180W 12V dual battery solar kit for camper / boat with controller and cable

This kit includes a high-efficiency, waterproof 180W 12V monocrystalline solar panel, perfect for permanent outdoor use. It provides free electricity for charging 12V batteries to power various applications such as in a camper van, motorhome, boat, shed, farm, as well as remote applications like telecommunications or monitoring equipment. It can also be used to directly power applications not sensitive to changes in input voltage/current (e.g. electric motors or pumps). The panel comes with 5m of special solar cable designed to work at high roof temperatures with minimum power losses.

A pair of male/female MC4 connectors are crimped onto the end of the cable for easy connection to other solar panels, your existing system, or a 6mm extension cable. The MC4 connectors can also be cut off when wiring to the screw terminals of the solar charge controller. The long-lasting, high-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells and tough, sealed aluminum frame will provide years of consistent, free power. The waterproof design ensures the panel can be used in all weather conditions.

This panel also features innovative 5 busbar solar cells, which are more efficient than the 2, 3, or 4 busbar solar cells used in most other solar panels and can extract more power from the same surface area. This results in a smaller overall solar panel, ideal for applications with limited space. These solar cells are also the best choice for applications in warmer climates, as they operate well even in high ambient temperatures.

The kit includes a 20A 12V/24V dual battery solar charge controller designed to charge and protect two batteries independently with automatic cutoff to prevent overcharging. The controller uses PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) technology, which increases charge acceptance, prolongs the life of batteries, and can recover some lost battery capacity. This solar controller is perfect for a caravan, camper van, boat, or another system with two batteries (e.g. engine and leisure battery) or battery banks.

You can set the initial charging priority, for example, 80% power to go to the engine battery and 20% to the leisure battery. When one of the batteries is fully charged, the controller will automatically divert all power to the other battery. Can the unit work with only one battery? Absolutely! The controller will automatically determine if there's only one battery connected and will pass 100% of charging current to this battery. You can add a second battery later.

The unit has many protection functions, such as stopping reverse current at night (from the battery back to the solar panel), overcharging, short circuit protection, reverse polarity protection, etc. Other features include various LED indicators, battery type selection (sealed, gel, flooded), and an RJ-45 socket for an optional remote LCD meter with a 10m cable. A built-in temperature sensor allows the controller to optimize the charging process depending on the ambient temperature. If you are planning to position the controller far away from the battery, or if the battery and the controller are exposed to different ambient temperatures, it is recommended to use an external remote temperature sensor with a 3m cable. To enable connection to the screw terminals of the controller, the green connector block on the end of the remote temperature sensor cable should be cut off.

Please note: This is an essentials kit and does not include mounting accessories or battery cables. If you require these additional items, please purchase them separately. Click on the Details and Specifications tab for more information about this product.

Solar panel specifications:

- Peak power: 180W

- Maximum power voltage: 20.2V

- Maximum power current: 8.91A

- Open circuit voltage: 23.9V

- Short circuit current: 9.47A

- Power allowance range: +/- 3%

- Dimensions: 147.5 x 67 x 3.5 cm

- Weight: 11.5 kg

- 8 mounting holes

- 2 x 5m of high-quality single-core solar cable (4.0mm cross-section)

- Male and female MC4 connectors attached (can be cut off when wiring to the solar controller)

Charge controller specifications:

- Rated charging current: 20A

- Fully automated operation and auto 12/24V selection

- 3 pairs of terminals (input, battery 1, battery 2)

- LEDs to indicate state of charge

- Temperature sensor for temperature compensation of charging (-30mV/C/12V)

- RJ-45 connection point for a remote meter (not included)

- Various protection features (overcharge, short circuit, reverse polarity, etc.)

- Self-consumption: 4mA at night, 10mA when charging

- Working temperature: -35°C to +55C

- Terminals for wire up to 4.0mm2

- Size: 15.5 x 7.6 x 4.0 cm

- Weight: 230g

- Multiple mounting holes for ease of installation

Please note: due to our warehouse arrangements, the solar charge controller may be shipped from a different warehouse to the solar panel and therefore delivered in a separate package. This product is covered by a 1-year warranty provided by Photonic Universe (including a 1-year warranty for the solar charge controller and a 1-year workmanship warranty for the solar panel). The manufacturer of the solar cells guarantees that they will produce at least 90% of nominal power in 10 years after purchase and at least 80% of nominal power in 25 years after purchase.

For installation advice, please click on the Installation tab. Electrical connection: the solar charge controller included in this kit is supplied with a detailed user manual which contains a wiring diagram and explains installation/operations (see Documents tab). Please ensure that you read the full user manual before starting the installation.

Fitting the solar panel in this kit: it can be fitted to a flat roof using metal brackets, plastic brackets, or a variety of other methods. To view our full range of brackets, please visit the mounting accessories category of our online shop. The solar charge controller in this kit is not waterproof and should be mounted indoors.

If you need help with installation or have any technical questions, we can provide FREE support - please contact us by email or phone.