Is there any gain to adding a roof solar panel to what I already do ?

[Snoopy_145]

Can someone please clarify for me as currently going around in circles.
So I have a 200w Renology solar blanket portage solar chargerand Bluetti ac180 that I use when out and off grid.
I have used the bluetti cable to charge the leisure batteries in my ocean and then solar to top up the bluetti again.
What if any would be the benefit if any of having a solar panel installed am I missing something here ?
Thanks in advance
Shelley

 

[WelshGas]

Can someone please clarify for me as currently going around in circles.
So I have a 200w Renology solar blanket portage solar chargerand Bluetti ac180 that I use when out and off grid.
I have used the bluetti cable to charge the leisure batteries in my ocean and then solar to top up the bluetti again.
What if any would be the benefit if any of having a solar panel installed am I missing something here ?
Thanks in advance
Shelley

As a rule of thumb, 1000w is suitable for Summer use only, 200w for Summer, Spring and Autumn and 300w for All year round use. Basically 300w will give an adequate output in the lower light levels experienced over Winter compared with Summer.
So, it basically depends on your usage of the vehicle during the year.
A fixed panel is available 24/7 whereas a portable panel is only available when camping and you can deploy it.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Renogy blanket has following disadvantages :
Takes storage space
Must be installed and packed away again after use
Risk for theft when you are not near the cali

Solar panels on the roof :
Always automatically charging leisure batteries
Possible still to charge power station also with solar
Takes no storage space
Fit and forget
Search on youtube “solar fixed versus portable” :
For example

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Can someone please clarify for me as currently going around in circles.
So I have a 200w Renology solar blanket portage solar chargerand Bluetti ac180 that I use when out and off grid.
I have used the bluetti cable to charge the leisure batteries in my ocean and then solar to top up the bluetti again.
What if any would be the benefit if any of having a solar panel installed am I missing something here ?
Thanks in advance
Shelley

Assuming you charge the Bluetti AC180 while driving from the 12v socket to get around 100w charge (as we do with our AC200 Max), then using the solar blanket for when parked / camping is perfectly fine. In this case there is no need for additional solar unless you require more power.

If necessary get a Charger One which will give upto 560w and at a lower cost / less hassle than additional panels on the roof.

 

[s2bear]

Less faff. Roof mounted you just don’t have to think about anything - you cut out all the connecting, packing/unpacking etc. Someone will correct me if I’m wrong but if you had 200w on the roof they could probably keep your Bluetti thing topped up as well, whilst your Cali is just sitting on the driveway.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Snoopy_145]

Thanks everyone, yes I charge via 12v and use solar when parked. This means I can plug in higher voltage items if needed using the bluetti and not worry about overloading the leisure batteries. Probably won’t bother with fixed solar panels at moment.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Thanks everyone, yes I charge via 12v and use solar when parked. This means I can plug in higher voltage items if needed using the bluetti and not worry about overloading the leisure batteries. Probably won’t bother with fixed solar panels at moment.

You're welcome. But do check out Charger one if you want a LOT (5x) more power when driving regardless of sun / weather. They are on offer as a newer version is out now.

 

[Quiddle]

Thanks everyone, yes I charge via 12v and use solar when parked. This means I can plug in higher voltage items if needed using the bluetti and not worry about overloading the leisure batteries. Probably won’t bother with fixed solar panels at moment.

Why not charge the Bluetti from the inverter when driving which will give 300W?

 

[Snoopy_145]

Why not charge the Bluetti from the inverter when driving which will give 300W?

 

[Snoopy_145]

I thought the BLUETTI was too high power to plug in to the inverter whilst driving as never really got my head around what can and can’t be plugged into it.

 

[Quiddle]

Set it to 'silent charging' in the app and it will draw less than 300W.

 

[Snoopy_145]

Set it to 'silent charging' in the app and it will draw less than 300W.

Never knew this. Thank you so much

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Set it to 'silent charging' in the app and it will draw less than 300W.

I also didn't know a way to regulate this and didn't want to risk blowing a fuse. Even my Jackery 1kWh V2 charges at 900+ watts so haven't ever used the 300w inverter. I'd be interested in hearing from other Cali owners if they have charged power banks from the onboard inverter without issue?

