Should you put SOLAR on your 4WDs Roof??? + CHEAP 240v Setup! What FAILED? 

appreciate that your not steering away from your roots. love the budget build that’s realistic for the average person

This panel can put out close to 100 watts ru-vid.comUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.

Cheers pat I really appreciate what you and the team are doing it’s genuine, realistic and informative keep going with the budget testing.

good stuff Pat.I am a pensioner and go fossicking around Oz as often as I can. I run 2 solar systems, one on my 4b and one on my camper trailer. Both systems run off a 250w ex house panel that cost $50 a piece that I've done mods to to keep them intact on the corro roads where we get to. Both systems are managed by an eBay mmpt controller that cost around 40 bucks each and feed 2x 120amp AGMs in each system. One system runs a fridge and one a freezer. They both run lights and both have 600w sine wave inverters for charging tools , laptops etc. We cook with campfire in our firepit mostly but have a 2 burner butane cooker for when we are just overnighting somewhere. Total cost from memory for the entire two systems was less than $1k and apart from a warranty claim on one agm battery that failed first month in the systems have been faultless and in the 3 or so yrs I've had them we have run the generator once because of continued bad weather while we parked under shade. The solar setup in my 4b also feeds back to the start battery to keep it maxed all the time when we use it for stop starts on short runs that drain the battery quicker than the alternator can replenish it. Love your honesty and factual advice boys. There's just way too much marketing and chest pumping in todays outdoors and 4b fun world. Keep up the good work lads.

Just smashed a trip from Cairns to Adelaide, fitted a new second battery and controller as mine was stuffed and it ran the fridge for a 9 day trip bloody awesome now to get an inverter cheers for the vid man gives me the enthusiasm to fit an inverter and go to the next level 🤠

2 years later, today this video saved my bacon

this is why people like you guys , most over channels are just dude's with 150k 79s then people think u need all that stuff ,its good to have u guys shine light on the genral person camping setups. keep it up guys!

Best one I’ve seen was a guy who had his solar panel underneath his roof rack on a fridge slide was such a good idea so he could still use his rack to put stuff on 👌

This episode right here, is the reason I watch you guys. Not flexing your zip debt/sponsors on high end gear.

ive had this panel and its been the best buy I have ever made, even kept my car going when my alternator was on its way out. best bit of kit, they must have added the MC4 connectors recently. I had bare wires and connected an anderson plug

Thanks guys. I do everything on a budget otherwise wouldn’t be able to do anything. Your vid’s give me confidence that I’m not throwing my meagre bickies away.

Another good vid! As much as you want to stay impartial, I wouldn't mind convincing the boss to send you some gear one of these days if you want to update that 12V setup... Always keen to hear any feedback on it! Also just gave you dudes a follow on insta - keep in touch! Cheers, Cahn

Love that you guys do stuff on a budget that most people have!! keep up the good work

I just picked up the same inverter a week ago and was a bit unsure but this video makes me feel a bit better. Look forward to seeing how it all goes in the future.

Great video guys, I've never had any issues running Kings gear. I put my mounted solar panel on drawer slides I got from Bunnos for $50 so of it was parked up with gear on the roof or partial shade o can just pull it out. Works awesome

awesome stuff guys ....i have the same solar kings setup for about 4 years and its still pretty much doing its job fine ... big thumbs up guys

I had the kings 1500w inverter in my work car for 2 years before it failed It was literally running all day 6 days a week charging all my gear When you factor in most guys aren’t going to be running their inverter nearly as often as I was the kings inverter in my opinion is a good buy

I too have Kings products in my set-up. But I also have high end & Aussie made gear (ie. GME, REDARC, Engel, Drifta etc). IMO the best value for money products from Kings are their solar panels/blankets and their rear drawers. I've had the Kings rear drawers on my 80 Series for 4 years now, and it's been doing the job well. I also have one of their early inverters (4 years old), and while it's rarely used, it still works fine. I also have their 200W solar blanket and after 10 months it did fail, but 4WD Supacentre replaced it under warranty, and the newer design replacement (now 3 years old), still works well. The 160W fixed solar is still going strong after 2.5 years. And a few knick-knacks like tool sets and driving lights. So I too have no issues with Kings gear. Though I'm not a full time overlander, and I will always choose Australian made gear if within or just outside my budget. 🦘🪃

I found a solar panel on hard garbage once, put a new MPPT regulator from super center on it for $50 and it works a treat

keep up the good work fellas, it's all about having fun in the bush not being posh! Your kit will grow with you and with the tech coming out who know next.

