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Post by robmac on Nov 10, 2013 18:11:03 GMT
As some of you know, I am doing a tour round loch Lomond in January. I have now decided not to take the canoe as it may not be stable enough for the Loch and with the distances involved would be bloody hard work.
I have now bought myself an inflatable boat which has much more carrying capacity (1000 lbs) which means I can camp in comfort on the islands! I have also bought an electric outboard motor which will run for about 4 hours a day on a 110A leisure battery.
The question is, what sort of size solar panel(s) would I need to keep the batteries charged realistically in Winter?
I am taking 2x110a batteries, but I probably won't do more than 2 hours motoring a day, so one battery can be charged in the daytime whilst the other one is in use, I will probably want to buy the suitcase folding type so that it can be used for the MH as well.
I would swap batteries daily so that the half charged battery is connected to the solar panel and the fully charged is connected to the motor.
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Post by Pollik on Nov 10, 2013 19:36:13 GMT
I have solar panels rated at around 220W and about 300Ah of batteries. During winter, just parked up on my drive in Hereford, only using electricity for my bedside LED light (and control panel and indicator lights), I found that there were many times when the battery was losing charge. When the sky is heavy, not enough light gets through for the solar panels to do their work. If it is just routinely overcast, it is not so bad. I don't know if this helps you, or not.
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Post by francophile1947 on Nov 10, 2013 20:16:03 GMT
I reckon you may well struggle with a suitcase model Rob. Most of them seem to be fairly low powered (frequently 13W), which will do next to nothing during the winter. Even a 120W panel cannot replace the estimated 50A/h that you will be using, because they are not very efficient in the lower light conditions in January, plus there's not enough hours of daylight. Probably better to connect your leisure battery to your starter battery, with jump leads, and let your engine tick over for 30-60 minutes.
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Post by X on Nov 10, 2013 20:23:01 GMT
As some of you know, I am doing a tour round loch Lomond in January. I have now decided not to take the canoe as it may not be stable enough for the Loch and with the distances involved would be bloody hard work. I have now bought myself an inflatable boat which has much more carrying capacity (1000 lbs) which means I can camp in comfort on the islands! I have also bought an electric outboard motor which will run for about 4 hours a day on a 110A leisure battery. The question is, what sort of size solar panel(s) would I need to keep the batteries charged realistically in Winter? I am taking 2x110a batteries, but I probably won't do more than 2 hours motoring a day, so one battery can be charged in the daytime whilst the other one is in use, I will probably want to buy the suitcase folding type so that it can be used for the MH as well. I would swap batteries daily so that the half charged battery is connected to the solar panel and the fully charged is connected to the motor. I do not think your plan will work ! I would go for taking a gennie or get one of those 12v charger gennies you see at the shows ? How much daylight will there be that far north in january ? You can warm your hands up on the exhaust too ? lol
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Nov 10, 2013 21:10:03 GMT
Rob! Do you have any panels fixed to the van roof ? Even here in sunny Bournemouth some days my panel makes nothing.I was just thinking that you could have a fixed panel on the roof of the van and a split charge system ,which would charge the batts while driving as well.Then unplug a battery and use on the boat.A gennie would probably be helpful also.
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Post by X on Nov 10, 2013 21:20:12 GMT
He is doing a tour ! In a boat ! How the ******** Is the motorhome going with him ?? You should have bought that ex military landing craft after all !!!!
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Post by robmac on Nov 11, 2013 6:51:41 GMT
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Nov 11, 2013 6:56:49 GMT
No van = no good! Small panels useless up there then,you'll need a petrol outboard for sure.
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Post by robmac on Nov 11, 2013 6:58:03 GMT
Rob! Do you have any panels fixed to the van roof ? Even here in sunny Bournemouth some days my panel makes nothing.I was just thinking that you could have a fixed panel on the roof of the van and a split charge system ,which would charge the batts while driving as well.Then unplug a battery and use on the boat.A gennie would probably be helpful also. Hi Stephen, No I don't have any panels on the roof at the moment, but I wanted to go with the suitcase type because I can keep the panels pointed at the sun when parked, and also keep them clean easily. I won't be taking the van on this trip, I am taking a Tipi (with the frontier stove!) and camping on the islands, so I need to be completely self sufficient for a week. A 2hp petrol outboard will probably only use about a litre a day. (and there's always the oars!).
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Post by wildman on Nov 11, 2013 9:20:51 GMT
I recon you should leave the electic motor behind and get a small seagull outboard, and run all day on a few litres. no sure what canoe you have but it will have less windage than an inflateable. Solar in January, especially that far north forget it, most of the day the sun will be on or below the horizon so no charge. Have a good trip Rob what you need is a decent sit on top kayak.
