Gak here, Glad you guys like the current system, I also learned a lot through the installation, especially Lithium Ion. Excuse me that I made a few mistakes on the diagram, it was an “one shot” sharpie marker game without rough drawing at 4AM, that’s why I was moving the board when it was filmed! 😅 When batteries are connected in parallel, + line comes from + terminal of the battery 1, - should come from - terminal of the battey 2. So, my RUclips channel will be starting out from next week, something related with GrizzlyNbear. I’ll upload exactly the same time when you upload the next ep!
yes you sign up for free unlimited energy now. ! it's free and unlimited. hook up as much as you want and as many you want. it' s free and unlimited. it never runs out.
So amazed with the generosity and support of so many people. You are both learning so much and I loved this video guys and meeting the incredible people like Gak, he sure is a “Legend”. Love Mum ❤️🥰
Hi Mum, this is Gak. Glad meeting your gifted son & daughter-in-raw. I’m 3 years older than Leigh, we are alreday brother, so can I be your children as well?
@@gakdef6330 haha my adopted brother 😍 Mum will definitely have you mate. When things are back to normal and you are driving your Defender around Australia you must stay with mum. She's a great cook and loves a nice wine. Mum and dad also live very close to the famous West Australian wine region of Margaret River 🍷😜
Awesome friends make jobs fun . Great video again loved the technology we now have to over land with . Cheers from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A.
The Ctek D250SE is a great piece of kit, I installed one last year and it's been an install and forget job. The slim solar panels, go for marine ones they are superior to the cheaper ones but the cost can be a factor. I use SunbeamSystem Nordic flat panels with shadow optimized. Never had any worries this year. 👍
Now I want to send my Four Wheel Camper “Hawk” to Gak for solar. Only problem, I’m in Northern California. Thanks for posting this video. Cheers, Geologyjohn.
Thank you, Geology John! There is only one thing I don’t like Four Wheel Camper is hard to access a roof from inside of camper due to interior design and materials they use. I don’t know yours, but the ceiling material should be removable, so that you can fix water leaking and do wireing much easier.
Great job guys, you might look at a cable gland for your panel cables coming thru the camper top. They make angled ones as well. It will provide strain relief for the cables and make it water tight. Only a true gear head would make coffee with a screwdriver!
to raise the camper top reverse the ceiling fan so you have positive air pressure inside the camper it will be a lot easier to raise the top with the doors and windows shut, try it
Brilliant video, thank you. I fitted the Victron mppt controller and fitted the Victron Orion dc-dc instead of the Ctek as it was more suited to my set up.
Same here. I fitted Victron MPPT 75/15, 150W solar Panel, Victron Orion DC-DC TR 12/30 Amp, Victron 375 inverter and victron 65 Amp battery protect. Works like a charm with 104 AH Lithium battery
Soo much power, I love it. Awesome job! Lithium is 100% the way to go. Yes its more expensive but it will last you longer, weighs less and is basically fool proof. Many people also don't realize that 200 amps of lithium is much more than 200 amps of AGM, cause you cannot drain the AGM's as much as the Lithiums. Looking forward to the next adventure.
coucou, voila les batteries bien remontées. Les nuages vont ce levés et le départ pour l'Australie en vue. Une super connaissance votre ami Gac, et merci a votre patron pour sa générosité, il nous permets (votre communauté) de suivre vos pérégrinations. Merci a plus dans le bus.
The difference between the panels is mono and poly crystals. Mono being the best and poly coming from diferent crystals fails more often, are cheaper, flexible, and are also thinner. While mono like the ones you have, are better more efficient, not so flexible, and thicker.
Excellent video! Will this also be the solution for the inside cooking problem? Or will induction cooking drain the batteries too fast? Looking forward to the next video!
Great question and one that's being tested right now 😉 The induction cooker is installed and has been tested this week. So far so good 😊 We could potentially add one more 100ah lithium battery to the system if required but we don't think we will need it.
Hey Leigh- get a REAL vacuum cleaner, k? I RV'ed w/ my dad for a couple of seasons- and made him switch right away. Sure, it's a bigger unit- but it's also more effective and faster. We stored it in the shower stall; out of sight/mind until needed. Which was every day.
Awesome 👌 can't beat free power 💪 nice install too 👍 does that mppt need the plug in Bluetooth dongle? I thought that model had it built in. Loving the vids 😁😁
Awesome video and install. Question for you: from what I can tell, you ran 10awg size wire from the 180w panels down into the charge controller. I have a FWC too and was told that 12awg is the largest we can run behind the front lift panel, otherwise it won't collapse right. That's what I'm trying to sort out as I get ready to build my system and would love to know if your experience confirms that or you could do otherwise. If you did run into that issue, how did you run the wires? Thank you for any help...and climb on!
