Loosing the will to live over trying to get a 2nd solar panel fitted.

The Artilleryman

The Artilleryman

Joined
Apr 5, 2019
Posts
451
Likes collected
383
Location
Lincolnshire
Funster No
59,645
MH
Low profile
Exp
I'm a newbie
I am beginning to regret upgrading to LiFePO4.

Nothing wrong with the battery or the work I did, just trying to get a 2nd solar panel fitted for me.

Firstly the company I was going to use decided to stop fitting HPC self levelling (I would have got them to fit solar panel as well) and since then I'm struggling to find anybody with any common sense.

Two companies seem unable to understand I want a Truma 100watt panel only fitted and keep quoting for a kit that includes an mppt controller, even though I tell them up front what is already fitted (Truma 100watt + Victron 75-15 mppt controller) and quote arbitrary costs for cables (£100) in one case for a mc3 Y lead.

The latest to reply today is quoting for another make of aero panel (yes, I did specify this make), but tell me I need to have an mppt controller with this new panel as I would need either matching Truma panels - which they do not supply/fit - or 2 parallel setups and ant nearly 1K. WTF. :devil::devil::devil:

The only person with any sense is on here, but too far away.
 
I doubt you will find a truma panel anywhere. Best if you put your camera under your existing panel and take a photo of the label to determine the voltage and output etc and then ask for a similar panel to be installed in parallel.
Better still buy the panel and brackets and find a funster nearby to help you fix it in place.
 
It sounds like a simple job if you are just adding a solar panel in parellel. It doesn't have to be the same make but the same wattage/amperage would be best. and you will need some Y leads to connect it up. The current controller will do IF it can handle the amperage the 2 panels will generate.

I did exactly to the same myself last year.
 
Jimbohorlicks said:
I doubt you will find a truma panel anywhere. Best if you put your camera under your existing panel and take a photo of the label to determine the voltage and output etc and then ask for a similar panel to be installed in parallel.
Better still buy the panel and brackets and find a funster nearby to help you fix it in place.
Click to expand...
Truma UK confirmed they supply panel (inc. fixings) only, but I'd have to go through my installer.
Problem is getting the installation company to actually ask for panel only. I have no confidence in a company's ability to do the work correctly if it takes 5 emails to get them to quote for the parts I want.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Try AdamH He's in the Midlands
 
Abacist said:
Have a trip and pay VanBitz a visit, stay on their campsite and have a good look around Taunton for the day while they do the work!
Click to expand...
To far from Lincolnshire and probably too late to arrange to add it to our only trip down that way.
 
Some MCEA Network people will do panels. My local chap is St Neots and is a MH and caravan owner so knows his stuff..... Not sure about Lincs.

Is there a reason it needs to be Truma brand?
 
I dont understand the detail of what you want (Me, not you) but have you tried Oaktree Motorhomes In Nottingham?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Don't go truma..just get the same volt and output panel, easy fit the. For anyone with DIY skills.
 
I have a 100w Truma panel on my van, I was going to remove it and fit larger Victron panels mainly because I didn’t know the voltage. I slid my phone under the panel to find the voltage which fortunately was close enough to the Victron panels, I added two 140w panels and paralleled them up.
Truma on the left, 2 x 140w Victrons in place.
IMG_7302.jpeg
IMG_7303.jpeg
 
Out and about leisure near Peterborough
Very good
 
The Artilleryman said:
I am beginning to regret upgrading to LiFePO4.

Nothing wrong with the battery or the work I did, just trying to get a 2nd solar panel fitted for me.

Firstly the company I was going to use decided to stop fitting HPC self levelling (I would have got them to fit solar panel as well) and since then I'm struggling to find anybody with any common sense.

Two companies seem unable to understand I want a Truma 100watt panel only fitted and keep quoting for a kit that includes an mppt controller, even though I tell them up front what is already fitted (Truma 100watt + Victron 75-15 mppt controller) and quote arbitrary costs for cables (£100) in one case for a mc3 Y lead.

The latest to reply today is quoting for another make of aero panel (yes, I did specify this make), but tell me I need to have an mppt controller with this new panel as I would need either matching Truma panels - which they do not supply/fit - or 2 parallel setups and ant nearly 1K. WTF. :devil::devil::devil:

The only person with any sense is on here, but too far away.
Click to expand...
Perhaps no one wants to?

I personally would over quote ( turn down ) or offer an alternative suggesting ( which sounds like has happened here) to “add stuff”

The problem here is being asked to ”simply” install a specific panel and hook up to an existing connector is fine till it goes wrong or doesn’t work, then it’s “Why didn’t you check” “Why didn’t you test everything” “You should have calculated the cable size required”

For a business, adding a component on to an existing system is fraught with potential problems, it means however unfairly you adopt the whole system “it was OK till you added XYZ”

Often, when this explained the potential customer (remember no money has changed hands at this stage so your soul and mental wellbeing is still your own!) It’s argued

“Look, is simple duh! You just glue this here, plug that there and flick that switch, and I get whatI want for very little money”

”If it’s that simple, why not do it yourself?”

”I don’t know how to do it! :Eeek:“

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
The Artilleryman said:
I am beginning to regret upgrading to LiFePO4.

Nothing wrong with the battery or the work I did, just trying to get a 2nd solar panel fitted for me.

Firstly the company I was going to use decided to stop fitting HPC self levelling (I would have got them to fit solar panel as well) and since then I'm struggling to find anybody with any common sense.

Two companies seem unable to understand I want a Truma 100watt panel only fitted and keep quoting for a kit that includes an mppt controller, even though I tell them up front what is already fitted (Truma 100watt + Victron 75-15 mppt controller) and quote arbitrary costs for cables (£100) in one case for a mc3 Y lead.

The latest to reply today is quoting for another make of aero panel (yes, I did specify this make), but tell me I need to have an mppt controller with this new panel as I would need either matching Truma panels - which they do not supply/fit - or 2 parallel setups and ant nearly 1K. WTF. :devil::devil::devil:

The only person with any sense is on here, but too far away.
Click to expand...
As you say just common sense fit it yourself then you don’t have to deal with fools, you know all you need are Y connectors 🙂
 
4mm2 in the harness, but 2mm/2.5mm controller to harness plug, not sure why. I will make up a new 4mm2 cable from Victron 75-15 controller to harness plug (about 250mm long). will need to confirm the size of the cable where it comes out under the wardrobe.
 
Jev88 said:
Can you tell me where this is as not aware of it?
Click to expand...
15 king street ind. est.
Langtoft
Peterborough
Pe69nf
They have fitted E&p levelling and vb air for me, next new fridge

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Is this something Ash could help with? He's in Lincolnshire but this may be out of his normal sphere. .
 
Have you spoken to Wissel he is in Horncastle. He can fit Solar and what he doesn’t know about electrics isn’t worth knowing.
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top