Low output (1.5W) solar panel

[Clutha]

I’m about to try slowing down camper van engine battery voltage drop by connecting an inherited 1.5W solar panel.

I'm assuming this output is too low to make a controller necessary.

What do the team think?

The panel is an heirloom from our disposed of motorhome & it’s output described as ‘maybe slowing down rate of discharge ‘

Our Alphy was showing signs of low battery charge, (11.8v) due to enforced idleness when its owner got severe gout in my left foot!

(I’m better now)

So, is there any danger in my proposal?

I assume panel should be disconnected when on the move?

[Rojie]

3 hours ago, Clutha said:

I’m about to try slowing down camper van engine battery voltage drop by connecting an inherited 1.5W solar panel.

I'm assuming this output is too low to make a controller necessary.

What do the team think?

The panel is an heirloom from our disposed of motorhome & it’s output described as ‘maybe slowing down rate of discharge ‘

Our Alphy was showing signs of low battery charge, (11.8v) due to enforced idleness when its owner got severe gout in my left foot!

(I’m better now)

So, is there any danger in my proposal?

I assume panel should be disconnected when on the move?

 

What is the output of the solar cell ? Sorry, I meant voltage.

 

As Jan asserts, it will take ages to charge a 65a/hr battery at approx 100ma.

If the solar panel is outputting a low 12 volts, it won't charge the battery at all.

So, at best, you are unlikely to achieve full charge, which you will need on a cold winters morning.

 

My advice would be to invest in a smart battery charger. (Mine is a Ctek).

[AbbieAlphard]

21 minutes ago, Clutha said:

I’m about to try slowing down camper van engine battery voltage drop by connecting an inherited 1.5W solar panel.

I'm assuming this output is too low to make a controller necessary.

What do the team think?

The panel is an heirloom from our disposed of motorhome & it’s output described as ‘maybe slowing down rate of discharge ‘

Our Alphy was showing signs of low battery charge, (11.8v) due to enforced idleness when its owner got severe gout in my left foot!

(I’m better now)

So, is there any danger in my proposal?

I assume panel should be disconnected when on the move?

 

Hi Clutha,

I have had some experience with a small solar panel maintainer which I used to keep a Peugeot Django 50 2T battery alive with over a winter a few years ago.  The maintainer was a Ring unit purchased from Halfords.  It was 12 Volt with an output of 1.5 watts and had a built in diode to prevent reverse charging.

What I found was that the maintainer could actually charge the battery (6.3 Ah 12 Volt) very slowly depending on the amount of sunlight available; however it took months to do it.  From this I would conclude that this type of maintainer would be virtually useless for your Alphard battery.

Maybe something like a Noco Genius 1 would be a better option.

[Geralt]

1 hour ago, Clutha said:

I’m about to try slowing down camper van engine battery voltage drop

Do you mean for storage over the winter?

 

1 hour ago, Clutha said:

What do the team think?

My view is that for the sake of all the other components and fluids too, you're better off going for a drive for 20-30 mins every month. Not only does this charge the battery, you're reducing the possibility of engine corrosion, park brake sticking and so on.

Edited November 19, 2023 by Geralt

[Clutha]

1 hour ago, Rojie said:

 

What is the output of the solar cell ?

 

My advice would be to invest in a smart battery charger.

1.5 W.

If the van was parked up all day I intended to plug it in.

Checking voltage today while charging engine battery (rising well, was 12.8v) but at joint battery panel inside, the leisure battery led indicators showed it charge was rising too. I presume this was due to the settings on the split charging regulators.

I was using a standard battery charger on the engine battery.

 

[Clutha]

2 hours ago, Geralt said:

Do you mean for storage over the winter?

 

My view is that for the sake of all the other components and fluids too, you're better off going for a drive for 20-30 mins every month. Not only does this charge the battery, you're reducing the possibility of engine corrosion, park brake sticking and so on.

Tend to agree with this method, eg before 2-3 weeks lay off with dodgy foot, I used the van once a week to go to a volunteering job, a 50 mile round trip mostly motorway/dual carriageway. I think the lay off & cold weather dragged battery down to 11.7v.

Two days out & about got it back up so I’m happy it’s ok, < 3 year old Bosch.

I’m just kicking around a use for this low output solar panel 😂

 

Interesting info folks, thanks!

[Clutha]

3 hours ago, Rojie said:

 

What is the output of the solar cell ? Sorry, I meant voltage.

 

As Jan asserts, it will take ages to charge a 65a/hr battery at approx 100ma.

If the solar panel is outputting a low 12 volts, it won't charge the battery at all.

So, at best, you are unlikely to achieve full charge, which you will need on a cold winters morning.

 

My advice would be to invest in a smart battery charger. (Mine is a Ctek).

Forgot to mention we’re in a flat! Frequent dangling of power lead happens, so my charger is hooked up now & all seems well. 
Long term maybe a higher output solar (controlled) system will be invested in.

Camping & caravan show in Glasgow coming up! 😂

[Clutha]

Final episode! (On this matter 😉)

Charger back on this morning and fairly confident engine battery is near max.

Electrical system panel is just flickering a green led for eng. batt. indicating max charge.

Leisure batt. charge leds now showing two orange, so well on the rise.

Nice to know system of switching from eng. batt. leisure one works when charging up by this method.

I’ve only monitored panel when on campsite hook ups.

 

So, a nice wee learning curve + forum discussion 😉

Thanks again peeps!