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.

 

[rruff]

^ If that's true then get 3 12V panels instead and wire them in series.

I do not subscribe to the "you can never have too much solar" meme. We have limited space and weight carrying capacity, even if our funds are sufficient. It's quite easy to have too much of all sorts of things, and having a bunch of unnecessary crap is just silly.

So... determining your needs would be a good idea I think.

 

[rruff]

I just looked up the manual, and it says the solar input is:

10-65V 10A, 400W Max

If you want to push the boundaries it might be good to find out what happens if any of these is exceeded. Does it limit voltage or current automatically? Does it turn off and then come back on when inputs are lower? Does it turn off until you reset? Does it explode, killing everything within a 100ft radius?

3 12v panels in series that add up to 400W would be your best bet I think.

 

[bullfrog !]

My thinking was 1 305 watt panel charging 2 100 amp hour batteries and my Ryobi One batteries. I can do fine with just this in good weather, but I have an electric bike and a Delta II that I prefer to charge quickly with a generator. I have an inverter as well but running a Champion dual fuel 2500 watt inverter generator on propane every 3 or 4 days for a few hours makes life easy. The Delta II has really cut down on the amount I need to use the generator during cloudy winter weather. Having the generator has also allowed for AC in the summer. Is having and maintaining a generator a pain and space consuming? Yes it is but unavoidable in my case unless I stay on full hookup sites.

 

[Dirtrider]

I just looked up the manual, and it says the solar input is:

10-65V 10A, 400W Max

If you want to push the boundaries it might be good to find out what happens if any of these is exceeded. Does it limit voltage or current automatically? Does it turn off and then come back on when inputs are lower? Does it turn off until you reset? Does it explode, killing everything within a 100ft radius?

3 12v panels in series that add up to 400W would be your best bet I think.

I had 1 100 w panels wired in series that were OK but when charging my eBike and running a laptop & lights, it went lower than I wanted.
Keep in mind that rating are in perfect conditions, not real life too. Light days of sunshine like we have now really limits the input.
I added 1 one more panel for 4 100W panels, wired in series/ parallel and the input was absolutely perfect. Pushed the amps up around 9.8 to maximize the charging. If you can fit and afford this setup on that unit, I highly recommend doing so.
Good luck to you !

 

[abnorm]

I had 1 100 w panels wired in series

Maybe you mean 3

 

[rruff]

4 100W panels, wired in series/ parallel and the input was absolutely perfect. Pushed the amps up around 9.8 to maximize the charging.

A 400W 24V system?

You are going to be over 10A with good sun. If you have them flat on the roof, then that probably won't happen til summer. A 400W 36V system (~60V OC, and ~50V and 8A at max output) will stay under 10A. And the higher the voltage, the less you'll lose in wires.

 

[Dirtrider]

Maybe you mean 3

Correct, 3 panels. Fat fingered phone typing

 

[Dirtrider]

2 sets of 2 panels wired in series then the sets wired in parallel. Yes, I thought it seemed wrong but looking at many solar " experts" the math is correct..Its a 9.8 amp input at 12 volts. I checked the a meter before connecting.
That 4th panel wired it this configuration made an unbelievable difference!

 

[rruff]

Its a 9.8 amp input at 12 volts.

It should be running ~33V at max panel output, and like I said... in better conditions it's going to exceed 10A.

Compared to 3 100W panels, you should be seeing ~33% more juice, but if you had 3 panels in series that added to 400W, you would get the same amount you are now, while also staying under the PS limits.

 

[INTJohn]

Ecoflow makes 400 watt panels specifically for the Delta 2. I have them. No complaints they work as advertised.

They are designed as fold up portables but it would be easy to mount them in a frame so they are rigid and mount to a van top.

EDIT: just got off the Ecoflow site and they now offer 500 watt modular setup that is compatible with the Delta 2. I haven’t kept up with the new stuff but I’m going to take a closer look at thier new stuff.
jonny boi

 

[Dirtrider]

Please keep in mind that the ratings are in perfect weather conditions and aren't what you will be getting out of them.
Sun, clouds, time of day, season, angles all take away from the max output