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Post by robmac on Nov 11, 2013 11:12:26 GMT
Love the sit on top's Roger. Especially the fishing versions, but I want more cargo capacty. Much more capacity in the canoe, which is a Pelican Explorer, but it is maybe a little unstable for the loch in winter. The inflatable is an Intex Excursion 5, which at 12ft x 5ft 6 is a lot more stable. Some people with no experience of them have written them off as 'pool' toys, but they are in fact extremely well made and have been used in white water and on the sea. I am really impressed with mine, but the first thing I will do is put a plywood floor in it.
By the way, I have always been a fan of the Seagull outboards, proper job! I'll have a look around, but will probably end up with a Honda 2 or 2.3 4 stroke (Boat has 1.5 HP limit, so half throttle job!).
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Post by kangooroo on Nov 11, 2013 12:02:18 GMT
It sounds like a good trip and one I'd love to do on my sit-on although it has no stowage at all. I'd prefer to head up to Loch Ness though instead of Loch Lomond. I hope you'll take a waterproof camera and share lots of piccies/video.
I have no experience of solar panels other than for charging my phone and torch but am very the Scottish days enjoy at least an hour less daylight than we do further south in January...
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Post by robmac on Nov 11, 2013 12:23:01 GMT
It sounds like a good trip and one I'd love to do on my sit-on although it has no stowage at all. I'd prefer to head up to Loch Ness though instead of Loch Lomond. I hope you'll take a waterproof camera and share lots of piccies/video. I have no experience of solar panels other than for charging my phone and torch but am very the Scottish days enjoy at least an hour less daylight than we do further south in January... I found Loch Ness a bit stark and featureless by boat Karen (and very eerie), although the Caledonian canal was great and the smaller lochs. Loch Lomond in winter is great though, none of the Neds about and you can have an island to yourself, and each island has it's own history which I have researched before and need to brush up on! The Crinan canal is also on my list, and countless other Lochs, Loch Marie, Loch Awe, etc etc etc. I don't think I will live long enough to do them all!
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Post by kangooroo on Nov 11, 2013 12:57:09 GMT
The Crinan canal is also on my list, and countless other Lochs, Loch Marie, Loch Awe, etc etc etc. I don't think I will live long enough to do them all! Loch Awe... I taught myself to row there. Aged 19, I bought a cheap kiddies blow-up dinghy with plastic oars, togged myself out in waterproofs and bouyancy aid, inflated it in the parking area using a leaky car foot-pump, cleared some ice from the surface then somehow got it to the middle of the loch and had to work out how to row to get myself back to dry land. Not the wisest method on a cold dark evening in early February!
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Post by robmac on Nov 13, 2013 14:29:53 GMT
I'm actually now thinking of changing my trip from Loch Lomond to Loch Awe (I've done Loch Lomond before, and Loch Ness). It's a little more remote and so less people, especially in Winter and at 26 miles long there is plenty to see.
There aren't as many islands as Lomond, but the ones on Awe are good for camping and there are some lovely old castles to explore. Fishing is better too!
I'm not taking the MH, just the little Citroen Dispatch which I am starting to convert to a mini camper, so after a few days tent camping on the Loch Awe islands, I may head off to Oban and then Mull.
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Post by runnach on Dec 1, 2013 22:38:08 GMT
I'm actually now thinking of changing my trip from Loch Lomond to Loch Awe (I've done Loch Lomond before, and Loch Ness). It's a little more remote and so less people, especially in Winter and at 26 miles long there is plenty to see. There aren't as many islands as Lomond, but the ones on Awe are good for camping and there are some lovely old castles to explore. Fishing is better too! I'm not taking the MH, just the little Citroen Dispatch which I am starting to convert to a mini camper, so after a few days tent camping on the Loch Awe islands, I may head off to Oban and then Mull. Catching up here. Be very careful on L Awe, weather can change very quickly, from a calm, to sea sate 5>6 loch! Also keep clear of Hydro Station water intakes. Personally, I'd head for Mull, via Lochaline
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Post by robmac on Dec 1, 2013 22:44:52 GMT
I'm actually now thinking of changing my trip from Loch Lomond to Loch Awe (I've done Loch Lomond before, and Loch Ness). It's a little more remote and so less people, especially in Winter and at 26 miles long there is plenty to see. There aren't as many islands as Lomond, but the ones on Awe are good for camping and there are some lovely old castles to explore. Fishing is better too! I'm not taking the MH, just the little Citroen Dispatch which I am starting to convert to a mini camper, so after a few days tent camping on the Loch Awe islands, I may head off to Oban and then Mull. Catching up here. Be very careful on L Awe, weather can change very quickly, from a calm, to sea sate 5>6 loch! Also keep clear of Hydro Station water intakes. Personally, I'd head for Mull, via Lochaline Thanks Terry, yeah I remember a couple of years ago when the 4 poor chaps got caught out after rowing to the pub at Loch Awe, so I will keep an eye on the weather. I have been on a few Scottish Lochs in the winter time, Loch Ness can throwup some heavy seas, and I once found myself almost surfing in a 30ft cruiser on there. Lomond can be quite tasty as well! I like the sound of Lochaline though and will add it to my list as I love Mull.