This is nerdy. The video didn't show... To get the most from your 2 batteries when they are coupled i parallel, all other + wires are are connected to + terminal on battery 1 and all other - wires are connected to - terminal on battery 2... Godspeed :-)
Great install, just wondering why you went with parallel solar connection, not series connection. I found (I’m in Europe at Lat 45N) better performance in less than ideal conditions with series connection and MPPT controller, I have 2 flexy 100w one Renogy & one unbranded, slightly mismatched but in series works OK as just adds up the voltage and Amps.
GAK DEF, I you think I don’t know that... using the Victron 100/50 MPPT controller you can input up to 100v and 12v is output... 12v solar panels have an open circuit voltage of 18-20 volts, x3 = 54-60 volts the Victron can easily handle that. The advantage is if individual solar panels are only producing 12v ie below battery voltage, the MPPT controller is receiving 36 volts and will take that and drag as many amps out as it can.
I know your point, but 1 x old panel is connected to CTEK for backup and 2 x new panels go to Victron. It’s just better to connect those two panels in parallel to get better efficiency in this case as far as I did calculations. It’s not a matter of MPPT controler it’s about how much amps you get with solar panels. Try it by yourself. :)
From what I understand wiring in series greatly reduces efficiency when the panels are partly shaded. Wiring in parallel allows the panels or cells to be in partial sun and some in partial shade and still optimise charging without the same loss of efficiency that a series wiring install would. I watched so many RUclips videos on this and they explain it quite clearly.
Leigh Dearle, You missed the point and Yeh! RUclips is not actual using solar. Today full cloud cover with 2 panels in series flat on the roof of my camper, I have 20v (10x2) from the panels, 13.4 volts and 0.54amps to the battery’s not much but I got 4Ah of charge. You can’t do that with parallel connection as you only have 10 volts, MPPT controllers can do wonders with high voltage, but can’t increase voltage to charge the battery. As to shading, nothing is immune to shading completely, some panels are better, simple answer is to move your camper/RV, if shading on a house etc more fool you for installing panels that aren’t in full sun. I should add that most solar arrays are a mix of parallel and series connections, series to increase voltages depending on installation voltage and to reduce transmissions losses or inverter losses, parallel to increase amps, 48 volts is a common system voltage, 4 x 100w panels in series = 48v 400w, just add panels in parallel to the series panels for the amount of power you need.
It's almost the only time I watch RUclips when there's installs to be done or maintenance on the Defender 😉 You can be sure whatever you need to do someone has made a video on it 😜
Solar electricity production is neither unlimited nor free. Over the approximate life expectancy of the panels (20 years, if you are very lucky, with some degradation of performance over the year), you'll need to replace the batteries several times, and the charge controller & inverter a couple of times. If you add up the cost of all the components, and divide by the total number of Kwh the system produced over its life time, you'll get a cost per Kwh several times higher than purchasing power on the grid. It is a way to get power for RV's and in remote areas, but it is neither free, nor cheap.
Technically you're incorrect. We state the energy is free and that's absolutely true. The energy comes from the sun and it's free and unlimited. The equipment to provide that free energy cost money but not the energy itself like we state.
Gak here,
Glad you guys like the current system, I also learned a lot through the installation, especially Lithium Ion.
Excuse me that I made a few mistakes on the diagram, it was an “one shot” sharpie marker game without rough drawing at 4AM, that’s why I was moving the board when it was filmed! 😅
When batteries are connected in parallel, + line comes from + terminal of the battery 1, - should come from - terminal of the battey 2.
So, my RUclips channel will be starting out from next week, something related with GrizzlyNbear. I’ll upload exactly the same time when you upload the next ep!
YOU are an electrical GENIUS.
yes you sign up for free unlimited energy now. ! it's free and unlimited. hook up as much as you want and as many you want. it' s free and unlimited. it never runs out.
You are a legend! Absolutely meticulous Gak.
So amazed with the generosity and support of so many people. You are both learning so much and I loved this video guys and meeting the incredible people like Gak, he sure is a “Legend”. Love Mum ❤️🥰
Hi Mum, this is Gak.
Glad meeting your gifted son & daughter-in-raw.
I’m 3 years older than Leigh, we are alreday brother, so can I be your children as well?
@@gakdef6330 haha my adopted brother 😍
Mum will definitely have you mate. When things are back to normal and you are driving your Defender around Australia you must stay with mum.
She's a great cook and loves a nice wine.
Mum and dad also live very close to the famous West Australian wine region of Margaret River 🍷😜
Nice job, Gak is correct do it right the best you can because it does matter.
very nice.
Messing about with a Defender, a camper and solar power all in one episode. Not much in life is more fun than that!
Awesome friends make jobs fun . Great video again loved the technology we now have to over land with . Cheers from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A.
