Have read the various posts on the forum on fitting a solar panel all of which made sense. I do have a question however!

On my Troll which was born in 2003 I have the standard BIP set up from the period. Most solar kits now come with some form of controller which the panels plug into and then a set of leads that go from the controller to the battery. Is there any reason that I need to route via the BIP box or can I just plug the solar panel control box straight to the terminals of my battery?

I would not be leaving my solar panels hooked up permanently so would only connect them when I was using the caravan off grid.

I have a folding solar panel which is connected directly to the battery via the solar panel's controller. Works fine.

For ease of use I installed permanent wiring, with in line fuse, through the floor near the battery and fixed under the floor to the front of the van. It terminates there with a connector. It's then easy to plug in the solar panel which is chained to the A frame for security. The chain is long enough to allow the panel to be placed in the best place to catch the sun.

I've also bought a foldaway solar panel set, 100w, going to look at our lights set up to give us more options in the puck. Currently have a basic battery arrangement which powers the water pump and two lights above the sink looking to add a led at the other end as well.

Hi TonyH69,

you might like to consider changing the two lights above your sink to led too. Should be able to get a direct replacement for the light bulb without changing the fitting.

Ray,

what type of connector do you have at the front of the van, and how did you make it water tight?

Dave

Wenn Sie hier auf Links zu eBay klicken und einen Kauf tätigen, kann dies dazu führen, dass diese Website eine Provision erhält.

Dave,

I used an Anderson connector because my solar panel was fitted with one anyway.

Werbung: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAIR-ANDERSON...5EAAOSwUuFWx3~Z
This link just for example, plenty of other sources!

It was screwed to the underside of the floor near the A frame where I could easily access it with the lead from the solar panel. In that position I was also able to affix a long chain from the A frame to the panel for security.
A pair of 2.5mm cable was then run along under the floor, cable tied to various bits and then up through a small hole drilled in the floor adjacent to the battery.

As the anderson connector was under the floor it remains dry there even when raining.

Since then, I have re-wired my solar panel connection using the 13 pin plug for direct access to the 12Vdc distribution in my 2007 Triton. It ma not be quite so easy with other systems though.

Have a search through the forums, there's a fairly new post dealing with this subject.

Here you go!

Using Solar Panel to recharge the leisure battery

Thanks Ray, very interesting - I think I will use the 13-pin route if/when I get a solar panel.

Dave

My panel came from Photonics Universe (from memory)
The supplied lead comes with an Anderson connector. So I made up a short lead with an Anderson connector one end and a 13pin flying socket the other.
All tested and working at home, yet to be tested in the field!

I have the same setup and have used it to top up the leisure battery and it does very well.