Author Topic: Solar Power Install.  (Read 10879 times)

Offline alans1100

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Solar Power Install.
« on: November 11, 2016, 11:57:44 AM »
I've bitten the proverbial bullet and ordered an 80watt solar panel/10amp regulator kit (includes wiring) and a 20AH 12 volt deep cycle battery last night which will be installed in/on the trailer.

http://www.ecoonline.com.au/online-store/solar-battery-charging/solar-combo-kits/regkit-80w-10amp

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/272151917935?

The only requirement is to be able to recharge the laptop battery while away from home and maybe phone camera etc. and maybe a LED light or two.

The panel dimensions (830 x 670mm) are similar in size to the rack (825 x 675mm) on the back of my trailer and should be fairly easy to mount though with what will be needed will have to wait until the panel is in place. The panel weighs 8kg and the battery is 6.5kg which should off set the weight from the Cooler and contents when that's on the front of the trailer.





« Last Edit: June 07, 2018, 01:57:05 PM by alans1100 »
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Offline StinkyPete

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2016, 12:47:11 PM »
 :popcorn :popcorn
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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2016, 04:21:47 PM »
Sounds like a great idea, I'm looking forward to seeing how it all goes :thumbsup
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Offline johnnyYTED

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2016, 04:26:30 PM »
 :dred11

 :popcorn :popcorn
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Offline Biggles

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2016, 07:57:57 PM »
Spending your new earnings already!    ;-*
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Offline alans1100

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2016, 09:22:18 PM »
Sounds like a great idea, I'm looking forward to seeing how it all goes :thumbsup
 :popcorn     :popcorn     :popcorn
Same here
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Offline BigTed

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2016, 11:43:56 PM »
That's also my next project... when the trailer project is done ;-)
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Offline Scarlett Thunderbolt

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2016, 03:52:46 AM »
ditto to what Shiney said...  :thumbs  :popcorn :popcorn
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Offline ST2UP

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2016, 06:57:23 AM »
With that combo you will have loads of power, in fact you will be producing more amps from a 80watt panel than you will every use for the requirements mentioned. You could sell back to the grid  :nahnah

Are you using a pure sine wave inverter for the laptop & battery ??

When we first started playing with Solar 20 years ago we ran a 220amp/hr battery array with a 120watt panel (not fixed, so chased sun) in our camper trailer.


Cheers
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Offline Lionel

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2016, 07:22:30 AM »
You probably had to mortgage your first born child to pay for a 120 watt solar panel 20 years ago.   >:()
 

Offline Gadget

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #10 on: November 12, 2016, 08:01:07 AM »
As panels are most efficient when pointing directly at the sun,  I would be inclined to hinge mount it on the front rail and have an adjustable bracket on the back rail. This is so you can leave the panel attached to the trailer and tilt the panel so that it gets sunlight hitting it at as close to 90° as you can.
Then as the day passes, you rotate the trailer drawbar to point to the sun.

The reason I would home on the front rail, it's in case the the other side comes loose, the wind form forward motion isn't going to get under it and flip it into the road.

You could even get clever and make a "sun sight". A + slit in a top plate with a white + painted on a back plane. Then when the panel is pointed directly at the sun, the sunlight passing through the slug slit will shining on the white +.
Alternate method is a thick plate with the slit and when light shines through it must be pointed at the sun.

Also carry a compass for finding north on an overcast day. You never know when it might clear. If the panels already facing north when it does, you start producing the most energy straight away. 



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Offline Brock

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #11 on: November 12, 2016, 08:25:59 AM »
You dont need an inverter to charge the laptop, just a power supply that can be found at JB HiFi or Jaycar. They are a multi Laptop device (different adapters) that run off 12V
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Offline alans1100

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #12 on: November 12, 2016, 08:37:57 AM »
You dont need an inverter to charge the laptop, just a power supply that can be found at JB HiFi or Jaycar. They are a multi Laptop device (different adapters) that run off 12V
We bought an inverter ages ago. One that we could just put in the cig lighter. Came in handy to charge up Heather's video cam back then as to buy the car charger accessory was as much as the camera.