Good video fellas. Glad you're keeping to your roots & not selling out, whilst still being able to make it worthwhile for you guys. that's the reason we're all here anyway. Keep it up!

still makes me happy every time i see you use the ryobi gear. just because of that one night i probably had to many beers and decided to message them to send you some tools so you would stop using hand screw drivers.

Another good clip guys. I’ve been running a 160w kings panel and MPPT charger into my 130ah battery for a few years now and have never had an issue with it.

Am watching from Africa Kenya I had missed you guys keep up the good work.Wish you posted more of you guys doing the tracks so we can see how you guys are performing with your rigs

I have a mixed quality gear (high quality & budget gear) fitted in my LC80. Most of my budget gear are Kings. And I have to say most of them (160W fixed solar / 200W solar blanket, rear drawers etc), have so far worked well. And I've had them over 3 yrs. The only products I won't recommend is their steel platform roof racks. They are heavy (50kg approx), and will start to rust after a year. The other item I'd replaces immediately are the brackets of their light bars. Mine rusted after a few months even though they are supposed to be stainless steel (tho the light bar itself is working well).

Good honest video Pat. Knowledge is Power ⚡️😅 I just bought and installed the exact same gear, except the mppt reg, happy as so far 🏕🚙

Welcome back, and great to see you keeping it real!

For a lot of us living in the car or in a tent is to save some money while still being able to travel and explore Australia. TBH if I have 60k instead of throwing it into modifying the car I'd be spending it on actual proper accommodation... I'm glad there's still someone out there exploring budget build for people like me.

finally a new vid, let's go boys! I reckon you guys should do a vid talking about the state of the used 4wd market as it's gotten really difficult to find anything good that isn't wildly overpriced.

Good stuff mate for trying to keep it real. Appreciate you boys.

I prefer to do it right the first time but I get where you're coming from. Gotta find that happy medium of cost vs quality

Kings main issue for me is they are a 580km round trip to the nearest store. The other issue is freight. Today they are advertising many things free freight with a "Gigantic 1 Day Only Free Delivery* Blitz". Note the asterisk. That's important. When I get to the checkout there is freight on these freight free items. Worse, other items clearly indicate freight on the item page, but back in checkout it's more for my address. Lastly, they just keeping adding freight in for each item. There's no combining of freight costs. But one thing $15 freight, it's $17 in the checkout, by another thing $20 freight, now $23, that's $40 thanks very much. We do own a bit of Kings gear, but to have made it worth our while we did a day trip with the box trailer to pick up a roof top tent, a set of rear drawers and a whole stack of other stuff, and saved about $600 in freight.

I'm with u on the kingz gear I got the hole set up 160w panel 25a dcdc charger 1500w inverter control box run fridge lights 2 fans and everything else keeps my lithium battery at a 100% all day never had any problems what so ever 2years on could easily live out of my truck

welcome back. I've had withdrawal symptoms for the last month. Sunday mornings aren't the same without a dose of Aussie Arvos :-)

Your correct about the PWM controller needs full sun to work. Any shade it doesn’t like.

I spent some of my summer out in the high country, following part of the route you guys took, and when I was on the way to the snowy river I am pretty sure I saw you and the 80 in a small town near-ish to Bairnsdale. great video!

You guys are the best channel, missed your videos!

This is perfect timing! Next job is doing my solar setup. 👌👌💪

Awesome content lads, keeps me interested in getting out there 🤙

Classic edit lads..... When cutting the inverter plastic knife all good, next edit scene the knife was back to front and would cut. Love this channel.

Mate I've had a Kings 160wat panel on my roof for over 4 years and even with one of the panels smashed it still works mint. Delivers 17.3 volts on open circuit with the multi meter which is spot on.

