{"id":7875,"date":"2021-04-15T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.4wdsupacentre.com.au\/news\/?p=7875"},"modified":"2021-04-09T16:49:45","modified_gmt":"2021-04-09T06:49:45","slug":"adding-a-solar-panel-to-your-camping-electrical-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.emgcloud.net\/news\/adding-a-solar-panel-to-your-camping-electrical-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Adding a Solar Panel To Your Camping Electrical System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What options have you got for adding a camping solar panel<\/strong> <\/a>to your existing camping 12V setup? And more importantly, what\u2019s the correct way to do it? Let\u2019s take a look at this often-asked question and the right way to use a solar panel<\/a><\/strong> to keep your battery charged while you\u2019re camping. This is a must-read for all campers looking to take their camping experience to the next level!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: WHAT SHOULD I USE, MY DC\/DC CHARGER\u2019S SOLAR REGULATOR OR THE ONE IN-BUILT INTO THE PANEL?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Depends what the rest of your setup\u2019s like. Generally speaking, if you\u2019ve got a choice of both the panel\u2019s own regulator and the one built into your DC\/DC charger, then use the most modern, high tech regulator of the two. If it\u2019s a PWM controller fitted to your solar panel<\/strong><\/a> then use the DC\/DC charger, and vice-versa. However, should you want to bypass the panel\u2019s own regulator, don\u2019t ditch it permanently. Use switches to wire it up in a way that you can bypass the regular, or still choose to use it. That way, you\u2019re not limiting the solar panel\u2019<\/strong><\/a>s<\/strong> usefulness to your own vehicle, and your bum mates can borrow it too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HARD-MOUNTING YOUR SOLAR PANEL FOR CAMPING<\/strong>
The other option you have is hardmounting your solar panel<\/a><\/strong> and permanently wiring it up. This can be as simple as pop riveting to your roofrack<\/a><\/strong>, or can be done with \u00a0\u00a0set of drawer slides mounted to the underside of the roofrack<\/a><\/strong>. The ideal setup would still allow the c<\/strong>amping solar panel to be tilted to chase the sun as the day progresses, via the use of hinges, but that\u2019s where some good old fashioned Aussie ingenuity comes into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOLAR POWER METERS<\/strong>
For about $50 or so, you can pick up trick little solar power meters that you simply fit inline with your solar panel, typically via the use of Anderson plugs. These take the guess-work out of solar panels,<\/a> allowing you to see exactly what sort of amps and watts your solar panel\u2019s<\/strong> <\/a>putting out. It\u2019s particularly useful in learning how to best angle your camping solar panel<\/a><\/strong> towards the sun and the difference that angles of misalignment or shade make, but other than that it\u2019s just a bloody cool gadget. And \u00a0let\u2019s face it, who doesn\u2019t like gadgets?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT BATTERY TO CONNECT TO<\/strong>
The first thought is obviously \u2018the auxiliary battery\u2019<\/strong><\/a>, but hold on a minute. Let\u2019s say you connect your solar panel \u2013 with its built-in regulator \u2013 to your crank battery. It then charges the crank battery, \u00a0which in turn makes your dual battery isolator think the engine\u2019s running and the alternator\u2019s charging. It then allows power to flow through to the auxiliary battery<\/strong>, <\/a>making sure that all receive charge. The only downside here is many isolators<\/strong> <\/a>and battery chargers<\/strong><\/a> won\u2019t kick in til around 13.5V. In the middle of the day it shouldn\u2019t be an issue to get that out of your solar panels<\/a><\/strong>, but towards the end of the day you might find that the isolator cuts out and only the crank battery receives charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PORTABLE SOLAR POWER<\/strong>
For the majority of 4WDers who escape for a night or two every month or so, the simplest solution is to stick with an off the shelf portable solar kit<\/strong> <\/a>that uses alligator clips. It\u2019ll come with its own storage bag that carries the panel plus the cabling, along with a carry handle for easy storage. The downside is that, \u00a0assuming we\u2019re talking a traditional folding solar panel<\/strong>, <\/a>when folded away it\u2019s still quite large and bulky. Think one of those bi-fold camp chairs that folds up into a square and you\u2019re roughly on the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How big a panel\u2019s big enough for your setup? The general rule when it comes to solar power for camping<\/strong>, i<\/a>s \u2018as big as you can afford and fit\u2019. More is always better than less, especially these days when fridges, fr eezers, and all sorts of 12V gear<\/strong> finding their way into 4WDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOW MUCH POWER DO YOU NEED?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First up, figure out what you want to draw off your battery<\/strong>. <\/a>Here\u2019s a bit of a guide as to what some of the most common 12V accessories will draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n