I am so grateful that I found this video. I had a caravan shipped to Cyprus from the UK and although the battery is only one year old I'm fairly certain that it's flat as lots of things were left on during shipping. I'm a complete novice at caravans but boy am I learning.

Hi Dan and family we are new to caravaning, after trailer tenting for 13years. We are working our way though your videos, there are lots of new things for us to learn about. solar panels on my list for next year keep up the good work, good to see all your family taking part

Just brought my first caravan and a complete newbie.. watched some of your videos and great easy to understand information. Thanks!

Hi Dan I've been following you Chanel since we purchased our Knaus Sport 500 FDK. We are also a family of 4 living in Groningen in the Netherlands from Australia. My Wife has her career here now and I'm the stay at home dad with Jack 11 and Oliver 8. I find your video. Clips very entertaining and informative for someone who has not been a caravan person previously. We are currently on our 2nd caravan trip for 4 days quite close to home and getting everything sorted in regard how it works, what we need going forward. You right about packing the kitchen sink and more not needed as you've said previously! My main thought processes are now towards off grid camping. We are getting 12v TV & DVD player. The only thing that does not work is the hot water which is 230V, I could have got the mix including gas but in the excitement of the order of the van did not think of it. We also have Aircon which today 30C is working a treat on powered site here. So all our lighting, heating, fridge will work away from mains power. So the question in my mind do I go for a inverter generator to cover hot water and aircon. We can get solar panel setup for battery supplied areas of the van. I'm also looking at investing in satellite Dish Snipe 2 which is auto tuning and will run off 12v DC. Our plan is to do a 3 week trip to Scotland in summer and all the Caravan club sites have power so Generator situation not urgent at present. Going off grid is a real dream for me here as we have a great opportunity to explore Uk and Europe and beyond very easily and economically. I look forward to maybe crossing paths one day for a chat as you seem to be very like minded in your approach to you Caravaning. Also thank you for us for all you and your families advice towards our Caravanning future. All the Best H. Chris Denison Chrisdenison52@gmail.com

Thanks for these videos's Dan. They are superb points of reference for a new caravanner. I've replicated this set up in our van now to keep our battery topped up!!

Great video again Dan. Another advantage of your system over a roof panel is that you can direct yours towards the sun for better solar gain. Having said that, my 100w (I think) on the roof keeps me going all summer long off-grid, but I don't have a TV and use the tablet over the laptop wherever possible, which of course I charge up during the day. You've inspired me to finally do a video about my off-grid set up...once I make the time! :)

Hi Dan. We bought our lovely 2nd hand caravan in May and your videos have been invaluable. I've bought a solar panel, but it has crocodile clip fixings to attach to the battery terminals. This is fine for charging up when we're not needing to use the battery, but I've got no idea whether it's possible to attach it in a different way so that we can charge and use at the same time. I'm happy to do DIY but don't want to mess up!

My word Dan. You make some really useful videos. Thank you so much.

Saw you on the telly...just want to say, love all your help for us beginners...

we have 2 on the roof 2x125 watt and 2 portable 2 x 100 watt and we find we get a lot more power following the sun with the portable panel but for a normal weekend rally our top ones are more than enough but if the weather is dull we have still drained the battery this is down to our tv although after 12 months and 10 days its now packed up so we wont be buying Samsung again.great video as always keep up the good work

Excellent video, I'd just point out it might be worth checking how much heat is generated in direct sunlight. We had to replace the front windows of our van because of distorted windows, probably caused we think by the blind being left down by a previous owner while in storage and the heat of the sun.

Enjoy following Trudgians online from Australia. We have a panel fixed to our roof and also additional panels to set on ground when on site. Comment I have is do you think your setup may be a fire risk? Admittedly we get more sun, but we can’t touch the panels, need to allow them to cool before storage. Keep up the videos guys, really enjoy them.

Nice setup. One thing I noticed was that one of the panels is obscured by the window's frame... this creates shade on some of the cells on that panel and will limit its output current. If you could find panels that fit perfectly to the window, that'd be ideal!

Thanks Dan that has helped . Best wishes to you and family

Thanks, Dan. Great video that will help me with my future purchase and how to get it all set up.

Thanks we also have them wired in series through Morningstar controllers mppt

Hi, I'm interested in getting this set up very soon, my questions: 1)how do you access the battery box. 2) if my battery does have the same connections as yours do I connect directly to battery terminal +ve & -ve?

I love your little annex , would be much better and easier then using an awning and annex

Thank you for your reply Dan . Any more forward with getting a new van.

Watched a lot of your stuff Dan, and over a couple years at that. Always good and very helpful. Thank you very much, and keep on going with the videos :)

Very good, new intro much better.

Hi Dan my wife and I are new to caravaning and was after a bit of advice please. The caravan we have purchased comes with a new leisure battery and we are wondering what is the ideal wattage solar panel to fit whilst the caravan is in storage? I have watched a lot of your very informative videos and have found them very helpful. Keep up the good work best regards John.