Great video. When you make it big, have 2 channels. One fully sponsored and keep this one for us mugs that have to go budget. 👍👍

Well done on the vid and mindset with keeping things reaslsitic. Keep up the good work.

Absolutely, everyone should have one.

That's right, it doesn't have to be the best of the best just whatever works for you.

Nice to see you boys back and more videos to come :)

Keeping it real....as most of us are on a budget... Cheers

I'm pretty tight. I've got a mix of ebay, kings, supercheap in my vehicle. I scored a 110w panel with mppt controller and brackets from supercheap for $109 and it's wired to a kings battery box. Simple and works efficiently.

Love the video, great to see you back. Can't wait for more adventure vids. Re the inverter - if it's for laptops and cameras then it's much easier (and cheaper) to just by the 12v adapters. Jaycar do a universal laptop charger from ciggie plug for about $50. Doesn't make a lot of sense to charge low voltage items off a low voltage car system by going up to 240v and then all the way back down. But everyone seems to do it that way.

Good to see you guys are back

Bro you gotta stop saying you're lazy cos you out here doing the most 🤣🤣 Much love from NZ

I like using the victron smart solar mppt. It's Bluetooth and shows you all the stats in their app.

Welcome back, buddy that beer coped afew shakes in the last 2 minutes of that vid, just watching you change from hand to hand with it. But loving the content you all put in.

Great informative video...thanks mate good job.

Spot on with the kings gear is it hit and miss, what ever your 12v setup is make sure you have a fire extinguisher so if shit hits the fan you can put it out 👌

Been waiting for this... Great video guys

Enjoying the videos🍻🔥⛺️

I’ve personally never had any dramas with kings gear. I’ve got 2 deep cycle batteries a compressor and a switch board and I also got a jump pack for Christmas off the in-laws. I know a lot of people on these 12 volt sites on Facebook give them a lot of shit but if it works why change it 👍🏽

I had the 110Watt kings fixed panel on roof racks driving through a CTEC DC/DC charger to two 110AH AGM batteries just running a 45litre Engel for three years plus Kings LED lighting when camping. Worked a treat. Easy to knock Kings but be realistic, ALL electronics come out of China and kings buying power probably buys a bit more quality control than it used to.

Yay another video!!!! Awesome job keeping it real too🙌🏽👏🏽

Great that you guys keep it real!

Just a quick note about Mounting your solar panel. I've seen a couple of cars were they place the solar panels between the roof and the roof parcel carrier on a slide . So when they are parked they can just slide it out . . He said he had one mounted to the roof of his canopy but I eventually flew off. He said it was a little more protected. To some extent

Love your honesty mate, and your critical questioning, thinking and analyst. I’m the last person to promote kings myself , but I’ve been damn impressed Witt their gear lately and so well priced. They have come along way. Still think the kings awnings look so dorky lol.

Another good video. Keep an eye on the MPPT controller. They tend to overcharge the battery but you could get lucky

Aussie made stuff is great but Aussie made stuff is expensive. I've got Kings spotty's and lightbar, an Aldi fridge and Supercheap auto solar blanket set up. Just enough to get me out in the bush without breaking the bank. Nice video mate, it's good to see you are still catering to the every day blue collar Aussie.

Just got a 80 thanks for the videos

Great job 👌🏼

Thank you !! Another very informative and useful video .

Im an auto electrician and ill tell you what your wiring organisation gives me nightmares. But i really enjoy your content, really good to watch and yous actually test the equipment out in the field keep up the ripper content boys 👍

I just put 2 of the 110w kings solar panels on the roof of my gu but wired them to my ctek

Mint video. Easist way to clean up the 12v box is use a heap of zip ties.

other than 12v box, I've got all kings gear and I live out of my van. on a budget, I've got more than enough for what I need

Legit been looking at doing a solar top up system to just extend the battery like what you did. Good to know the cheaper stuff will do just that.