That Gak dude is the most meticulous person I've ever seen, really enjoy seeing him work !
Gak is a pro 👌👍
Gak pour some serious time and effort on that solar system diagram, Great Job!
Thank you, please read my excuse in comment section! 🤣
Gak you are a legend. Excellent work!!!!!!!!!
Great ! Prochaine étape, changer les vérins 😋
Excellent 👍👍👍
Gak seems to be a very impressive individual. I'm glad you guys found him!
YOu must name your Solar system. The Gak System.,
The Ctek D250SE is a great piece of kit, I installed one last year and it's been an install and forget job. The slim solar panels, go for marine ones they are superior to the cheaper ones but the cost can be a factor. I use SunbeamSystem Nordic flat panels with shadow optimized. Never had any worries this year. 👍
Now I want to send my Four Wheel Camper “Hawk” to Gak for solar. Only problem, I’m in Northern California.
Thanks for posting this video. Cheers, Geologyjohn.
Thank you, Geology John!
There is only one thing I don’t like Four Wheel Camper is hard to access a roof from inside of camper due to interior design and materials they use.
I don’t know yours, but the ceiling material should be removable, so that you can fix water leaking and do wireing much easier.
Brill and what a fab job. Soooo precise with his measuring 👌👍
Another great video!
Great job you guys. And a great workshop at Gak’s! So glad you upgraded and are happy with your renovations. Nice video editing as usual Steph!
Thanks mate glad it gets your tick of approval ✅😉
Awesome effort team. That should make life a little easier
Looks great - hope it’ll give you all the electrical power you need
I always love to see electrical connections done well !
thank you for share great detail on repower your camper and landrover as was great watching as the show put all together
from Australia
Nice job👍
Great job guys. And good to see the sun shining!
Definitely overdue for this new system! That was some serious work in this one, and another great video!
Yer man Gak, is a legend. I'm about to go LiFePo, from lead acid. Can't wait after this.
Great job! I've done solar upgrades on a couple of rigs and you guys did a first rate job!
awesome job! Screwdriver coffee - love it :-)
Gak is the MAN
Great job guys, you might look at a cable gland for your panel cables coming thru the camper top. They make angled ones as well. It will provide strain relief for the cables and make it water tight. Only a true gear head would make coffee with a screwdriver!
Well done!! 👍
NIce!
to raise the camper top reverse the ceiling fan so you have positive air pressure inside the camper it will be a lot easier to raise the top with the doors and windows shut, try it
That's a brilliant idea. I've seen massive steel roofs on LNG tanks lifted 25 metres with just a couple of psi.
Brilliant video, thank you. I fitted the Victron mppt controller and fitted the Victron Orion dc-dc instead of the Ctek as it was more suited to my set up.
Same here. I fitted Victron MPPT 75/15, 150W solar Panel, Victron Orion DC-DC TR 12/30 Amp, Victron 375 inverter and victron 65 Amp battery protect. Works like a charm with 104 AH Lithium battery
great video
Belle vidéo comme chaques semaines.
Merci de nous faire voyager et rêver.
The video really is electrifying 😉 Really good work and nice with some help
Nice 👌
5 to 10 years!
Good job👍
Soo much power, I love it. Awesome job! Lithium is 100% the way to go. Yes its more expensive but it will last you longer, weighs less and is basically fool proof. Many people also don't realize that 200 amps of lithium is much more than 200 amps of AGM, cause you cannot drain the AGM's as much as the Lithiums. Looking forward to the next adventure.
coucou, voila les batteries bien remontées. Les nuages vont ce levés et le départ pour l'Australie en vue. Une super connaissance votre ami Gac, et merci a votre patron pour sa générosité, il nous permets (votre communauté) de suivre vos pérégrinations. Merci a plus dans le bus.
The difference between the panels is mono and poly crystals. Mono being the best and poly coming from diferent crystals fails more often, are cheaper, flexible, and are also thinner. While mono like the ones you have, are better more efficient, not so flexible, and thicker.
Bonjour, un sujet avec plein de savoir ,merci à vous. Ils restera les vérins à changer en fonction du poid.
India subscriber 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 like ❤️
Excellent video! Will this also be the solution for the inside cooking problem? Or will induction cooking drain the batteries too fast? Looking forward to the next video!
Great question and one that's being tested right now 😉
The induction cooker is installed and has been tested this week.
So far so good 😊
We could potentially add one more 100ah lithium battery to the system if required but we don't think we will need it.
@@leighdearle5965 exiting stuff! I'll be sure to watch the video with the new setup then :)
get a good photo of that wiring diagram for future reference
Have a look at our Instagram and you'll see Gaks artistic work 😉
Please read the comment I left, I corrected my mistakes on the diagram. 😅
@@gakdef6330 all systems evolve :)
Guys... Do you consider coming to mexico some time?