Now I can buy a car charger for the laptop for about $20.
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Offline alans1100

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #13 on: November 12, 2016, 08:44:32 AM »
As panels are most efficient when pointing directly at the sun,  I would be inclined to hinge mount it on the front rail and have an adjustable bracket on the back rail. This is so you can leave the panel attached to the trailer and tilt the panel so that it gets sunlight hitting it at as close to 90° as you can.
Then as the day passes, you rotate the trailer drawbar to point to the sun.

Or you can just lift the lid on the trailer for a similar result.
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Offline Gadget

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #14 on: November 12, 2016, 08:47:21 AM »
As panels are most efficient when pointing directly at the sun,  I would be inclined to hinge mount it on the front rail and have an adjustable bracket on the back rail. This is so you can leave the panel attached to the trailer and tilt the panel so that it gets sunlight hitting it at as close to 90° as you can.
Then as the day passes, you rotate the trailer drawbar to point to the sun.

Or you can just lift the lid on the trailer for a similar result.
My concern with that is the contents are then exposed to the weather.

With the lid closed and panel up, at night you can point the trailer east to catch the morning sun. It won't matter if it rains overnight.

Cheers,
Gary

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Offline ST2UP

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #15 on: November 12, 2016, 08:49:53 AM »
As panels are most efficient when pointing directly at the sun,  I would be inclined to hinge mount it on the front rail and have an adjustable bracket on the back rail. This is so you can leave the panel attached to the trailer and tilt the panel so that it gets sunlight hitting it at as close to 90° as you can.
Then as the day passes, you rotate the trailer drawbar to point to the sun.

Or you can just lift the lid on the trailer for a similar result.

And the cooler the Panel in direct sunlight the more efficient it is  :wink1
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Offline ST2UP

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #16 on: November 12, 2016, 08:55:00 AM »
You probably had to mortgage your first born child to pay for a 120 watt solar panel 20 years ago.   >:()

I found the receipt in my "Boys stuff" shed filing system only a few days ago.....

1998 from Apollo Batteries in Armidale...Had a mate running it  :wink1

BP Solar Panel 120W $1250.   RR was closer to $1700 from memory.


 :beer
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Offline alans1100

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #17 on: November 12, 2016, 09:38:24 AM »
Unless I play a DVD or two every night the laptop battery only needs charging every 4 or five days so catching every ray of sunshine from sunrise to sunset everyday isn't essential.

It'll be a little bit of trial and error stuff anyway.

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Offline Gadget

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #18 on: November 12, 2016, 06:59:16 PM »
I was also thinking future sale value.

On exercise we had generators, and after a few years ypu looked back on what you first took on exercise, and what you took every exercise now, and realise that it was because of the generator.

Over time, I expect the list of appliances will also grow. :grin

Cheers,
Gary

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Offline alans1100

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #19 on: November 12, 2016, 07:08:46 PM »

Over time, I expect the list of appliances will also grow. :grin
I can relate to that as in we managed around the coast from Adelaide to Sydney with just the bike and basics. Now we have the trailer to carry more stuff.
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Offline alans1100

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #20 on: November 15, 2016, 11:48:36 AM »
The Battery arrived this morning and quite heavy (6.5 kg) for its size. Good thing is I can use it in any position as it's fully sealed.



As I was typing this the panel arrived and I placed it on trailer to see how it would look.





And the charge controller

« Last Edit: July 08, 2017, 04:23:37 PM by alans1100 »
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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #21 on: November 15, 2016, 12:50:27 PM »
Looking great mate :thumbs

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #22 on: November 15, 2016, 06:31:59 PM »
If the panel is going to live on the trailer lid it might pay to run a bead of silicone around the edge where the solar panel meets the surrounding aluminium frame just to make sure its got a good seal, we always recommend this at work to people who we sell panels to that are to be used in this sort of fitment.
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Offline Brock

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #23 on: November 15, 2016, 06:42:20 PM »
Use the heaviest cable thats practical, not for current carrying, but to minimise voltage drop.
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Offline alans1100

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Re: Solar Power Install.
« Reply #24 on: November 15, 2016, 08:03:37 PM »
Use the heaviest cable thats practical, not for current carrying, but to minimise voltage drop.
About 15M of cable supplied to suit the panel and 10amp regulator as a kit (includes 15amp fuse).
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