i spend 4 months every year doing the barra dams. to do this i am onto my 2nd Ram2500(2021)with Mits canopy with the full Redarc twin Lithium 12v system(20 large). i also use this system to charge my nitro bass boat while driving to keep the lithium batteries fully charged. i have a second vehicle(my 2019 Ram2500)for my son n this one also has a Mits but it runs a full Kickass 12v AGM system with twin 170 slim line batteries($5000). i did that simply because i didnt want to spend another 20 large n was looking for a gud mid range alternative. having run AGMs years ago thats where i went n found that it came down to 2 companies. so i bought a full system from each company to see it n to feel it n the Kickass just did those things right, so thats wats in my sons vehicle. for 4 months we r on the road n camping out of the vehicles n the AGM system has never stopped in anyway. the only weight difference comes from the batteries n that doesnt concern me at all. in 2 years time wen i build the next Ram i will be using the AGM system, why spend the money on the other wen i know this works. BEFORE the nay sayers jump up n down n say u r sponsored, NOPE not at all. i am lucky enough in life that i can afford these things n the life style. wat is being used/pushed through the different media outlets bout these very expensive 12v systems is sponsorship to the channel n product sales to the companies n of course people watching these channels get caught up in the excitement of the moment n do purchase these 12v systems n lets not forget all the other 4wd accessories out there. these r my experiences with Lithium n AGM n still using them both to this day.

Welcome back legends

Love these videos. Stuff that the average person can actually afford

Do you have a video showing how you originally ran the wiring from the engine bay to the internal electrical box you’ve built? I’d love to do something similar and I’m looking for how people typically route the source back.

The only Kings gear I avoid are their Awnings and Instant Ensuite. Everything else I have had good experiences with

What ever works to get us out in about I reckon, cheers..

I've got the 25anp DC/DC charger There inverter and solar blanket ect never had a issue with it and same as you only really never use the inverter to charge laptop and battery banks/phones

Welcome back!

Got my sticker in the mail last week. 😎🇦🇺🇦🇺

Off topic... but kings air compressors... we've been super unlucky never had one die, but the pressure cut off always stops working after 1-2 years in 3 units (2 purchased, 1 on warranty)! Wondering if I buy another or buy something else, it is the real question. I haven't really used much other kings stuff so, this is a great insight.

13:55 amen to that

Awesome vid guys , just get out there people , enjoy this bloody beautiful country Straya tc :)

Another ripper episode. Not going to lie, have had Aussie Arvos withdrawls of late.

Ive been missing you guys lol

Had there Kings 110w Semi flex solar panel it was a beast got smashed by hail, ordered another one and they sent me a 160w semi flex instead and its trash, the coating on the panel all degraded and has broken apart, and before it did that it stopped producing power, have a 110w hard mount and its going great, cant complain i brought a CTEK D250SA through them for $300 where as Repco charge $900 for the same thing

Hey pat, where do you get the motion sensor lighting, gr8 idea. Cheers Steve

I love when there’s a vid of yours where a concept is tested over a long period, like this one. The investment into this is incredible.

I always say if it works for your budget it works

This was great exactly what I plan to do with solar

Had a Kings 110w that flew off my roof at 80kms an hour. 4 years on still going.

people see kings gear failing all the time but dont understand that a company that sells 100,000 of an item compared to another company who sells 10,000, is gonna fail more, Love the Vid!!

Just took my 3rd one back today. The first one all lights were working correctly and was charging at 15.6v the other two the solar light wouldn't come on and only put 5.6v into the battery, i upgraded to the mppt kings plus and am waiting for the message to come pick it up fingers crossed I don't have any issues with this one

Might want to check out why the voltage is so high? Could cause some issues if it keeps charging that high.

Only thing I’m actually worried about is Not knowing your voltages and replace the mppt kings with a victron mppt 75/15 Or at least have a 12 battery shunt to monitor your battery 🔋

The 12v box is starting to get messy. But there's no real solution. Only to put the wires that go to the same place in sleeving and work from there. Yes you will still if the odd wire here and there that needs to go somewhere else. But if you can put those large amounts of wire together in a sleeve it will make a huge improvement. (Fibre glass, cloth tape or plastic wire wrap/ wire conduit/self closing cable wrap).

Bro, nothing wrong with butane cans. Not much can go wrong with them, they're available everywhere and they survive a swim too. Great vid!

I have not heard a bad word about the kings gear, everyone who has it have been quite satisfied with what they have got.