Solar panel for m' home, fitting advice please

[R TOY]

Having just replaced yet another leisure battery (discharged during winter) I figure I need a solar panel to keep things charged.
I see most panels advise having a controller in the circuit. Is this really necessary for say an 80w panel connected to a 110 ah battery ? The highest charge would only be around 3-4 amps (if my workings correct)
The main reason I would like to avoid a control box is that I have a 12v supply up on the roof which runs a bedroom fan/vent. My plan is to connect straight to this circuit which then feeds back to the battery without any more routing wires through the van.
Simple in my mind but will it work ok ?

Anyone have experience of fitting solar panels with info to share ?

Thanks Dave

[bristolracer]

I have fitted a panel to my campervan.

Best thing i did for the van,no worries about the battery and great for going off grid as finding a hook up on a bank holiday weekend is very hard sometimes.

You will need the controller.
it will stop overcharging of the battery,it will also stop energy returning from the battery to the panel at night and turning it into a heater element!
Mine is quite useful,in that it has 2 usb sockets on the controller so we can also charge phones and tablets while off grid.
It also has a display which will tell you the drain on the battery which occasionally is useful.

[PRTVR]

Yes you need a controller, most solar panels have diodes to prevent flow back to the panel but it will boil the battery without one, I think 10w is about the limit for a panel without a controller, using the existing cabling is not a good idea, you need something like 20A cable without it depending on the cable length you may get little charge to the battery, I have just purchased one of these.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CHSX40K/ref=sr_ph?ie...

I liked the Idea of checking on the status of the battery and the panel plus the USB sockets for charging my phone.
Still looking into the cable and how to fit the panel, so no experience yet just what I have pick up from the internet.

[chopper602]

I have a 100W panel on the roof of my motorhome. Fitting is a breeze - Sikaflex ! Aluminium legs screw into the panel and these legs are glued to the roof. Cable went through an existing hole for satellite TV dome, again well sealed with Sikaflex. Controller has a useful display with the current and voltage from the panel and what's at the battery. Very pleased with it! I really should add another leisure battery, but the existing storage for that will only fit one.

[R TOY]

Thanks folks, looks like my quick fit plan may be flawed..

[Mark Benson]

If it's just for occasional use, you'll only need a PWM controller (http://www.bimblesolar.com/10apwm) which costs peanuts.

Just make sure the cabling is correctly rated for the maximum the panel will flow. You won't look back, we love the freedom ours gives.