Best solar panels for Delta 2 + Extra Battery?

[SleepySkies]

Hello!

So I've been living out of my van at worksites for a bit over a year now always just hauling in my Ecoflow wherever I'm at to charge indoors but moving forward I'll be at said worksites less and am finally looking to pull the trigger on solar panels for the coming Spring and Summer season. I would like to go as high wattage as possible to try and get as much energy into the unit as possible even if there is some slight overcast. I have a MaxxAir fan installed all the way at the front of the van just before the partition to go into the driver cab so there is quite a bit of roof real estate. Ideally I would like to have most of the free real estate taken up on the roof to help reduce the temperatures during the summer. So I was thinking 3x 200w panels but any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[bullfrog !]

Welcome! Solar is always a good secondary source of power but winter and fall often require plugging in somewhere.

 

[SleepySkies]

Welcome! Solar is always a good secondary source of power but winter and fall often require plugging in somewhere.

I still intend to do top up charges regularly but this is mostly geared towards the sunny months due running the roof fan near max on hot days.

 

[INTJohn]

Where will you be located or geographic area you’ll be roaming?
Average available sunshine for time of year you’ll be there?
Average daily wattage uses and optimum daily extreme use?

Delta2 + xtra bat i think is 200 amp = 2500ish watt hours. ?

If you want to maximize the available roof space with solar panels:
1- determine sq footage available.
2- “ Panels needed to fill that space.

I have a delta2 (100 amp) with 400 watt solar and wouldnt want any less solar. At 200ah/2500ish Wh I would probably want 600 minimum; maybe 800.

Depends on how much available sunlight. I’ve been hanging out last few years; winters in Florida - “The Sunshine State” but sometimes - like this week - 5 days straight of solid overcast clouds.

I have a 2nd 100 ah bat so 200 ah total is plenty for me; generally but I still gotta manage it thoughtfully.

bch bum jonny

 

[bullfrog !]

S

I still intend to do top up charges regularly but this is mostly geared towards the sunny months due running the roof fan near max on hot days.

Spacing the panels 3 or 4 inches off the roof will help circulate air beneath the panels as they will generate heat. The cooler you can keep the bottom side of the panels the more efficient they will be. I have 2 100ah batteries and a 305 watt panel to run lights and a charger for 18 volt Ryobi batteries that run a Ryobi 18 volt fan and would not want any less solar (you can never have enough solar in my opinion). I have a Delta Ii (which I really like) as well but I use it in conjunction with a generator and charge it quickly with the 120 volt plug in my other travel trailer.

 

[Dirtrider]

I had a Eco Flow Delta in my first van conversion and loved it but check the max input for your unit.
Mine would only use 10 amp max so having a huge solar array might be not needed. I used 4 100amp panels wired in series/ parallel and it proved to be perfect for my needs & conditions.
Do a little math after reading the specs of the unit and panels you want to help determine if it will work for you.
Good luck!

 

[SleepySkies]

I had a Eco Flow Delta in my first van conversion and loved it but check the max input for your unit.
Mine would only use 10 amp max so having a huge solar array might be not needed. I used 4 100amp panels wired in series/ parallel and it proved to be perfect for my needs & conditions.
Do a little math after reading the specs of the unit and panels you want to help determine if it will work for you.
Good luck!

What I've seen so far is that voltage is the big concern with the Ecoflow Delta and excess amperage and wattage is capped off essentially. The max input is 60V and 500w.

So if that works I was thinking of 3 of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DMT2WTC...?sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9ocXBfc2hhcmVk&th=1

Wired in parallel so it doesn't exceed voltage constraints as one panel is at 36.5V. Does that track?

 

[rruff]

Wired in parallel so it doesn't exceed voltage constraints as one panel is at 36.5V. Does that track?

Says they are 12v panels, so voltage will be in the high teens typically.

If your max amp input is 10A like Dirtrider said, then to maximize your input you'd want to be close to but under max V and max A. 3x12V 150W in series would do it. Or a couple 200W and one 100W with the same V-I curve if you want to be sporty.

But... how much do you really need?

 

[SleepySkies]

Says they are 12v panels, so voltage will be in the high teens typically.

If your max amp input is 10A like Dirtrider said, then to maximize your input you'd want to be close to but under max V and max A. 3x12V 150W in series would do it. Or a couple 200W and one 100W with the same V-I curve if you want to be sporty.

But... how much do you really need?

The actual listed operating voltage is 31V and wiring them in series would push me way past the 50v limit on the Delta if I’m not missing something here.

The Delta 2 might down the road get swapped out in the future so I’d rather optimize for the upper end of the Delta 2’s input.