I am setting up a 12v system in an exhibition trailer in the UK. I have been paying £500 a year for the use of electricity and for various reasons I want to stop using it. So I thought a 12v battery system charged up with solar panels would be the answer.
I have bought 2 x Banner Energy Bull 130Ah batteries, 2 x 5M led tape (I thought this gives the biggest bangs for your bucks) and various connectors plus a voltage display meter.
I have been looking at solar panels and controllers and my head is spinning.
My first idea was to fit the panels to the trailer but now I think the best way is to fit these to my flat roofed garage and disconnect them when the trailer goes out 3 times a week. The trailer is stored under cover, so the panels would only be in the sun for 3 x 8 hours a week. The batteries would get a lot more charge from roof mounted panels.
The problem I have is: which panels and controller to choose. There is so much choice. I can't get my head around the Wattages and Amp hours needed.
I would like to use an MPPT controller, they are more expensive but, over time, will be more cost effective as they are more efficient. I found some PWM controllers that have 2 separate battery connections but I cannot find an MPPT controller that controls 2 batteries. The Morning Star ones seem to be good quality.
I will be powering:
1 x Desktop Computer
2 x Laptops
1 x Till
some LED tape lighting
I've already spent nearly £500, which was my budget for the whole system. I expect to spend another £500, which means it'll take 2 years instead of 1 to get my money back.
I still haven't bought an inverter yet. I have a 150w one, which runs the till OK but won't power the desktop. The LED tape runs directly from the batteries and I have small car inverters for the laptops.
Please can someone advise which solar panels and controller I need and how to calculate the Amp hours and Wattages.
I have bought 2 x Banner Energy Bull 130Ah batteries, 2 x 5M led tape (I thought this gives the biggest bangs for your bucks) and various connectors plus a voltage display meter.
I have been looking at solar panels and controllers and my head is spinning.
My first idea was to fit the panels to the trailer but now I think the best way is to fit these to my flat roofed garage and disconnect them when the trailer goes out 3 times a week. The trailer is stored under cover, so the panels would only be in the sun for 3 x 8 hours a week. The batteries would get a lot more charge from roof mounted panels.
The problem I have is: which panels and controller to choose. There is so much choice. I can't get my head around the Wattages and Amp hours needed.
I would like to use an MPPT controller, they are more expensive but, over time, will be more cost effective as they are more efficient. I found some PWM controllers that have 2 separate battery connections but I cannot find an MPPT controller that controls 2 batteries. The Morning Star ones seem to be good quality.
I will be powering:
1 x Desktop Computer
2 x Laptops
1 x Till
some LED tape lighting
I've already spent nearly £500, which was my budget for the whole system. I expect to spend another £500, which means it'll take 2 years instead of 1 to get my money back.
I still haven't bought an inverter yet. I have a 150w one, which runs the till OK but won't power the desktop. The LED tape runs directly from the batteries and I have small car inverters for the laptops.
Please can someone advise which solar panels and controller I need and how to calculate the Amp hours and Wattages.
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