Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Portable Solar Panel Recommendations
Page: Previous  1, 2
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
dhaavers
Samba Member


Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7733
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
dhaavers is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 6:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

Interesting...I'll be running the provided PWM controller for the foreseeable future,
so I may start looking for 12AWG options, FWIW... Thanks! Cool

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"

<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Vanuber
Samba Member


Joined: February 16, 2020
Posts: 410
Location: Virginia
Vanuber is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

dhaavers wrote:
I have on order one of the quality panels posted above


What panel did you go with?
_________________
'85 Westfalia 1.9L
'72 BMW R75/5
'71 BMW R75/5
'02 Subaru Forester 2.5L
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
dhaavers
Samba Member


Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7733
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
dhaavers is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

Lensun...should arrive early next week. Cool

https://www.lensunsolar.com/Products/Foldable-sola...es-and-RVs

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"

<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Vanuber
Samba Member


Joined: February 16, 2020
Posts: 410
Location: Virginia
Vanuber is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

dhaavers wrote:
Lensun...should arrive early next week. Cool

https://www.lensunsolar.com/Products/Foldable-sola...es-and-RVs

- Dave


Nice! I'd love to hear your review if you have the time and inclination.
_________________
'85 Westfalia 1.9L
'72 BMW R75/5
'71 BMW R75/5
'02 Subaru Forester 2.5L
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
dhaavers
Samba Member


Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7733
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
dhaavers is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

Absolutely! I'll post back here when I have anything worth reporting... 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"

<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
dhaavers
Samba Member


Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7733
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
dhaavers is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:03 am    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

Lensun panel arrived, although configured somewhat differently than shown on their website...

I was expecting all Anderson 50A connectors, as pictured:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

What I got is MC4 connectors from the panel to the controller:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The MC4's would certainly prevent incorrect connections and better for being absolutely waterproof, but I find them
a pain to connect/disconnect, especially as often as I see necessary for temporary portable use.

Any reason NOT to rewire panel>controller connections to the easier-to-deal-with 50A's?

Anyone with pointers/tips to deal with MC4's in this application...???

Other options? ...Anderson powerpole perhaps? ...or just deal with it? Confused

- Dave

PS: Van remains wintering in the garage so I haven't plugged in solar yet, but I'm pleased to find the supplied
PWM controller includes temp sensor/compensation & Bluetooth capability...nice upgrade!

_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"

<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
fxr
Samba Member


Joined: December 07, 2014
Posts: 2300
Location: Bay area CA
fxr is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:15 am    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

I snip off the clips on the MC4s I frequently connect/disconnect. As long as there's no tension on the wires to separate them they should be just as waterproof.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
kamzcab86
Samba Moderator


Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7892
Location: Arizona
kamzcab86 is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:34 am    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

dhaavers wrote:
Anyone with pointers/tips to deal with MC4's in this application...???


I simply bought the tool:
https://www.amazon.com/Vktech-Solar-Connector-Span...&psc=1

🍺
_________________
~Kamz Anxious
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
Blue Vanagon 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
dhaavers
Samba Member


Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7733
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
dhaavers is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:44 am    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

I did pick up an MC4 tool but what I got is slightly different size & not compatible...also one more thing for me to lose... Rolling Eyes

I like the "snip the clip" idea...thanks! Cool

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"

<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
dhaavers
Samba Member


Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7733
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
dhaavers is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 4:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

Hey gurus...a follow up question: The 15' extension cable supplied by Lensun specs out at 14AWG.
I ditched that when I found a nice price on 10/2 cable & I'll be using this for up to 50' extension.

However, the short (~18") leads hard wired to the panel are still the smaller 14AWG.
Is it worth the time and trouble to replace this short piece with larger gauge cable?

Thanks in advance...camping season is coming! Cool

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"

<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
fxr
Samba Member


Joined: December 07, 2014
Posts: 2300
Location: Bay area CA
fxr is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:10 pm    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

18" of 14 gauge is fine, bugger-all voltage drop. I use 12 awg speaker cable. Cheap and very flexible. Smile
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
dhaavers
Samba Member


Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7733
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
dhaavers is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 3:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

Cool...thanks for the reply. I'll go with what I've got... Cool

I had been shopping for 12ga when a buddy offered a deal on a partial roll of 10AWG
speaker wire left over from an audio install....it's heavy, very flexible and was a great price!

I keep trying to tell you guys, I'm CHEAP! Laughing Wink

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"

<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Vanuber
Samba Member


Joined: February 16, 2020
Posts: 410
Location: Virginia
Vanuber is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 6:41 am    Post subject: Re: Portable Solar Panel Recommendations Reply with quote

I wanted to give an update on my solar panel search. I ended up buying a Bluetti 120W folding panel - https://www.bluettipower.com/products/120w-solar-panel. It has some nice features that won me over:

- Uses Sunpower solar cells
- Has large gauge, 3-meter cable with MC4 connectors (I am also using 20’ WindyNation 10 AWG extension cables)
- Does NOT have superfluous USB ports etc.
- AND it fits under the bench seat (16”x16.8”)

I had a chance to test it recently and it performed really well. At best, I was getting over 100W from the panel with my Victron MPPT putting out 7.5 amps to the house battery. Results varied based on sun angle, cloud cover, etc., but not too shabby!


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
'85 Westfalia 1.9L
'72 BMW R75/5
'71 BMW R75/5
'02 Subaru Forester 2.5L
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: Previous  1, 2
Page 2 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.