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PgDn to go straight to the Solar & Wind power products. See also our other power pages - leisure batteries, self-energy, fuel cells, also inverters, LEDs, Gaslow refillables, etc.

Independent Power - Which one?  A frequent and tricky question!  None of the solutions are perfect with each having its own advantages and disadvantages. Solar and wind power are the greenest followed by fuel cells and then LPG & petrol & diesel generators have the biggest carbon footprints. None are completely green of course each having a materials and manufacturing footprint so power conservation is important too.

Solar panels are more or less fit and forget with a modest but long hours output that tops up your batteries unattended - whenever parked, out for the day, even on just a coffee or lunch stop. In combination with multiple leisure batteries they work well especially so if you don't go too far north!  Wind generators produce more peak power but require more effort because for motorhome use you have to erect and then dismantle & stow them each time they are used, they can also seem quite noisy in the camping environment. Both types can be inactive at times, in winter and when heavily overcast for solar, and on calm days for wind power. Solar is very popular on motorhomes, wind power more so on boats where off-onshore breezes are common.

In contrast fuel cells and 'gennies' are completely independent of the elements and can run at any time you feed them with fuel. These can be free standing for ad-hoc use or built in and automated for convenient low user input. Fuel cells are virtually silent and seen as very green with their very low emissions but are expensive to buy while gennies are relatively cheap but with a strong tendency to pollute the local environment with both fumes and noise!  All gennies require fuel so you've got to carry and manage this of course, the lpg and diesel types can often take fuel from the motorhome's on-board tank. Our built-in lpg generator is designed to be pretty quiet but the others tend to be noisier and may be very unpopular on some campsites and increasingly their use may be time restricted - we found they were restricted to 10-12am and 2-4pm on one site we visited recently.

Beginners Guide to Solar Power:  Out of the great mass of information I've waded through recently there seem to be just a few solid guidelines for those of a less technical disposition. 

1. Don't worry about the different cell technologies, the 'mono-crystalline' type are the most common because they give more 'bang for your buck' in most circumstances and so suit most people most of the time. But if you want polycrystalline then we one on offer below.

2. Whatever size you think you'll need it may not seem enough in practice!  This is especially true further north. You can make all sorts of calculations but all have to assume some sort of balance between good and bad weather so in practice you should go for the biggest you can sensibly fit and afford. For general holidaying that will be between 50-100W and probably 80-100W or more in the UK. That said do remember that their fairly modest output is available all the time and the many hours of steady but modest solar charging will usually be adequate for ordinary electrical use.

3. A good battery bank is pretty much essential because we use power in bursts and generally more of it in bad weather and less in good weather. As a result you will need at least two leisure batteries to make the best of solar power by storing all that good-weather energy for use when the weather deteriorates.

4. Flat panels are the most convenient being 'fit and forget' apart from an occasional wash. 

5. Quite apart from overall capacity, there is some extra advantage in having two panels rather than one. In practice only those with higher power demands will spend the extra on this in which case point six also comes into play. Maybe these high power users will also consider adding wind power for extra versatility as well as extra capacity. 

6. You can get four or five or more times the normal output from a panel by making it constantly face the sun. Auto-elevating and tracking units claim to provide about 5x the daily charge of flat mounted panels. They show much greater gains in winter when the panel elevates to face the low sun. These panels are expensive, often about the same cost as installing substantial twin panels, so are usually only for the heavier user or those who like to spend a few bob on 'really doing it properly'.  NB: You can't get this much extra from a 'DIY move it now and then', you do need constant tracking to get 5x!  Plainly you need a fair bit of spare roof space to allow the unit to elevate and rotate at will. Although technically very interesting this is not really a popular option.

7. To complete a kit you need a regulator & wiring and some high-bond Sikaflex sealant and a waterproof cable entry box. Regulators may be fairly simple and cheap one-unit affairs or sophisticated digital units for twin panels, for wet & gel batteries, and for a secondary 'overspill' connection to the starter battery.  Our own unit offers all these facilities at an economic price.

8. Do try to balance your solar capacity with suitable leisure batteries, preferably 2x80/110Ahr leisure batteries with an 80/100W panel e.g. and maybe four batteries with twin 100/120W panels. Watch your payload though because four x 120Ahr might weigh 150Kgs or more! You can of course add solar to a single 75Ahr battery - you just won't see as much benefit. 150Ahrs is probably a sensible minimum for most people.

9. Comparison with wind power is inevitable. Wind generators have quite high output when the wind is blowing, but generally have to be set up and then stored away for each use. Some can be both heavy to manipulate and quite noisy in use, sometimes irritatingly so for both you and your neighbours. Combining Solar with a lightweight reputable wind turbine like the Rutland 504 can be a very versatile solution. 

