I used solar on an extension like you did and I can vouch for what a great idea this is! It's great for parking in the shade on a hot day and having the additional solar panels out under the sun. Also you get charging all day not just when the sun is overhead which like you said doesn't always happen in winter. btw , check your audio.
I think it’s going to be a game changer. So many times we were parked in a spot under a tree or with shadow on the panels and unable to maximise the sun for the day.
Hi, another well explained "how to" video. I have a similar set up but both are independent of one another. So can you use both your roof and portable solar at the same time ? So both would be running through the same solar controller at the same time. If so is there any chance of a couple of pictures of where and how they are connected. Many thanks from bonnie Scotland.
Yes so basically I just hooked it into the parallel connection of my rooftop panels. Essentially my rooftop panels pos and neg wires first terminate at a double pole dc breaker then into my charge controller. So the cable I ran to the back of the van for my portable panel, the neg and pos are also just firstly terminated into the same DC double pole breaker. Essentially continuing the parallel solar connection of the system. I’ll be releasing a video in the next few weeks explaining my whole electrical system with the new upgrades.
I got super lucky and got 2 of these same cells by kings for $800 still in the box on marketplace! 400ah and 1200watts covering my roof. Great vid mate
Love a good marketplace bargain! I did however one buy a deep cycle battery off marketplace and it turned out to be a dud, but if it’s still in the box I hope that it’s still good.
Handy tip - If you go to Springers Solar they will cut and assemble custom wires for you with all custom lugs, just went today. $5 per cable to assemble, saves you buying the tools
I thought the new regulations state that if you do an upgrade to an existing installation, you need to put the batteries in a sealed and vented battery box to prevent gas leakage into the habitable living area. Whilst this was useful (especially for us Ford Transit owners), I reckon you should've taken this opportunity to ensure the van was properly compliant with the (ridiculously over-complicated and draconian) regulations.
So refreshing to see a RUclipsr refer to a 200ah battery as "massive" (which it is). Sick of those insane American vans with like 1000ah battle borns haha
Soldering lugs to the cables in vans and boats is not good at all. Cripping is the only way. Those breakers seem good but aren't. I tested three of them on the bench for my install and they just don't work well at all. They trip off and off over and over at a lower current draw than speced for. Better to use the correct Mega Fuse with an inverter. Just saying.
I used solar on an extension like you did and I can vouch for what a great idea this is! It's great for parking in the shade on a hot day and having the additional solar panels out under the sun. Also you get charging all day not just when the sun is overhead which like you said doesn't always happen in winter. btw , check your audio.
Yup I did the same you can move it to catch the sun
I think it’s going to be a game changer. So many times we were parked in a spot under a tree or with shadow on the panels and unable to maximise the sun for the day.
Jaesus! That battery is massive. You could get the same 200W in about 30% less space.
Maybe 30% less kickback fee, too 😉
Hi, another well explained "how to" video. I have a similar set up but both are independent of one another. So can you use both your roof and portable solar at the same time ? So both would be running through the same solar controller at the same time. If so is there any chance of a couple of pictures of where and how they are connected. Many thanks from bonnie Scotland.
Yes so basically I just hooked it into the parallel connection of my rooftop panels. Essentially my rooftop panels pos and neg wires first terminate at a double pole dc breaker then into my charge controller. So the cable I ran to the back of the van for my portable panel, the neg and pos are also just firstly terminated into the same DC double pole breaker. Essentially continuing the parallel solar connection of the system. I’ll be releasing a video in the next few weeks explaining my whole electrical system with the new upgrades.
What a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing.
Your welcome!
I got super lucky and got 2 of these same cells by kings for $800 still in the box on marketplace! 400ah and 1200watts covering my roof. Great vid mate
Love a good marketplace bargain! I did however one buy a deep cycle battery off marketplace and it turned out to be a dud, but if it’s still in the box I hope that it’s still good.
@@saltyvanventures yeah I could imagine that happening, but still sealed in the box a lady was selling off all brand new gear :)
Handy tip - If you go to Springers Solar they will cut and assemble custom wires for you with all custom lugs, just went today. $5 per cable to assemble, saves you buying the tools
Great tip! Thanks for sharing and that’s a pretty good deal too.
I thought the new regulations state that if you do an upgrade to an existing installation, you need to put the batteries in a sealed and vented battery box to prevent gas leakage into the habitable living area. Whilst this was useful (especially for us Ford Transit owners), I reckon you should've taken this opportunity to ensure the van was properly compliant with the (ridiculously over-complicated and draconian) regulations.
Congrats on getting married! Quick question. Why did you replace the battery instead of combining both? What are you going to do with the old battery?
Thank you! The battery was basically underperforming and it wasn't the best battery. I also wanted the space under the seat for other things
So refreshing to see a RUclipsr refer to a 200ah battery as "massive" (which it is). Sick of those insane American vans with like 1000ah battle borns haha
Haha yeh those batteries are insane. Who even needs a 1000ah battery!
Soldering lugs to the cables in vans and boats is not good at all. Cripping is the only way. Those breakers seem good but aren't. I tested three of them on the bench for my install and they just don't work well at all. They trip off and off over and over at a lower current draw than speced for. Better to use the correct Mega Fuse with an inverter. Just saying.
Get rid of that deck mate, I can't believe you ever use it. Waste of good solar real estate!
That’s where we store all our long surfboards when traveling around, so although it looks like wasted solar space it is in fact well-utilised space.
@@saltyvanventures chuck them on the side or inside roof, easier to get to then too lol. But you do you haha ;)