Hello Dan, Useful video with key points covered in a easy to follow manner. Is a 100w solar panel enough to keep the leisure battery topped up when at storage or off grid? Thanks Anthony

Great Vid Dan (as usual) - can you remember if the surface gets warm of the panel when in the window? We have a very similar Lunar and probably going for the 120w version of this and just wanted to check especially on hot days when in storage - Thanks and keep safe

Thanks Dan for the very informative video. My question is if I want to remove my battery do I have to disconnect the solar panel from the control box to avoid damaging it.

Excellent explanation Thanks

Quick question Dan. Most panels of this size and type online seem to have a 10amp controller fitted, yours appears to be a 20amp. In fact following your link to ebay, leads to an EcWorthy panel with a 15amp controller, so I was wondering if I order a panel that is 100w and has a 10amp controller, will that do the job or should I be looking for a 15 or 20amp controller for 100w? Alpha Batteries have a 100w one, 10amp controller and with a 5 year warranty and German Solar Cells for £149, so that was my preffered supplier at the moment. Excellent video, you have convinced me to try off grid caravanning next year.

Hi Dan thanks for this video. As new to all dis I bought a solar panel but did not know I needed a controller. So this is a big help but I have another problem! Hi do I connect controller as don’t have same one or connection’s? And also to battery?

New Sub and a cracking video. Nice to see a simple set up that works. To many people over complicate their systems. We did exactly this when we were tuggers but now in the motorhome we have two 150W on the roof. No inverter as we are all 12v or below :-)

very good, thanks for the Information on panels..

looking at this youtube with interest as i need to do something similiar, however came across the following on a solar panel supplier's site on their FAQ Can I Use a Solar Panel Inside my Caravan / Boat Next to the Window? Even if it looks as if there is a lot of light inside the caravan / boat it is actually much better if a solar panel is located outside. Even in the middle of the day, a caravan solar panel is going to get more direct sunlight when it is situated outside where the efficiency and power generated by the solar panel will be higher. Besides, if a solar panel is kept inside, even next to the window, it is quite likely that some solar cells will be shaded. This reduces the efficiency of the solar panel and puts some strain on shaded solar cells to pass current generated by sunlit solar cells which is not recommended.

Hi,it would be really good to have a video on how you use the solar,after you attached it to the battery,do you switch it onto mainsor 12 volt?Sorry but no idea about any of this :) Thanks

Hi Dan great video - quick question please; when you have the solar panel connected to battery for charging do you need to shut system down at fuse box?

Hi Dan, I've learned so much from your videos, they have been a great help. I have a suitcase solar panel but one side had got smashed. I had bought another one for outside, but after seeing this video, can I separate them and use the good one for keeping a trickle to the battery all year?

Would I need an inverter if I want to hook a solar panel and battery up to my hydroponic garden system to get a continuous charge?

Hi Dan, New to caravanning in this my retirement year but as an ex shopfitter I am quite handy on the tools. Great video by the way but then they are all good so far! I was going to ask how you managed to get the cables into the battery box but you have answered that one but I still would like to ask a few questions. What is the amp size of the fuse you used? What length are the cables' on the panel? If have to extend the cables what are the best connecting methods just to be on the safe side? Cheers !

useful stuff mate.. wondered about the load connection now i know cheers

Hi, new to caravaning and love your videos, very informative for me being a novice. How do you get the battery lead from inside the van to the outside when on pitch etc. Is there a large enough hole for the small plug to pull through or do you have another lead for the outside?? Hope that makes sense. By the way I see a lot of these panels for sale with crocodile clips would it be better to remove them and make a firm fixing?? Thanks David

Could one of these charge a mobile phone and if so could it be connected to controller at all? Sorry if it seems a silly question I'm not very clever!

great video as always! Cheers from Italy!

Next on my wish list great video .

Hi Dan, your videos are excellent I've watched almost all of them. I'm on my 2nd caravan now and absolutely love it. I plug my caravan in on my driveway, will it trickle charge or could this damage it??? Maybe a trickle charge guide soon 😉 keep up the good work 👍👍👍

this is awesome educational tools for renewable power.. hope you let me borrow it.. thanks..

What is the best solar charger for a 100w panel. 10amp or 20amp

Great informative video, thanks Dan..

Another great informative video. Thank you!

Is there a video on how to change a in built charger in a caravan mine has given up the ghost ???

Thanks for the great videos. I'm all set up nicely with solar. but I do have a question. I'm looking for an awning for my coachman 450 and I really like the look of the one showing at the beginning of this video. Is it black? I love it! Would you mind telling me the make of it? Is it easy for one person to erect? Thankyou

Thanks Dan , really helpful

great video Dan

Hi Dan do think a free standing panel or a roof mounted one is better option thanks

Informative Vid Dan, Technical Question! In your setup you have solar panel in front window AND occaisionally set up outside , so could you please tell me more about the cabling please? 1. I assume you have crocadile clips to connect to battery, yes? did you make the hole in battery box for this function (where is the hole? top, bottom, sides? and how big is the hole?). 2. OR, do you have a permenant connection to battery? with some sort of easy disconnect in battery bo (A-to go into caravan, B-to go outside of the caravan) so that you meraly have to disconnect cable on inside and when you take out solar panel along with this disconnect (sorry don't know what its called?) and go outside, you can just cable connect it back up from outside in battery box , to make it work from outside. If No. 2 is correct? what are the disconnects called? and where can you get them? Thanks Dan! if you can answer this I will be surprised? as I am almost not understanding above myself? but I believe the way you use your system is great (inside & outside) but the techniques of EXACTLY how are too obscure? so now you know, (I hope)

Hi Dan, I'm about to purchase a 100 watt solar panel which has a 15 amp controller, what size is your controller? Also what gauge 12v wiring would you recommend as I want to install a couple of usb sockets? thanks in advance, always appreciate your videos.

