condor22
Mike
Just got home Friday, 5 weeks in the GT, all off mains power. To recap - 2 x 100W SunPower panels, 1 x 130AH AGM, diesel heater, TV, lights etc. (Fridge on LPG). Av. TV was 4hrs a night. Av. heater 14hrs a day. Solar Controller is a 20A Victron MPPT.
First couple of weeks were sunny, average temp was 23-28C, but nights were mainly cold enough to require the heater. As it was not really cold the heater thermostat cuts off when not needed and resulted in an average of 30AH daily use. On a few occasions I was detecting near to camp, I came back for lunch at about 12.30pm and checked the battery monitor to note 100% charged.
The last 10 days or so was much more overcast daytime and colder at night, resulting in an average of 37-40AH daily use. Although I only returned to camp on 1 day during this time for lunch, I noted the battery at 86% charged, but except for 1 day it was at 100% by 5pm.
A few days ago during a constant rainy overcast day the battery was still at 89% at 5pm with only 0.8A charge going in, so the genny got used to top up.
So, size wise, 130AH battery @ 25% depth of cycle (DOC) is 32.5AH and my trip max of 40AH is 30% DOC, I'm happy that the battery is the right size for my use.
Also, that other than 1 day out of 35 away, my 200W panel sizing is charging as it should.
As I've mentioned before, if you are looking at setting up a solar system, the first thing to establish is what your daily power use is. So first purchase should be a battery monitor, preferably one that shows charge +A and load -A as well as V and battery state %. That will then tell you what size battery/s you need to maintain a healthy DOC and how much solar you need to replace it and subsequently controller size for panel total output.
BTW I also charged my mobile phone, WiFi modem, laptop (Jaycar 12VDC power supply), GPX battery, SDC 18650 and C cell, SP01 Amp, Deteknix wireless Tx and phones all from the van battery, every day.
First couple of weeks were sunny, average temp was 23-28C, but nights were mainly cold enough to require the heater. As it was not really cold the heater thermostat cuts off when not needed and resulted in an average of 30AH daily use. On a few occasions I was detecting near to camp, I came back for lunch at about 12.30pm and checked the battery monitor to note 100% charged.
The last 10 days or so was much more overcast daytime and colder at night, resulting in an average of 37-40AH daily use. Although I only returned to camp on 1 day during this time for lunch, I noted the battery at 86% charged, but except for 1 day it was at 100% by 5pm.
A few days ago during a constant rainy overcast day the battery was still at 89% at 5pm with only 0.8A charge going in, so the genny got used to top up.
So, size wise, 130AH battery @ 25% depth of cycle (DOC) is 32.5AH and my trip max of 40AH is 30% DOC, I'm happy that the battery is the right size for my use.
Also, that other than 1 day out of 35 away, my 200W panel sizing is charging as it should.
As I've mentioned before, if you are looking at setting up a solar system, the first thing to establish is what your daily power use is. So first purchase should be a battery monitor, preferably one that shows charge +A and load -A as well as V and battery state %. That will then tell you what size battery/s you need to maintain a healthy DOC and how much solar you need to replace it and subsequently controller size for panel total output.
BTW I also charged my mobile phone, WiFi modem, laptop (Jaycar 12VDC power supply), GPX battery, SDC 18650 and C cell, SP01 Amp, Deteknix wireless Tx and phones all from the van battery, every day.
