size of battery needed for my solar panel

[Harry Bloomfield]

Is this caravan, by any chance, at the far end of a very wet muddy track?

 

[muckington]

It, like all such system, will need a charge controller. You need to learn some basic maths, to be able to calculate how long a battery might last, and how long it might take to charge up.

I do happen to have a solar charger (think it is what they calll it)

 

[JohnD]

For the usage you describe, you would to better to keep a spare battery in your car, which the car can keep charged up, and carry it into the caravan on each trip.

If you had two batteries, you could leave one in the caravan. Your 120W panel might possibly prevent it going flat enough to die.

You need a deep-discharge battery, not a car starter battery. I bought one from BMS recently on special offer.

 

[big-all]

I have 3 motion detector cameras to run off of it. Though there will not be much motion detected where the caravan is going. I plan to have the cameras switch on when I am away and switched off when I am there

just a thought do you have the expected consumption figures for that set up in use ??
also do you have requirements for use and storage from third party items like hard drives and expected power consumption in connection to the cameras from the connected items at the caravan that need powered including internet requirements ??

 

[muckington]

You need a deep-discharge battery, not a car starter battery. I bought one from BMS recently on special offer.

Someone told me that they are all the same these days, the plates insider are the same thickness anyway
BMS?

 

[muckington]

just a thought do you have the expected consumption figures for that set up in use ??
also do you have requirements for use and storage from third party items like hard drives and expected power consumption in connection to the cameras from the connected items at the caravan that need powered including internet requirements ??

They are Tapo camera that have a memory card insert. The internet is a mobile wifi dongle type

 

[ericmark]

The likes of the Rufford wind generator uses furlmatic design to bring it out of the wind when wind get too strong, so don't produce either with no or very high winds, they were used on the Falklands which is known for being windy, but to run an electric fence back in late 80's early 90's when I was there, the solar panel did a better job.

I do know the diesel heaters you are talking about, common in narrow boats, but in winter solar panel output is rather low, and you need some other method when the panels can't cope, be it a small generator, or taking the batteries somewhere to charge, that's up to you, but you need a back-up plan.

I would go to a narrow boat forum, they use generators, wind chargers and solar panels, both lead acid and lithium batteries, and can likely help better than on here. I have when using my e-bike gone to pubs and railway stations to recharge the batteries, there is normally somewhere you can take them.

 

[RrogerD]

You really need to be doing some research into it all. It isn't as simple as just connecting a panel to a battery. Have a look at the Facebook group:
Campervan Electrics

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3682684575132280

There is a mass of information there as well as some very knowledgeable persons you can ask for help.
Ask questions but I'd suggest not letting on that you want to cut corners or do it on the cheap (it can be expensive with lithium etc). Some of the guys tend to be very passionate about things. PS you don't necessarily need lithium but, you get what you pay for.