18W Solar Panel kit
- High efficiency crystalline cell for “all weather” charging
- Water resistant, robust construction for outdoor use
- 20 year cell warranty and 10 year module warrant
- Ideal for charging consumer appliances such as mobile phones, electric toothbrushes, digital cameras etc. Also suitable for powering electric gates*, garden pond pumps* or TV’s.
The 18 watt panel provides a continuous trickle feed, maintaining and extending the life of any 12 volt battery. The 18 watt solar panel is supplied with all the necessary cable (5m), connectors and detailed installation instructions.
The 4Ah (STS01204) Charge controller (sold separately) should be used with this kit to protect the battery from being overcharged and to prevent reverse current drain.
Specifications
Power: 18Watts
Peak Output: 1.21A @ 16.8V
Approx. watt-hours/day** 126
Approx. amp-hours/day** 8.47
Dimensions: 638 x 278 x 25mm
Weight: 2.2kg
* An inverter is required to power or charge 240Vac appliances - not included.
** Based on 7 hours of average daily peak sunlight hours
Postage £7.95
How to calculate your solar power requirements
There are three things to consider in order to choose a Solar panel or create a Solar system.
You need to know how much energy your battery can store and then select a Solar panel that can replenish your ‘stock’ of energy in the battery in line with your pattern of use.
1: How much energy can your battery store?
Battery capacity is measured in Amp Hours (eg 17AH). You need to convert this to Watt Hours by multiplying the AH figure by the battery voltage (eg 12V).
For a 17AH, 12V battery the Watt Hours figure is 17 x 12 = 204WH
This means the battery could supply 204W for 1 hour, or 102W for 2 hours i.e. the more energy you take, the faster the battery discharges.
2: How much energy will your appliance(s) use over a period of time?
The power consumption of appliances is given in Watts (eg 21" fluorescent light, 13W). To calculate the energy you will use over time, just multiply the power consumption by the hours of use.
The 13W light fitting, on for 2 hours, will take 13 x 2 = 26WH from the battery.
Repeat this for all the appliances you wish to use, then add the results to establish total consumption.
3: How much energy can a Solar panel generate over a period of time?
The power generation rating of a Solar panel is also given in Watts (eg STP010, 10W). To calculate the energy it can supply to the battery, multiply Watts by the hours exposed to sunshine, then multiply the result by 0.85 (this factor allows for natural system losses).
For the Solar 10W panel in 4 hours* of sunshine, 10 x 4 x 0.85 = 34WH. This is the amount of energy the Solar panel can supply to the battery.
Packing and delivery charges:
We believe that there shouldn't be any hidden or unexpected charges, so click here to see how we calculate our postage costs, please note, the prices you see displayed on the site do not include delivery, unless expressly stated.