12v 120 watt solar panel & mppt regulator advice

[Ryan the slayer]

Hi all hoping to get some advice. I am looking to put a 120-130 watt panel on the roof of the patrol to charge my 100ah aux battery that runs my thirsty 80l fridge freezer about 40ah a day and a few led lights at night. I plan to wire the panel to the regulator and than on to the battery.

Questions
Is my wiring correct or do i need another component in there somewhere?
What size mppt to buy i hope to get a cheaper ebay one?
Does anyone know of any good quality ebay panels for the right price?
The current whitworths catalogue has 130 watt bp panels for $499 is this a good deal?

Any feedback or advice, or something from your own experiences, would be greatly appreciated

[Alchemy]

Hi Ryan,

That price sounds good to me for that panel, and the regulator is all you need if charging from the solar panel. I ran a 130 watt Sharp panel, 120a/h Fullriver, Plasmatronics PL20 regulator and 90 litre Evakool on my last boat. It would run continously as a freezer no probs with good sun.

On the new boat I have doubled up the solar, gone to a 150 litre built in freezer, same battery and am using a Plasmatronics Dingo regulator (much easier to wire up than the PL20).

Regards,
Dave.

[cormorant]

Find out the solar panel brand and ask solar guys or solar forums or specialist 12 volt solar shops.. They know the good panels from the not so good. We have had good performance from BP and kyocera ( hell knows how to spell it) and apart from the panel look at the frames and how to mount them. Seen a few mates buy cheap ones and then replace them as the better ones perform loads better in marginal conditions. Same story with controllers. If you are likely to have a 2nd battery buy a 2 battery one and check the specs closely

Unless you want the patrol in the sun you get loads better performance with it angled correctly away from the vehicle- just gotta only do that when you are about thanks to theives. The patrol alternator through the correct controller can easily charge the battery without stuffing it on the road if you connect it up.

There is some very good flexible ones out but they aren't cheap.


Buy good stuff once with batteries , solar , controllers and fridges and you are set for years.

[finga]

What's a mppt??

[Chimo]

Isn't that a "muppet" that joins stuff together.?

[Ryan the slayer]

What's a mppt??

MPPT - Maximum Power Point Tracking
apparently they are the dux nuts regulator

[honda900]

yes is about right price..

I paid 399 then 100 for the regulator. I bought a 20amp, then realised when I got it that to make it 30 amp just change the blade type fuse..

do a search in camping section I put some figures up on what I actually got.. I have 80l waeco, basically in fridge mode.

Regards

Honda.

[Ryan the slayer]

purchaced the pannel today a sharp 130watt paid $444 from choice electric co in murwillumbah also found mppt regulators at jaycar good discounts for group buys if anyones interested http://ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthr...56#post1302656