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Post by runnach on Dec 1, 2013 23:10:59 GMT
Catching up here. Be very careful on L Awe, weather can change very quickly, from a calm, to sea sate 5>6 loch! Also keep clear of Hydro Station water intakes. Personally, I'd head for Mull, via Lochaline Thanks Terry, yeah I remember a couple of years ago when the 4 poor chaps got caught out after rowing to the pub at Loch Awe, so I will keep an eye on the weather. I have been on a few Scottish Lochs in the winter time, Loch Ness can throwup some heavy seas, and I once found myself almost surfing in a 30ft cruiser on there. Lomond can be quite tasty as well! I like the sound of Lochaline though and will add it to my list as I love Mull. Unfortunately, 4 chaps you mention, had had a few too many. When it gets really wild, fish farms are torn from heir moorings! You know the drill, though. Monitor forecasts/speak to locals! Drive down to Lochaline is beautifull, park up outside seamans club, prior to taking ferry, which you do not have to book, unlike Oban. Of course, you also have o factor in Corrine ferry too, which is buttons for return ticket. Cheers............
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Post by gaz on Dec 2, 2013 0:27:41 GMT
what do you consider the min to run a van .....100 watt panel?
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Post by runnach on Dec 2, 2013 22:44:16 GMT
Don't forget a portable solar panel will work better than a fixed roof panel of equivalent wattage as you can keep moving it to face the better part of the sky. It does mean you have to be in attendance though, especially to stop it walking. Wouldnae get nicked in Scotland
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Post by runnach on Dec 2, 2013 22:46:24 GMT
Gaz, I have a 80/85? watt panel, we don't really run much, more interested in keeping Batts reasonably topped up....
Cheers............
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Post by gaz on Dec 2, 2013 22:53:05 GMT
hhmmm this is summat im gonna look in too in the new year ...just the point of fact its another bloody hole in me lovely van....god knows if i done it meself itll be the only bloody hole on the van the weather gets in thru ..im lucky like that....pmsl the only power draw (i THINK) we ve got is the propex blower heater ...its never off cos ang is always cold and these pvc s aint exactly draught proof lol
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Post by runnach on Dec 2, 2013 23:03:39 GMT
hhmmm this is summat im gonna look in too in the new year ...just the point of fact its another bloody hole in me lovely van....god knows if i done it meself itll be the only bloody hole on the van the weather gets in thru ..im lucky like that....pmsl the only power draw (i THINK) we ve got is the propex blower heater ...its never off cos ang is always cold and these pvc s aint exactly draught proof lol A decent gland, fair amount of Sikaflex, jobs a good un. Ang wear pvc when wilding, each to their own, I guess?
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Post by gaz on Dec 2, 2013 23:09:02 GMT
pmsl posted meself right into that one didnt i ...good spot ohh scotsman with lethal wit (WISH THEY BUILT THAT WALL HIGHER THE FIRST TIME DAMN ROMANS) mutter
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Post by gaz on Dec 3, 2013 10:09:39 GMT
then which is the best kinda panel to get... it seems some can go off if some of the panel is slightly in shade ..is this correct? and is it true that power runs the other way on some???... back thru power controller taking power back out of battery at night bet you lot are pissin yersels laffin at the sh1t people tell me and i believe
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Post by robmac on Dec 3, 2013 10:14:01 GMT
then which is the best kinda panel to get... it seems some can go off if some of the panel is slightly in shade ..is this correct? and is it true that power runs the other way on some???... back thru power controller taking power back out of battery at night bet you lot are pissin yersels laffin at the sh1t people tell me and i believe You're right Gaz. Even a leaf or some bird sh*t on a panel will drastically reduce performance. Not sure about second bit though.
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Post by gaz on Dec 3, 2013 18:50:57 GMT
so does this apply to all solar panels
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Post by runnach on Dec 3, 2013 22:46:24 GMT
so does this apply to all solar panels Depends on size of bird
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