Looking at various options for when we escape I'm considering a portable solar panel for our troll. I'd be grateful for some advice - like what will a 60wp be able to provide in the van and how effective would it be? Would less or more be better? Simple answers please as I have very little brain when it comes to electric stuff and just want something ready in a suitcase!

I cannot give you advice about which specific panel to buy but I can certainly say that with solar panels less is definitely not better.... More is better!
The more output your panel can give the quicker it will charge your battery and the more useful it will be in coping with lower light levels. Be careful, panels only give their maximum rated output in super bright sun conditions so (certainly in the UK) on an average day your panel is gong to give a fair amount less then the rated output. The bottom line??? Just buy the most powerful (this equates to the physically biggest too) that you can afford/accommodate.


I hope this is of some help.

Steve.

Loads of posts about this, try the search function initially.

In precis, I use a 60W folding panel that is fine for my Triton fitted with led lights, usb chargers, inverter for TV and still enough at the end of a week to use the motor mover to hitch up.
Starting off with a fully charged 100Ah battery of course.

Many thanks for the above replies - things are getting a little clearer! No good at all at electrics so we need the simplest! I am looking at this -Solar Technology PV Logic 60wp Fold Up Solar Panel - available from Norfolk camping and leisure + others. Don't really want to transport anything larger or really have any other 'bits' like an inverter. I take it that if the leisure battery gets topped up by the panel it will then power the usual stuff in the van that the battery will power when 'off grid' e.g. lights, taps and loo flush. I understand that I can't though use any appliances that work off three pins plugs. But what about charging mobile phones and kindles - our van doesn't have any 12v sockets. (Sorry to be dim on this).

Magpie, I've had a look at the Solar Technology panel that you are interested in.....looks fine at £210.

My own folding solar panel which I bought from Photonics Universe 6 years ago is stiil available at £140.

Your choice, I can't advise you in any other way..

Back to basics. If you are off grid your leisure battery will not supply power to your 230Vac 3 pin sockets. That's it.

Off grid, your leisure battery will supply 12Vdc to your lights, water pump and you may have 12V connectors at the ends of your light fittings which require a Hella plug to use.
You can use various adaptors off the Hella sockets to charge mobile phones ,tablets etc.
If you don't have the Hella sockets ( I don't know what van you have), then it is relatively simple to install 12Vdc sockets to your van, either by connecting crocodile clips direct to your battery or a very simple hard-wired solution to a USB socket

If my last paragraph has left you flumoxed then a caravan tech would easily be able to install a usb socket for you so it shouldn't be too expensive.

I have the 80w solar briefcase from Sunstore solar solutions and it works very well for us, they were very good in helping me to decide which one to go for.
Just clip it direct to battery and that’s it , then forget about it ,

Thank you 1..JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)2..JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)very much or your help. Is this a Hella socket? (On the outside of the van and usually used when we have the awning on or the canopy pulled out.)

'I have the 80w solar briefcase from Sunstore solar solutions and it works very well for us, they were very good in helping me to decide which one to go for'.

Thank you. We'll have a look at that one too.

It certainly looks like a Hella socket to me.

Some pics here of a hella plug.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hella-plug/s?k=hella+plug

Thank you. I think I'm getting there now!

We bought a Renogy 100w from Amazon. £199.
Very pleased. Brilliantly built. Comes with a very good carry case. Good quality solar controller which, importantly, is waterproof. I know that sounds counter intuitive (sun!) but you can get caught out in showers and overnight/morning dampness if you leave it out. Big in the USA RV market so there are quite a few reviews on YouTube by our American friends.

Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Foldable Portable Solar Suitcase with 20A Voyager Waterproof Charge Controller(New Version) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VLMBV17/r...i_dMf8Eb4NTYFHA

Thank you - another one to consider! (Very grateful for all the help.)

OK so we've ordered (and received) an 80W folding panel from Photonic Universe. They were very helpful and delivery was super quick! (One day!) Also got a couple of connector thingies for the Hella socket on the outside of the van (now I know what it is!). Looking forward to trying it all out and just hoping it works. Many thanks to those who helped with advice.

Hi Maggie. How have you got on with your purchase ( I am just about to do the same). How have you connected it in the end, how believe there is a connector in the wardrobe under the blue fusebox. titles "solar"

My apologies - I missed your question. The answer is, 'Very well'. We used the panel for eight days in August - when the sun was shining - and for six days in September when it was pretty cloudy. It performed well, gave us lights etc. and charged up mobile phones though not the lap top . And we had enough power to enable us to use the mover when needed. The panel comes with a cable with two large crocodile clips attached. We feed the cable in through the side locker (might try a window) and attach the crocodile clips to the battery. We haven't tried using it to power the Avtex TV yet. I did blow a 2 amp fuse, not sure how, but now have spares and know what to do. We do have an outside socket with a USB and a hella socket and we got a mobile maintenance man to fit a USB socket and car type 12v socket inside. I have now acquired a collection of adapters. Perhaps more power might be useful - eg a 100W panel but that would be larger and weigh more. We usually use an EHU but we got the panel for occasional use or for when an EHU is not available. Hope that helps.