Powering a Carcoon from a Solar Panel
Powering a Carcoon from a Solar Panel
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Discussion

BRGUK

Original Poster:

8 posts

145 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Hello All

I have moved my car from a powered garage to one without power.

I have used a Carcoon to protect it in winter and just wondered if anyone had powered a Carcoon from a solar panel? If so how do you do it?

I know the Carcoon will run from a car battery so I was thinking I could buy a leisure battery and connect it to the Carccon and then have the battery topped up by the solar panel.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Simon

donaircooleone

451 posts

206 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
BRGUK said:
Hello All

I have moved my car from a powered garage to one without power.

I have used a Carcoon to protect it in winter and just wondered if anyone had powered a Carcoon from a solar panel? If so how do you do it?

I know the Carcoon will run from a car battery so I was thinking I could buy a leisure battery and connect it to the Carccon and then have the battery topped up by the solar panel.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Simon
You probably could, how much power does it need though?

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

188 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
What is the power draw of the Carcoon?


BRGUK

Original Poster:

8 posts

145 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Apparently as per the carcoon website it uses two 12volt 220ma ventilators, this doesn't mean a lot to me!

Thanks
Simon

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

188 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
110ah Leisure battery will run it for days.

Plug in a solar panel ( you will need a charge regulator for the solar panel - cheap )

Just wire the solar panel to the regulator.... regulator to the battery. ( red wire and black wire - that simple )


Robert is your mother's brother.

BRGUK

Original Poster:

8 posts

145 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Oh brill

You make it sound so easy

Thank you I will do a bit of costings

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

188 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
BRGUK said:
Oh brill

You make it sound so easy

Thank you I will do a bit of costings
Wire it up like this. ( scroll down -- you only need 1 leisure battery )
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&...



Use a leisure battery and not a car battery.
Car batteries are designed to give a burst of power quickly to start the car.
Leisure batteries are designed to run over a period of time

Edited by Troubleatmill on Saturday 16th August 19:43

BRGUK

Original Poster:

8 posts

145 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Fantastic, thank you very much for your help.

Was a bit more than I can afford to spend but I maybe able to find cheaper.

Thanks again
Simon

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

188 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
BRGUK said:
Fantastic, thank you very much for your help.

Was a bit more than I can afford to spend but I maybe able to find cheaper.

Thanks again
Simon
You will find cheaper - I was googling for a wiring diagram.

Good luck

BRGUK

Original Poster:

8 posts

145 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Great thanks

I will do some searching around!

blueacid

518 posts

170 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Two 220mA fans is 440mA - or as near as dammit half an amp.

At 12 volts that's 6 watts. If you aren't charging the leisure battery you'll get around 220 hours from a 110AH one.

So in the worst case, the solar cell will prolong the battery life, better yet it'll sustain the battery. To run all day long it will need to provide at least 15-20 watts during the day: that should run the 6 watt carcoon plus provide excess to charge the battery to put back the power taken when the sun was in.

However, most solar panels are rated for nice bright direct Spanish sunshine, rather than an overcast winter's day in England. So you might want a more powerful panel.

If that's not possible then you could perhaps look at getting a second leisure battery which you charge at home and rotate them weekly (7 x 24 hours = 168 hours - it's not good to run even a leisure battery totally dead on a regular basis).

Hope this helps.

BRGUK

Original Poster:

8 posts

145 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks so much for this it really does help.

I was thinking if I couldn't get a panel to work I could try two batteries and keep changing them. I was a bit worried how long they would last. But that could also be a cheaper option.

Thanks again
Simon

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

188 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Try this.
£120. for the panel and gubbins
Well known action site type in 231271946376


£75 for a battery same site type in 271148411865


BRGUK

Original Poster:

8 posts

145 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Amazing, I have never posted on here before and I am genuinely stunned at all the help and support so quickly.

Thank you very much

BRGUK

Original Poster:

8 posts

145 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Amazing, I have never posted on here before and I am genuinely stunned at all the help and support so quickly.

Thank you very much