 

[Quiddle]

I also didn't know a way to regulate this and didn't want to risk blowing a fuse. Even my Jackery 1kWh V2 charges at 900+ watts so haven't ever used the 300w inverter. I'd be interested in hearing from other Cali owners if they have charged power banks from the onboard inverter without issue?

It's no different to plugging into a 13a domestic socket. The Bluetti regulates the current based on its charging setting. I've no idea if you can change the charging rate on a Jackery. I know it is possible on Ecoflow and Bluetti.

 

[WelshGas]

Why not charge the Bluetti from the inverter when driving which will give 300W?

That's an inefficient way of charging if you can re-charge from 12v supply directly.

12v - 230v - 12v loses power due to heat production during the conversion .

 

[Dizzy]

we've got 300w of solar (3 renogy panels) its enough to keep the leisure batteries topped, but if we enable the load output on the victron 100/20 then the leisure batteries dump the difference in amps generated by the solar into our ecoflow delta 3, in my view this is ok in moderation however if we have less than 50% remaining in the eco and wont be driving much in the day then we will only charge it to 75% as the leisure seem to be taking a spanking.

Are we pleased with 300w - absolutely we can defo be 100% off grid in the summer and drain the ecoflow to 20% and recharge it without impacting the leisure batteries at the end of the day., especially on sunny days with the poptop pointing the right way.

D

 

[Quiddle]

I also didn't know a way to regulate this and didn't want to risk blowing a fuse. Even my Jackery 1kWh V2 charges at 900+ watts so haven't ever used the 300w inverter. I'd be interested in hearing from other Cali owners if they have charged power banks from the onboard inverter without issue?

It's no different to plugging into a 13a domestic socket. The Bluetti regulates the current based on its charging setting. I've no idea if you can change the charging rate on a Jackery. I know it is possible on Ecoflow and Bluett.

That's an inefficient way of charging if you can re-charge from 12v supply directly.

12v - 230v - 12v loses power due to heat production during the conversion .

That's an inefficient way of charging if you can re-charge from 12v supply directly.

12v - 230v - 12v loses power due to heat production during the conversion .

Assuming you have a 10A 12v socket (120W) as the Cali does then the inverter will charge the power bank at over twice the rate. Not electrically efficient but certainly far more efficient than having to run the engine at idle because the power bank only achieved half the charge during your journey.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

It's no different to plugging into a 13a domestic socket. The Bluetti regulates the current based on its charging setting. I've no idea if you can change the charging rate on a Jackery. I know it is possible on Ecoflow and Bluett.



Assuming you have a 10A 12v socket (120W) as the Cali does then the inverter will charge the power bank at over twice the rate. Not electrically efficient but certainly far more efficient than having to run the engine at idle because the power bank only achieved half the charge during your journey.

Agree, though the Charger One is now just £269 in the Bluetti spring sale. This gives up to 560w while driving, should you need faster charging without solar.

BLUETTI Charger 1 | 560W Alternator Charger

BLUETTI Charger 1,up to 560 W DC-DC charging by car.Use it to charge your portable power station while driving.Compatible with almost all portable power station supplies on the market.Fast and safe charging. Keep powered up on the road! Click to purchase BLUETTI's new portable power station charger.

bluettipower.co.uk

 

[Cath&Stef]

Our Transporter-based conversion came with a 100W solar panel on the roof to feed a 110Ah wet (hence only 50% useable capacity) leisure battery. This turned out to be just about adequate for 2 days and even then only if they were very sunny days.
I changed the whole leisure kaboodle to a Lithium 110Ah battery with Victron controller and hook-up charger. Much better, as new battery is lighter, charges much faster and provides 80+% of its capacity, so good for 4+ days.

Subsequenly the solar panel expired, most likely because it was a flex panel, glued to the roof without suitable provision for heat dissipation. Replaced that with a 180W solid panel. This manages to support fridge, lights, USB chargers, diesel heater fan, etc without dropping below 60+% battery capacity per day.