Best place to buy Solar Panels?

[John Barrett]

I'm seriously out of touch since I fitted one of these to our old Hymer 640. I need a 100/140 w panel for the Bongo, but the roof height is exactly 2.2m already! It would be nice to slip under those Council barriers occasionally...
Perhaps a portable folding one?
Any tips welcome.
John

 

[MisterB]

we use a folding one to supplement our roof mounted ones. its great because you can move it where you get the greatest yield. At the recent Drax meet i would have it on one side of the motorhome from late afternoon, but before going to bed i would move it to the other side, so it would pick up the morning sun while we were still in bed ... its not the number of them - its the power they harvest, so having two lower producing panels as opposed to one high producing panel might be appropriate if you get them cheap enough?

 

[suavecarve]

Is it a flat roof ? you can get sticky back, super flexible, lino type solar panels (not semi flexible) which are a bit more expensive but not free car parking debilitating.

PS Hoping you havent lost your dry wit. I ve missed it

 

[MisterB]

Is it a flat roof ? you can get sticky back, super flexible, lino type solar panels (not semi flexible) which are a bit more expensive but not free car parking debilitating.

If you go for stuck down panels, try to figure out a way that they can 'lose' heat underneath. Some people have used an adhesive technique of 'lines of adhesive' to create some sort of air gap underneath the panels, to help with air flow underneath, rather than a full surface spread of adhesive.

 

[suavecarve]

If you go for stuck down panels, try to figure out a way that they can 'lose' heat underneath. Some people have used an adhesive technique of 'lines of adhesive' to create some sort of air gap underneath the panels, to help with air flow underneath, rather than a full surface spread of adhesive.

The little that I know is that the ones that need the air underneath are the semi flexible and need something like 6mm air circulation and they appear to be cheaper than rigid panels but preferable to strengthen them with a false wall underneath on top of a motorhome for a permanent fix and need moulds of some description

The ones I was blissfully unaware of are just like a lino on your roof, strip off the sticky back and put it on there.

There is a thread on here somewhere about it and if I remember correctly Oldrat stuck them on his. They are sent through the post in a tube.

I ll see if I can find the thread

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[suavecarve]

This may give more first hand experience of the truly flexible panels

Flexible solar panels

Ive heard they are unreliable if glued down, but has anyone fitted them on a rail or similar to give rear ventilation. Will this make them reliable? They are very cheap now, a 130w for under £70 so thouht of getting one to either put on my windscreen when parked , or fitted on ali sections on...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

And in particular the photo of Oldrat s roof and this from Trackman https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/flexible-solar-panels.303339/post-6153512

 

[Oldrat]

suavecarve

By way of an update ..

(and I’m tempting fate here )

….mine were fitted in 2019 and have performed faultlessly ever since.

 

[suavecarve]

suavecarve

By way of an update ..

(and I’m tempting fate here )

….mine were fitted in 2019 and have performed faultlessly ever since.

As I m actively looking at the moment to stick about 400 watts on the roof, I found the original thread and was quite intrigued by it but I just cant justify a grand for 370 watts and add the MPPT and 6mm2 etc onto it, but for those with weight issues and deeper pockets than me or less DIYability they do seem to tick quite a number of boxes.

Are you aware of how easy they are to come off at the end of their lifespan ?

 

[Oldrat]

Are you aware of how easy they are to come off at the end of their lifespan ?

Sorry no, but I would think that a visit to a windscreen company and a few beer tokens would probably sort it??

I hope not to find out though

 

[John Barrett]

Nice to be back, with an expert panel to hand! Very helpful. Many thanks.

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[John Barrett]

I had a closer look under my Bongo bonnet, where I found a stonking great brand new YUASA L36-AGM leisure battery! Not sure if I need the expense of a panel right now as we are only running a little Vitrifrigo fridge and charging a laptop!
Thanks for all your help.
John

 

[Rob Hammond]

Sunshine solar have a sale on at the mo never used them so don't no if prices are competitive.