Ecoflow portable solar panel

by mikeelawson Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:06 am

I have a Nueovo with80w solar panel. Is there anyway I can use my portable Ecoflow 110watt solar panel to help top this up? It currently has an MC4 connection on the end. If so what connection type will I need?

Regards
BOOMEL

by FreelanderUK Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:09 am

If the folding panel does not have it's own regulator you will need another solar regulator to use it, I am just installing the wiring and regulator this week end to use a folding panel

by Dbvwt Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:13 am

Does your portable panel have a built in regulator?

Edit….beaten to it!

by mikeelawson Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:14 am

FreelanderUK wrote:If the folding panel does not have it's own regulator you will need another solar regulator to use it, I am just installing the wiring and regulator this week end to use a folding panel

Please do tell more, would be interested in vehicle - components you are 8n tending to use

BOOMEL

by mikeelawson Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:15 am

Dbvwt wrote:Does your portable panel have a built in regulator?

Edit….beaten to it!

No it doesn’t

by IanH Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:44 am

Be better to sell it and put another one on the roof.
No storage needed, nothing to unpack, unfold, connect, position, burglarproof, when on site or, especially, if wild camping.... scratch head

by FreelanderUK Fri Jul 21, 2023 9:30 am

I will be using a Victron 75/15 Mppt solar regulator sited as close as possible to the habitation battery, this will be connected with 4mm2 cable to the battery, I will then run the 2 solar cables for the panels from the regulator out underneath the van to the engine bay where these will be terminated with an Anderson waterproof plug, I will make a 3meter fly lead with mc4 connections one end and Anderson the other, this will allow positioning of the panels. I have bought 2 100w folding panels and will connect them in parallel to increase the panel voltage for the Mppt regulator, your 110w panel will be ok with a pwr regulator, any questions please ask

by FreelanderUK Fri Jul 21, 2023 9:33 am

IanH wrote:Be better to sell it and put another one on the roof.
No storage needed, nothing to unpack, unfold, connect, position, burglarproof, when on site or, especially, if wild camping....

No room left on my roof Ian

by IanH Fri Jul 21, 2023 9:40 am

I'd be surprised if a bird could land on your roof, small bird at that!!! hugegrins

by Caraman Mon Jul 24, 2023 9:52 am

If you still have the Sargent solar regulator setup, it might be worth buying one dual battery MPPT regulator that is fed by both the 80W panel (bypassing the EC700) and the temporary 110W panel in parallel.

by FreelanderUK Mon Jul 24, 2023 10:00 am

Caraman wrote:If you still have the Sargent solar regulator setup, it might be worth buying one dual battery MPPT regulator that is fed by both the 80W panel (bypassing the EC700) and the temporary 110W panel in parallel.

Be a bit of a bind getting on the roof to connect the portable one in parallel unless he made a fly lead with mc4 connectors on to do it at the regulator , far easier to add a second regulator

by Caraman Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:40 pm

FreelanderUK wrote:

Be a bit of a bind getting on the roof to connect the portable one in parallel unless he made a fly lead with mc4 connectors on to do it at the regulator , far easier to add a second regulator

Making the connection on the roof certainly would be a bind which is why I would do it at the regulator, probably with the folding SP input passing into the engine compartment with appropriate connections as you have suggested. If he wants to go down the well trodden route of replacing the Sargent regulator, it must be easier and probably cheaper to fit one new regulator that does all rather than two.

