I would definitely use the inverter with the croc clips. It's funny, here in the US we call them Alligator clips😂 I like the idea of permanent solar panels but they sure cost quite a bit. Sounds like a nice getaway, seventeen days👍🏻 Great mods you're doing and keeping up on vehicle maintenance is a must. Great video Spiro👍🏻
Hey Mike, good to hear from you - I realised after making this video I actually have a solar blanket type thing too, so best of both! Going to look into hooking up the inverter as that seems to be the general consensus too!
Have an extra love for the defender content 😂 but I’m bias. I would say definitely reconnect the inverter little to no cost, plus if you driving it is guaranteed power but sun not 100% guaranteed 😅
Thanks Tom.. I'm leaning toward that too as I do have a solar blanket (type thing) for the sunny days on the smaller battery pack (I actually forgot about that whilst filming this video)
Hey spi.. hope ya well .. My suggestion would be to re wire the inverter back in but add an on /off switch to the dash ? That way you can just switch on and off when needing too .. atb Tiny 👍
Yeah Tiny, all good mate! Hope you are well too... Thanks for your input, yes I think I'm going to look at doing something like you and others have suggested... I have also got a foldable solar panel, so hoping I've got enough to make it work!
@@WildernessAdventuresUK no drama obviously doesn’t solve the British weather problems but may be of some use. I’ve currently got a D1 panel fitted on the Mitsubishi 🤣. But at least with Neil you know it’s tried and tested
Not knowing what you already have but it sems simple, get one panel so you can get power in the time you're not moving and some when you are, but also fit an alternator or VSR driven split charge system, then you can put the vehicle alternator voltage directly into the solar generators, you get the best of both worlds. If you have to chose 1, go with the split charge especially if you are in winter, the solar wains a lot in winter in the uK to the point it doesn't really give an efficient charge senario, summer is good so a benefit there. The problem with using an inverter to charge something is that you get a limited output down to the charger's output and you are massively power hungry and thus inefficient.
@@WildernessAdventuresUK it switches on a charge voltage, so will potenially on size of relay will prolvide full alternator output to charging (you will never acheive that amount though). I have both alternator driven relays and voltage sensing switch driven relays in my overland build, they work well for different things. Vsr/vss is literally one or two relays depending on the system used.
@@WildernessAdventuresUK I would however put a switch between the main battery on the landy to the camping battery so that when you stop and park up just flick the switch to stop it draining to a point where it becomes useless
The camping battery is actually a solar generator, I'll have the inverter on croc clips which will be disconnected when I park up to avoid draining the vehicles batteries
Good one mate well done and stay safe. 👍👍👍
I would definitely use the inverter with the croc clips. It's funny, here in the US we call them Alligator clips😂 I like the idea of permanent solar panels but they sure cost quite a bit. Sounds like a nice getaway, seventeen days👍🏻 Great mods you're doing and keeping up on vehicle maintenance is a must. Great video Spiro👍🏻
Hey Mike, good to hear from you - I realised after making this video I actually have a solar blanket type thing too, so best of both! Going to look into hooking up the inverter as that seems to be the general consensus too!
Have an extra love for the defender content 😂 but I’m bias. I would say definitely reconnect the inverter little to no cost, plus if you driving it is
guaranteed power but sun not 100% guaranteed 😅
Thanks Tom.. I'm leaning toward that too as I do have a solar blanket (type thing) for the sunny days on the smaller battery pack (I actually forgot about that whilst filming this video)
Oh yeah definitely the @@WildernessAdventuresUK hahaha no cost needed always a bonus
Hey spi.. hope ya well ..
My suggestion would be to re wire the inverter back in but add an on /off switch to the dash ?
That way you can just switch on and off when needing too ..
atb
Tiny 👍
Yeah Tiny, all good mate! Hope you are well too... Thanks for your input, yes I think I'm going to look at doing something like you and others have suggested... I have also got a foldable solar panel, so hoping I've got enough to make it work!
hi your interior looking good,, power use both,, as a few have sead,
Thank Darren, yes I think I'm going to go with what everyone is advising
@@WildernessAdventuresUK ive just got a huge lead 230ah battery, be intresting to see how long it lasts aganst lith batterys,,
Have a chat with Neil from fourby he does defender specific bonnet solar panels
Perfect, I'll take a look into this mate - Thanks for the heads up!
@@WildernessAdventuresUK no drama obviously doesn’t solve the British weather problems but may be of some use. I’ve currently got a D1 panel fitted on the Mitsubishi 🤣. But at least with Neil you know it’s tried and tested
BOTH
Not knowing what you already have but it sems simple, get one panel so you can get power in the time you're not moving and some when you are, but also fit an alternator or VSR driven split charge system, then you can put the vehicle alternator voltage directly into the solar generators, you get the best of both worlds. If you have to chose 1, go with the split charge especially if you are in winter, the solar wains a lot in winter in the uK to the point it doesn't really give an efficient charge senario, summer is good so a benefit there.
The problem with using an inverter to charge something is that you get a limited output down to the charger's output and you are massively power hungry and thus inefficient.
Nice thank you for the advise, I'll look into a VSR and see if that'll work for me
@@WildernessAdventuresUK it switches on a charge voltage, so will potenially on size of relay will prolvide full alternator output to charging (you will never acheive that amount though). I have both alternator driven relays and voltage sensing switch driven relays in my overland build, they work well for different things. Vsr/vss is literally one or two relays depending on the system used.
Why not do both and keep it charged while driving and trickle charge from solar
Yes, that too is possible, I totally forgot whilst filming that I have a foldable solar panel that will work on my smaller battery pack
@@WildernessAdventuresUK I would however put a switch between the main battery on the landy to the camping battery so that when you stop and park up just flick the switch to stop it draining to a point where it becomes useless
The camping battery is actually a solar generator, I'll have the inverter on croc clips which will be disconnected when I park up to avoid draining the vehicles batteries