Hey Leigh- get a REAL vacuum cleaner, k? I RV'ed w/ my dad for a couple of seasons- and made him switch right away. Sure, it's a bigger unit- but it's also more effective and faster. We stored it in the shower stall; out of sight/mind until needed. Which was every day.
Ah yes “I hate electrics” said that once or twice myself. ⚡️⚡️⚡️
Awesome 👌 can't beat free power 💪 nice install too 👍 does that mppt need the plug in Bluetooth dongle? I thought that model had it built in. Loving the vids 😁😁
Lithium batts drains out in cold...don’t forget to put a heat pack with it...
Awesome video and install. Question for you: from what I can tell, you ran 10awg size wire from the 180w panels down into the charge controller. I have a FWC too and was told that 12awg is the largest we can run behind the front lift panel, otherwise it won't collapse right. That's what I'm trying to sort out as I get ready to build my system and would love to know if your experience confirms that or you could do otherwise. If you did run into that issue, how did you run the wires? Thank you for any help...and climb on!
nice upgrade curious if it not to much to ask how much the full projet
How long did the installation take? The good thing of doing it yourself is that if something go wrong you know where to look.
Half day working of three days, maybe?
First it was Nikolay now its Gak. You are blessed to have these guys around
This is nerdy. The video didn't show... To get the most from your 2 batteries when they are coupled i parallel, all other + wires are are connected to + terminal on battery 1 and all other - wires are connected to - terminal on battery 2... Godspeed :-)
We didn't show this but we do have it connected this way 😉
Thanks for the good advice.
Great install, just wondering why you went with parallel solar connection, not series connection.
I found (I’m in Europe at Lat 45N) better performance in less than ideal conditions with series connection and MPPT controller, I have 2 flexy 100w one Renogy & one unbranded, slightly mismatched but in series works OK as just adds up the voltage and Amps.
Because everything is based on 12V.
GAK DEF, I you think I don’t know that... using the Victron 100/50 MPPT controller you can input up to 100v and 12v is output... 12v solar panels have an open circuit voltage of 18-20 volts, x3 = 54-60 volts the Victron can easily handle that.
The advantage is if individual solar panels are only producing 12v ie below battery voltage, the MPPT controller is receiving 36 volts and will take that and drag as many amps out as it can.
I know your point, but 1 x old panel is connected to CTEK for backup and 2 x new panels go to Victron.
It’s just better to connect those two panels in parallel to get better efficiency in this case as far as I did calculations.
It’s not a matter of MPPT controler it’s about how much amps you get with solar panels.
Try it by yourself. :)
From what I understand wiring in series greatly reduces efficiency when the panels are partly shaded.
Wiring in parallel allows the panels or cells to be in partial sun and some in partial shade and still optimise charging without the same loss of efficiency that a series wiring install would.
I watched so many RUclips videos on this and they explain it quite clearly.
Leigh Dearle, You missed the point and Yeh! RUclips is not actual using solar.
Today full cloud cover with 2 panels in series flat on the roof of my camper, I have 20v (10x2) from the panels, 13.4 volts and 0.54amps to the battery’s not much but I got 4Ah of charge.
You can’t do that with parallel connection as you only have 10 volts, MPPT controllers can do wonders with high voltage, but can’t increase voltage to charge the battery.
As to shading, nothing is immune to shading completely, some panels are better, simple answer is to move your camper/RV, if shading on a house etc more fool you for installing panels that aren’t in full sun.
I should add that most solar arrays are a mix of parallel and series connections, series to increase voltages depending on installation voltage and to reduce transmissions losses or inverter losses, parallel to increase amps, 48 volts is a common system voltage, 4 x 100w panels in series = 48v 400w, just add panels in parallel to the series panels for the amount of power you need.
Glad someone else learns from.youtube :)
It's almost the only time I watch RUclips when there's installs to be done or maintenance on the Defender 😉
You can be sure whatever you need to do someone has made a video on it 😜
😎👍
Leigh said they are going to travel for another 5 to 10 years? o_0
Easy process made complicated
Solar electricity production is neither unlimited nor free. Over the approximate life expectancy of the panels (20 years, if you are very lucky, with some degradation of performance over the year), you'll need to replace the batteries several times, and the charge controller & inverter a couple of times. If you add up the cost of all the components, and divide by the total number of Kwh the system produced over its life time, you'll get a cost per Kwh several times higher than purchasing power on the grid. It is a way to get power for RV's and in remote areas, but it is neither free, nor cheap.
Yeet
The title is kinda click baity: It is not unlimited and definitely not free :) Otherwise, good video.
Technically you're incorrect. We state the energy is free and that's absolutely true.
The energy comes from the sun and it's free and unlimited.
The equipment to provide that free energy cost money but not the energy itself like we state.