Carthago roof installed equipment

[Nomadics]

Can any Carthago owners out their advise what the factory install if you select the factory solar system, in terms of solar cable gland, solar mount, whether sikaflex bonded or screwed into the roof and whether cables are loose or clipped to roof?

Similar question if you purchased the van new but decided on dealer of specialist aftermarket install.

Thank you

 

[WESTY66]

I wouldn’t have factory installed solar, controller etc, you will pay double for them, get the van and get a specialist company such as offgrid power solutions (RogerIvy and nigelivy )to get twice the capacity for what you would pay the factory and get a better job done

 

[Pausim]

Do Carthago do a solar option?

 

[Lenny HB]

Do Carthago do a solar option?

Yes, I think £1200 for 90 watts

Edit:
It's 2 x100 watt at £1730.

 

[AdrianChen]

When I looked in 2022 the options were limited, but Carthago have improved that situation. I see CBE now do MPPT controllers, so maybe the new options use those, but in 2022 it was a PWM controller and either 1 or 2*100w or two 135w (IIRC), 6mm² wiring through the van. It worked of course but....

I didn't like that the controller was in a locker just forward of the hab door, meaning a long cable run from there to our batteries in the garage, not sure what voltage got to the batteries. Some models place the controller way forward near the A pillar.

Im not sure how the panels were secured, but Reliance moved our 2 original 100w panels which took up the best space on the roof, and added 2*175w so I ended up with 550w. They could give you a quote (as could others) and will know how Carthago mount the panels cables, They are approved Carthogo service partner, so shouldn't do anything to compromise the various warranties etc (nor should others of course).

This was a "stock" van so it came with the Carthago stuff, worst possible situation because it had to be moved to get more capacity, and because it was a PWM controller I needed to replace that with Victron MPPT's - 1 for the 2*100 and one for the 2*175, mounted right next to the batteries in the garage.

The only downside is that the main panel has an idiot light/symbol to show the solar is charging which got it's signal from the CBE controller, so no longer displays. No big deal because the Victron app shows more info than you can shake a stick at.......

So I agree with WESTY66 and would only go with a Carthago option if you can get enough capacity from them, and if you don't mind the extra cost for the convenience of factory fit, and want the panel to show a symbol. Oh and possible slightly less performance because of the position of the controller.

550w is ok in the summer, but doesn't do much in the winter, I would have more if I could and perhaps shouldn't have kept the 2*100w Carthago panels in retrospect.

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[Brains]

Get Solar fitted by an aftermarket specialist.
You will get twice the quality for half the price.

Same applies to alarm/Immobiliser/Tracker system
and also the GasLow system

 

[MichaelT]

If buying new ask dealer if they can throw it in as part of the deal but specify what you want same with alarms etc. Someone will say don't trust a dealer but we got good deal from Chelston with excellent quality and fitting, the bloke who fits them is a motorhomer so understands.

If not ask someone like RogerIvy from off grid

Our solar set up

 

[Lenny HB]

If buying new ask dealer if they can throw it in as part of the deal but specify what you want same with alarms etc. Someone will say don't trust a dealer but we got good deal from Chelston with excellent quality and fitting, the bloke who fits them is a motorhomer so understands.

If not ask someone like RogerIvy from off grid View attachment 1004127

Our solar set up

You was lucky, most dealer installs I've seen are rubbish.

 

[Nomadics]

Do Carthago do a solar option?

Yes it is a CBE c

If buying new ask dealer if they can throw it in as part of the deal but specify what you want same with alarms etc. Someone will say don't trust a dealer but we got good deal from Chelston with excellent quality and fitting, the bloke who fits them is a motorhomer so understands.

If not ask someone like RogerIvy from off grid View attachment 1004127

Our solar set up

Lovely Looking install there. Thanks for the advice.

Looks from the photo, like you may have the Truma roof glands, but that is based on the limited view in the photo.

 

[Nomadics]

If buying new ask dealer if they can throw it in as part of the deal but specify what you want same with alarms etc. Someone will say don't trust a dealer but we got good deal from Chelston with excellent quality and fitting, the bloke who fits them is a motorhomer so understands.

If not ask someone like RogerIvy from off grid View attachment 1004127

Our solar set up

Dealer not forthcoming with any discounts in the motorhome nor any dealer fit items.

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[MichaelT]

Yes it is a CBE c

Lovely Looking install there. Thanks for the advice.

Looks from the photo, like you may have the Truma roof glands, but that is based on the limited view in the photo.

They are NDS panels with Victron controller.

 

[MichaelT]

Dealer not forthcoming with any discounts in the motorhome nor any dealer fit items.

Try another dealer

 

[Nomadics]

Yes, I think £1200 for 90 watts

Edit:
It's 2 x100 watt at £1730.

The factory solar option is £1,745 for 2 x 110Watt and a CBE PRS300 which I believe is NOT a MPPT solar charger.

 

[Nomadics]

Let me be more specific.

What do folk think is better in terms of rooftop glands?

Scanstrut type which is screwed into the roof with 4 self tappers (that Offgrid Power prefer to install), or adhesive it bonded Truma style, that others install?

The Truma:

Scanstrut: https://www.scanstrut.com/uk/marine/cable-seal/horizontal/ds-hd6-blk

 

[AdrianChen]

The factory solar option is £1,745 for 2 x 110Watt and a CBE PRS300 which I believe is NOT a MPPT solar charger.
View attachment 1004141

You are right, after a quick check it looks like my old one and I'm pretty sure it is PWM. It is also non Lithium if ever you went that way for the main batteries (and has a desulphation mode). I would definitely get some quote elsewhere.

There are some things on the options list that are best done in the factory, and difficult afterwards, but solar isn't one of them!

If I were to buy another Carthago, I would get the smallest batteries, no solar or inverter, and get one of the better known shops such as Offgrid, Vanbitz, etc to upgrade it all with a decent capacity system, but that's me! If you plane to spend a lot of time on EHU with perhaps the odd night without, then there's little point in it all. But even so I think it is quite expensive for what you're getting there.

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[Ditcha]

Yes, I think £1200 for 90 watts

Edit:
It's 2 x100 watt at £1730.

Bargain

 

[carolyn]

We had our Lithium etc installed by our converter. We knew this was not the best option but we were under time pressure. Didn’t know when in early August we could collect van, daughters wedding on the 10th plus 2 month organised tour booked for the 26th August. Yes we’re plonkers!

We are today having the naff Chinese bits replaced by Offgrid Power solutions and clever bits added.

No-one told us we’d spend a fortune in that Outlet place in Swindon, actually I knew but Nick didn’t haha.

Not looking forward to the journey home past that pile of rocks on the A303 having navigated the floods.