10. Fuel Cells & Generators are both worth considering. Their relatively high output and full independence from the vagaries of the weather are the main attractions. Generators are notoriously noisy (even silent ones!) but very good at providing bursts of quite high powered mains electricity. Unfortunately they are relatively poor choices for charging batteries because a genny provides more power than can be readily absorbed by most lead-acid batteries, the waste being given off as noise, heat, and pollution!  Another downside is that leisure batteries often have shorter lives if maintained by short bursts on the genny. The self-energy lpg generator is a good solution for many especially if you have refillable lpg tanks or bottles. Fuel cells are much greener and very quiet albeit much more expensive to buy. For all gennies you must buy and manage the fuel to gain that independence - do compare that to completely free solar and wind power.

See also - our Leisure Batteries page!   See also our Wiring - Cable page!   See also Efoy Fuel Cells!

Veetech Solar:  Veetech Solar Italy. Big name smaller price!  These efficient VeeTech 80W, to 120W Solar Panels have high efficiency mono-crystalline solar cells with anti-reflective coating. The 140W version is a polycrystalline panel. Thanks to the new Ultratron® technology all of the VeeTech Solar modules have higher output and guarantee very good performances even in lower sunlight conditions. On our own 80W we've regularly seen ½-1 amp under really dismal conditions and over 6 amps in sunlight - excellent performance. These top quality modules are made by using only guaranteed and certified materials: solar cells encapsulated between sheets of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), highly transparent, anti-shock, tempered glass which protects the module against mechanical and climatic effects. The white 'Tedlar' backing sheet provides further protection of the module as does the anodised aluminium frame. Both panels come complete with 2 x PG7 cable glands and connecting terminals but you need to order the mounts separately. For most people a regulator and wiring will also be needed and both feed gland / cable entry box and a test/readout panel might also be handy. As fitted to our own motorhome.  Buy Below >>>

Veetech Charge Regulator:  Regulates the charge put in to your batteries from the Solar Panels. Can be used in conjunction with one or two panels. This regulator is equipped with a parallel connection so as to make an 'overspill' connection to the engine battery possible too. Good design ensures the starter battery is charged only after the leisure battery or batteries have been fully charged. Thanks to an innovative electronic system, there is no warmth dissipater (as is the case with traditional regulators), the highest performance is therefore guaranteed. The Powermaster also has a switch for acid/agm-gel battery charging regimes. Excellent. White usually supplied.  Buy Below >>>

Veetech Digital Test Panel:  Displays voltage, current and Amp-hours. For Recessed or surface mounting. Equipped with back frame. Display: 3 figures at 7 segments. Voltage, current, Ahrs displayed by pressing button. Low consumption with automatic switch-off at a set time after system check . Dimensions: 11.5cm x 8cm approx. Equipped with a 2.5M data cable for easy connection to the regulator by RJ11 phone plug.  Buy Below >>>

See also - our Leisure Batteries page!   See also our Wiring - Cable page!

Rutland Wind Turbines:  Originally designed for boats - where they remain extremely popular - but increasingly seen on motorhomes.

The Rutland 504 60W wind turbine (previously known as the Rutland 503 wind charger) is ideal for charging batteries on motorhomes and smaller boats often where 100 ampere hour batteries are in use. The battery can be topped up effortlessly and for free while you are out and about enjoying your day on land or water. While your motorcaravan, camper or boat is unattended the 504 will be replenishing your batteries using the free and abundant power in the wind so you return to fully charged batteries. Ultra compact for easy erect and stow, the Rutland Wind Generator 504 is so lightweight, portable and easy to handle that it is an ideal motorhome product. At home the Rutland 504 can be used to run a garden pump or fountain or even to provide safe low voltage lighting to a shed or garage.  • Trickle charges in wind speeds as low as 5 knots. • Generates up to 60W, nominally 5A @ 12V at 50 knots. • Produces 25W in 19 knots 2A @ 12V charge into the battery. • Weight = 3.5Kg.

The Rutland 913 250W wind turbine is very popular for charging batteries on board boats over 10m in length. Its generous charging capacity in relation to it's size (910mm diameter) makes it ideal for charging two banks of batteries. Although designed for use on board boats, barges or yachts it is also suitable for providing power to remote buildings to power a few energy saving light bulbs or a couple of home electrical appliances or for larger motorhomes and/or longer stays. The Rutland 913 wind generator is a favourite among boat owners with its aerodynamic design and finely balanced quiet operation. The Rutland 913 is a common sight in marinas as thousands are in use worldwide. • Wind speed start up of 5 knots • 24W at 10 knots • 90W at 19 knots • Weight = 10.5Kg.  Buy now >>>

Fuller specs for both models available on request. Land Tower Kits PDF Click Here.

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