Solar Panels Installed

[Dodgey]

I'd imagine the difference would exist, though it would be a tiny amount - you can unbolt the panel in a couple of mins and put it in the van if it was a concern.

[madlec]

Thanks Dodgey. As the Bongo isn't exactly the most aerodynamic of vehicles, I wasn't sure how much of a difference it would make. I can live with a little more drag

[mikeonb4c]

I'd expect the drag penalty to be minimal as a proportion of total drag esp as airflow over the roof is probably already turbulent as a result of disturbance caused to the airflow from being pushed up over the windscreen and then left to try and reattach itself.

[madlec]

100w solar panel fitted, happy leisure battery, able to run the fridge 24/7 and no change to fuel consumption

[bunny_mac]

My sincere apologies if this is a really dumb question, but I'm very new to this whole Bongo thing (in fact we haven't even picked our Bongo up yet, we get him in three days!)...

If we install a solar panel, does this mean we can use the 'normal' plugs to plug in, say, a laptop? Or do you need electric hook-up to use the three-pin plugs?

My other half is hoping to use the Bongo as his mobile office so the ability to plug in a laptop in a remote location would be fab.

[Colin H F]

but most laptops are around 20volts the box between your 13 amp plug and the end that plugs into your lappy reduses the 13 amp 230v down to the voltage needed by your lappy, so if your on a site with 230v just charge your battery on lappy up so you can use it when your not on site

[roosmith]

To run a laptop you will need an inverter, to convert the 12VDC you get from the battery/ies into 240VAC. For something as low powered as a laptop, this will be fairly inexpensive.

However you may be a little confused as to what the solar panel does. Your new Bongo will have one or two batteries (depending on options and whether anyone has subsequently fitted an additional leisure battery). They provide the Bongo with 12v to power everything, including starting it. The solar panels charge these batteries. This means that you can run 12v items from the batteries without the engine running and hopefully without draining the batteries too much (depending on drain of items you are using). People (myself included) run fridges, charge phones, lights, radio etc for days without having to start the engine, using the batteries and solar panels. Using an inverter for the laptop will take a bit more but on a nice sunny day you shouldn't be able to drain the batteries and I'm guessing you wouldn't need the laptop 24/7!

[Mark Elvin]

Out of interest, what cutoff voltage do people have their solar controller set to for max voltage

[roosmith]

I don't have a cut off set Mark. What is the maximum output from your panel? Does it need a cut off?

[bunny_mac]

To run a laptop you will need an inverter, to convert the 12VDC you get from the battery/ies into 240VAC. For something as low powered as a laptop, this will be fairly inexpensive.

However you may be a little confused as to what the solar panel does. Your new Bongo will have one or two batteries (depending on options and whether anyone has subsequently fitted an additional leisure battery). They provide the Bongo with 12v to power everything, including starting it. The solar panels charge these batteries. This means that you can run 12v items from the batteries without the engine running and hopefully without draining the batteries too much (depending on drain of items you are using). People (myself included) run fridges, charge phones, lights, radio etc for days without having to start the engine, using the batteries and solar panels. Using an inverter for the laptop will take a bit more but on a nice sunny day you shouldn't be able to drain the batteries and I'm guessing you wouldn't need the laptop 24/7!

Ah, thank you roosmith (and Colin H F!). So having a solar panel is not the equivalent of having an electric hook-up, is that right? So what does having an electric hook-up do?! (Sorry for the dumb questions...)

[Colin H F]

it gives you the mains voltage of 230 volts so you can run the same things as you do in your house

[Gasy]

^^^^^
And charges your 12 v battery if you have a good conversion set up
But with solar panels many people don't need hook up
Especially as said if you have a half decent inverta

The solar panel keeps your battery's charged up
Your battery's power your inverta to provide 240v to small appliances
Your inverta will charge your lap top no prob

I only use hook up if we staying for week or more to boil kettle from home
But you can get small camping kettle which will run off a inverta

So with solar panels and leisure battery and inverta no need for hook up

[the1andonly]

You can remain totally 12v
12v chargers or USB are available for most phones and such.
For Laptops a DC-DC convertor is required. I got mine from Maplin
here's an example


http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/15-24v-laptop ... tips-a33hu

[Gasy]

^^^^
I always wondered if they did them
I have the same but for 12v down
Bit expensive them sort of things usually only last a year or so usually cable goes

[the1andonly]

Nothing new is any good or doesn't last
mine was cheaper and still works
but hasn't been used much
My mothers twin tub was bought in 1960, the spiinner stopped working in 1980 until she replaced the lid with a 6" nail through the lid handle/bracket, it worked until she didn't.
I made my british made tumble drier work for over 20 yrs with a little bit of welding (poor swaging) and new thermostat.
Have we forgotten how to mend things?