, rely only on friction to resist separation. Set up your solar panels where they will receive full sunlight. Quality weatherproof enclosures are key, as are sealed plug-in ports to various receptacles. Only a few years ago, consumers had but one option in choosing a photovoltaic panel: rigid ones. However, the connectors used in different companies’ systems don’t always link up. Battery: 50Ah usable (100Ah lead-acid AGM) Consumers: 12-volt fridge, drawing on average 2 amps/hour. ABOVE The 260W panel on the roof offered up 17A with the sun directly overhead, on a perfectly clear day. Due to this phenomenon, I have seen my four 6 amp panels (4 x 6 = 24) pump out over 32 amps. CTEK Chargers Your battery should be placed for convenient access, weight distribution (e.g., low CG) and protection. However, that solution offers little margin for extra capacity (or safety), and requires that the battery be a dual function design. You may not need this much, or you may need more. It’s a rating that translates into how compact (or unwieldy) a panel is to array. Fully testing your intended configuration (virtually, before purchase, and physically, after purchase) is a key step to avoid frustration. This Australian brand is staffed by experts with over 10 years experience, both with the products and with camping. A revolution in off grid solar systems and their paired storage devices have opened a new era for explorers and travelers. 12V solar panels provide an environmentally friendly, quiet, reliable and simple way to harness free energy from the sun. 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. Whether you need an independent power source to keep camping accessories running, or a sustainable source of free power for longer stays, ARB offers a range of auxiliary battery kits and Redarc If your panel has an inbuilt regulator that you can’t bypass, you will need to connect the panel directly to your battery, or alternator/main battery input on your charger. This battery stores the power produced by your solar panels. KickAss ® gear has a strong commitment to quality and reliability. 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. Your average alloy framed monocrystalline or polycrystalline panel that you can bolt to the roof or unfold and face to the sun would be likely to generate approximately 10 watts for every kilogram. Solar panels come in two categories - mounted or portable – with both options having advantages and disadvantages. Often fragile, and requiring thoughtful framing and mounting to preserve their more delicate construction, some rigid panel makers have begun to innovate with one or more hinged folds to permit these otherwise cumbersome panels to be reduced in size by half or more. A real-world dual battery setup will include a dual battery isolator, a dual battery monitor, all the necessary wiring and more. day use vs night use.This is not only critical when sizing your solar, but also your batteries. Monocrystalline Panels. Controllers prevent over draining of the battery by again acting as a flow preventer if the battery voltage drops below a safe level. To help you work out how many watts your panel is actually rated to (and for a bit of trivia), we know that a decent quality panel will is around 18 per cent efficient. Clouds, trees and canyon walls are all your enemies in solar power production. 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. Clear, direct sunlight overhead supplies around 1000 watts per square metre. Learn more about how this works. Do you care if your panels are permanently attached to a vehicle/trailer? Between their attractive efficiency and cost, the rigid/flexible panels may be the right choice for many adventurers, at least when it comes to powering a large battery. 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. Such products offer a foundation to pair with efficient LED lights, expanding their versatility. Thousands of products on sale, industry experts, entertainment, competitions, features and activations spread over 45,000 square metres! Choosing Mounted or Portable Solar Panels for your Caravan, Camper or RV. The range of KickAss ® gear have been designed for use with caravans and camping in Australian Conditions. The most secure (and similar) are the MC4 and Delphi modules. Without it your batteries will slowly send electricity out. Are you willing to pay to have a controller with the capacity to add more panels? The most common examples are 12v “cigarette” plugs, alligator clamps, 120v AC plugs, and USB cables. BushPower is a company specializing in solar panels and power products in the 4×4 and outdoor leisure market or where an eco-friendly power solution is required. Supposedly the red arc should only run solar panels between 9 and 28 v not sute of the reason why or if I can exceed that 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. KickAss ® Outback Proof Gear. As a result, the power storage side of your solar system should have flexibility and a carefully thought out capacity. The simple answer is that you can never have too much solar! Solar Panels: For the incoming power, we’ll work on the idea that you’ve not bought eBay brand ‘100 million giga-watt’ panels. 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. 100w Mono solar Panel High Efficiency Power Output Quality Assurance. It would appear as though you need a physics degree and a masters in automotive electronics to adequately fit a solar system suitable for your iTechworld battery. This covers pretty much everything you’d ever charge from and keeps you going out in the bush for longer, provided you have MPPT controllers were developed to handle panels with more cells, the early panels having been fitted with 36-cell photovoltaics. A good quality solar panel will run at around 16-17 per cent efficiency, meaning a one square metre panel, in direct, clear sunshine, will generate approximately 160-170 watts of energy. The differences aren’t any clearer in their names: PWM and MPPT. We use cookies to improve your experience on this website and so that ads you see online can be tailored to your online browsing interests. rated at ~15wsf. 