Another way of connecting a folding SP might be by plugging it into the external cigar lighter socket which would be rewired to the new regulator (in parallel with the 80W panel). I wonder if a good enough connection can be made through a cigar lighter plug & socket and if a live and potentially exposed cigar lighter plug is safe?

by FreelanderUK Sat Jul 29, 2023 3:19 pm

I finished the install of separate Victron MPPT regulator and wiring, the regulator was installed as close the the habitation battery as possible with about 16inch of connecting leads, the panel camels were run under the van to the engine bay and exit at the side of the radiator terminated in a Anderson plug , 2 100w panels connected in parallel with a 2.5 meter extension lead terminated in mc4 connections at the panel end and a Anderson connection at the other end, working well as can see from the photos, microwave is running and a full 15ams from the 2 100w panels sowing on the 75/15regulator,

The best thing about Victron MPPT regulators is you can network them and they act as a single regulator

by glyne lock Tue Aug 01, 2023 2:28 pm

To make a solar wire connection you can get a very small size that is for 50amps that I use a lot
I make a connection to charge from the mains to save having to have to get to the batteries

by FreelanderUK Tue Aug 01, 2023 2:32 pm

I bought the smaller ones Glyne and it’s in 2 parts held together by a rubber sleeve and the crimp terminals were on the small side for the 4mm2 cable, I bought the correct size crimp terminals for the large Anderson connector from 12volt planet and used my battery terminal crimper to secure the cables , a lot sturdier

by Caraman Tue Aug 01, 2023 3:01 pm

FreelanderUK wrote:I finished the install of separate Victron MPPT regulator and wiring, the regulator was installed as close the the habitation battery as possible with about 16inch of connecting leads, the panel camels were run under the van to the engine bay and exit at the side of the radiator terminated in a Anderson plug , 2 100w panels connected in parallel with a 2.5 meter extension lead terminated in mc4 connections at the panel end and a Anderson connection at the other end, working well as can see from the photos, microwave is running and a full 15ams from the 2 100w panels sowing on the 75/15regulator,

The best thing about Victron MPPT regulators is you can network them and they act as a single regulator

Out of interest where did you get the folding panels from? The ones I have seen come with an integrated regulator which I wouldn't want. I was thinking of one folding panel between 60W and 80W to augment the 80W fixed panel on the roof but only when I needed it, which wouldn't be often as we normally use EHUs.

by FreelanderUK Tue Aug 01, 2023 3:55 pm

Caraman wrote:
Out of interest where did you get the folding panels from? The ones I have seen come with an integrated regulator which I wouldn't want. I was thinking of one folding panel between 60W and 80W to augment the 80W fixed panel on the roof but only when I needed it, which wouldn't be often as we normally use EHUs.

They are Renolgy 100w panels of eBay at a cost of £106 each, they are from the Renolgy eBay shop, on the website they are £119.99 each , looks like I bought them at the right time as now £135

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renogy-100W200W-Solar-Panel-Kit-12V-Foldable-Portable-Suitcase-Mono-Camping-RV/124987790168?var=426839434508&pageci=a5b80c5f-5e5a-47b5-bf03-4813e57bbcc5&redirect=mobile

by glyne lock Tue Aug 01, 2023 5:04 pm

My last order over 20 panels I saved £300 + as to the new price they are at now .they do have a lot of special deals and that’s when I buy a bulk amount. They are good panels and still a good price and a make I use most of the time and not had any problems with

by FreelanderUK Thu Aug 03, 2023 8:21 am

Caraman the price has dropped again on those folding panels I bought and linked too now down to £119.99

by FreelanderUK Mon Aug 14, 2023 2:38 pm

I finally finished the portable panel connection install, added an extra connection at the rear of the van near the solar regulator so I can have the folding panels at each end of the van depending on how we are pitched

by FreelanderUK Sat Aug 19, 2023 10:00 pm

We are now on a site for 10 days with no EHU , I know my roof panels will keep everything running on 240v with the inverter and keep my battery charged but trying the portable for the first time , will be trying the fridge and hot water on electric 1 to see if it works ,10 days to play with trying different things

by FreelanderUK Sun Aug 20, 2023 6:00 pm

Just a couple of Victron app readings showing how the portable panels perform, time is 17.45 pm clear sky sunny with a light breeze , two photos showing power with no 240v been used and the other using a 1000w kettle boiling half a litre of water,

200 watt portable angled and facing sun
390 watt roof panels flat

The benifit is early morning and later in the evening as the sun starts to drop with portable

Ecoflow portable solar panel

Ecoflow portable solar panel

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