Hi dan would it be better to get a 30amp controller and not need all 30amps or a smaller amp controller and push it harder if that makes sense? Thanks

Hi Dan, what are your thoughts on a flexible solar panel stuck on the van roof and the wires down the unused awning channel so no drilling of the roof.

Great informative video thank you

Hi guys i have just picked up a Lunar Clubman SI 2017 , it`s been on my drive with a good battery and solar panel fitted . I left it for 2 days without hookup and now a flat battery, please can you point me in the right direction as to what im doing wrong. I thought the solar panel would charge the battery, thanks for any advice you can give me.

Awesome

Hi Dan, just a quick question, the link brings me to a 50w panel, is this what you have or is it the more expensive one?

Hi, Love your channel very informative especially as we're just starting out. Regarding your solar set up what size male spade connections did you use for the inline fuse ? Thanks Dave

hi there what if the weather is dull (not uncommon in the uk)

I what size is the watt meter. Thanks keith

HI Dan, I want to do some off grid stuff through Caravan club book, Andrew raised a good point in his off grid blog about why he went for a roof fitted setup as worried about getting portable panel stolen, what are your thoughts on the two different setups of solar power ? Thanks Andrew

Hi Dan interesting video and something I am planning myself, just a question, how well does this setup work in the winter months. Thanks Steve

Do you know what should panel be charging at. Caravan dealer says mine on swift fitted is charging at 0.7amps. Asking as my last brand new battery went flat over 8 weeks with everything switched off. They suggest cleaning panel. It is clean.

just watched this with Mad professor Dub me crazy in the background. Hear me now!

Very good

Dan thank you for all your great tips. Can you help me . Can you make wire from solar panel longer or not

Hi Dan, Great Video. Which direction does your van face? I am considering the same set up you have (from your links) just to keep the battery trickle charged and in good condition, I turn everything off and no alarm so the drain will be small. The trouble is our van front window faces North, do you think it would still charge? Thanks and keep up the good content. Tig :)

Can't find a link?

nice work Dan. when you said connect to the battery in the battery box did you drill through it to pass the leads through and of so did you then seal the hole again with a committee or mastic of some kind. also what would the max you would expect the controller to reach voltage wise before switching off to save cooking the battery. ray.

Hi great video 👍 Just one question do you get much heat generated/reflection between the panel and the windows just a bit worried about heat damage to the windows Thanks graham

All explained well, thanks. when I was in NZ, I saw most of the caravans had the English style panoramic front window, which are hardly ever seen in Australia, haha, shite roads here.

Hi Just wondering if you could answer me a quick question we are new to caravanning and like yours our caravan has an alarm we are going to purchase a solar panel but could you tell me where you have put the watts up meter on yours as I didn't notice it on the video when you showed your set up.

Hi Dan Apologies if this is a repeated question but I've just purchased the same solar panel you have and I just want to get my head around the connection that you have bolted on the battery to the actual solar panel, am I right in thinking that we can see the connection when you show the back of your panel in the video? If so I assume you just have this connection and cable loose under the front bed when not in use? Would love a link to this product so I get it right first time?

Thanks for the info :-)

We have a 160watt solar panel in a suitcase configuration. Do we put a fuse between the positive output of the controller to positive battery terminal. and what rating of fuse do we need to use?

One question - you connect the unit to the main battery of the Caravan. What happens if I do not unplug that and I plug the caravan to the 220V - that mean that the main battery charger start to work together with the solar one? thx

Hi, does the power of the caravan need to be in the on or off position when using the solar panel whilst in storage?

Dan could you please tell me the best wattage folding panel for a large battery on our caravan

ve 1 question, hopefully, you can answer it for me please? What solar panals should I need for a set up like yours (no idea of amp hours on battery, in storage?) I know you said you got 2 x50watt panels and thats ok for you! could I get away with a solar panel of between 10 and 20 watts to trickle charge the van in storage all the time? or maybe 1x50watt? I have no idea? can you help

hi like the vid but i was wondering when you set it all up like you have can you still have a hook up on aswell or would they clash hope for a reply thanks

excellent video thx

Camera quality is great what are you using?

Questions 1) how do you connect 12v devices to you Solar power 2) what devices do you normally connect to ?

How long can you keep the panel connected to the battery?

hi, What fuse do you use between Solar panel and battery?

Thanks :-)

WHY don't you fix the solar panel to the roof of your caravan ?