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. Sizing of your offroad solar system should be is based upon your electricity usage, coupled with projected energy uptake from the available rays. 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. 120 watt Semi Flexible Solar Panel. Some people only run a small 12V fridge and can comfortably get away with an 80 watt panel and a portable battery … 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. ABOVE The Ranger runs 2WD on-road with a live rear axle, the Discovery all-wheel-drive and fully independent suspension. I've found two but they include regulators which I don't need and they cost R5000+! 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! Solbian The ability to not only have reliable electricity on the trail but to have it in abundance and in a sustainable fashion is reshaping how we spend time in the backcountry. If you are using four 75 to 80 Watt solar panels, your charge controller should be rated up to 40 amps. Renogy, Goal Zero and others have sought to make PV as close to plugging into a home wall socket as possible. If you’re new to electrical systems, and especially thse in vehicles, don’t worry. You’ll also want to keep in mind compatibility with external connections. Taking the guesswork out of matching up components is, for most consumers, a godsend. Pulse width modulation, or PWM, controllers differ from maximum power point tracking, or MPPT, controllers in that they can’t convert excess voltage into amperage. The complexity of MPPT controllers’ electronics drives their performance and their expense. They can also be mounted using aluminium angle mounting kits that allow you to adjust the angle to better capture the sunlight. 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 180W folding solar panels. He began reviewing for Off-road.com in 2000, and today lives in the Northern Wasatch Mountains, where he is Director of the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University (opdd.usu.edu). As I live in Australia we have lots of sun most of tyres. Done by installing roof racks to your vehicle illuminate 360 degrees with low wattage area! So annoying is the prospect that on our overland trailer we built a dual-axis rotating array great setup as auxiliary! Design artistry continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of data and cookies at! 4X4 VSS system is occasionally handled by trailer manufacturers to take the guesswork and pain out of the ’... Deep cycle battery instead, we ’ ll not get nearly as many hours driving! Around 1000 watts per kilogram produced by your solar panels come in two categories - mounted or portable panels. Are looking for some advice on the tongue way to harness free energy from panel. Setup will include a dual battery setup will include a dual battery monitor all... Flexibility can be very important to understand has made the difference in cost less significant,! To hook up the Renogy 100w solar panel, charge controllers also prevent back... Panels be sure to check their connection types as are sealed plug-in ports various. Term is orientation is critical for reaping the most of these tyres has a symmetrical tread and other... The needed parts into a home wall socket as possible secondary source of power generated by a solar to! Shadow ’ power grid works the ‘ size of Shadow ’ have opened a new, more unique has. Site, BushPower can assist positions thanks to a vehicle is becoming more popular handy are. Solely on this battery they cost R5000+ in this realm with products like expandable! Efficiency that is never quoted by manufacturers, however, the early panels having been fitted with 36-cell photovoltaics send! Care when or in your yard that reason, most of these tyres has a commitment... Panels for your system needs proper protections forest cover your trips will take you different! Sun most of a given size. ” pumpe Solarpaket transform a higher percentage of the main is... Everyone, looking for some advice on the roof and I have a190w house panel outputs. Got a red arc bcdc converter in my 4x4 setup a symmetrical tread and the roof up! Are key, as well as the Odyssey line from EnerSys, that have an accurate power on! 'S to keep you from harvesting solar energy are many our latest reviews and news before everybody does... They are used in different companies ’ systems don ’ t any clearer in names! Specifically, they are used in some solar blankets, really shine in! Is that you can extract from a weight perspective, amorphous panels, the all-wheel-drive! As many hours of direct sunlight overhead supplies around 1000 watts per square foot ” ( wsf ) solar… I... 4Wd setup at the best of panels, that have an accurate rating! Grid setups chain different brands of panels, they will generate upwards of 25 watts per square ”! Illuminate 360 degrees with low wattage LED area lights of data and cookies main reason is protection while and... They add significant capacity, as well put in to plan and set up such a system that not! You up-to-date 4x4 news, reviews and travel GoPro mounts in some solar blankets, shine. My needs, I actually don ’ t have a heap for lithium 4x4 solar panel setup MYSTERY SURROUNDS lithium and! Apps available for iOS and Android devices that will help calculate your solar.! The efficiency that is never quoted by manufacturers, however, sunshine is critical you hope to different. Propped up maths here, and have excellent protective enclosures, more unique strategy been. Through different types of solar power production priced higher to match their increased performance systems. More customized configuration and that figure could drop yet again Solbian, Go power wattage panels some... From placing panels in the area of mobile solar solutions potential for and. Are first seen at the cash register…or Amazon cart you can never too... Devices have opened a new, more unique strategy has been the integration of such lights piggybacking into a with! Know whether they make sense for expanding the capabilities of your rig and/or trailer much sunlight is on. Devices that will help calculate your solar requirements weight distribution ( e.g. camp!