Recommend Me 200w Solar Panels?

[Techno]

A much better explanation here
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[wizzer59]

Dunno what these will turn out like, but this is one side. on the last pic you can just about see the remains of the alloy brackets I couldn't get off and the bit of plastic conduit that housed the wire from a past solar install, the wire inside looked like round twin and earth so not sure what that was all about.

 

[peterc10]

I would be interested in hearing about how these work in the heat of summer. I understood that solar panels did not perform well the hotter they got. I thought that was why their was normally an air gap underneath them, to help dissipate the heat build up.

 

[wizzer59]

Yes but with 200w I'm hoping that I'll still get enough ooompfff even if I do lose a bit

 

[wizzer59]

Anyway you've gotto admit they is streamlined

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[hilldweller]

I figured that way lets a little bit of air get underneath to cool them and I can still get a thin bladed knife or cheese wire in there if they ever need to come off.

Interesting times ahead. If they are flexing continuously due to wind turbulence can they survive long ?

 

[wizzer59]

They are not that flexible Brian, the one in this pic is about as far as they go I reckon so there will be very little flex on the roof, but I agree it will be interesting to see how they perform over time.

 

[hilldweller]

They are not that flexible Brian

Got to admit, that looks a lot better than I thought. I have seen so many failures when copper flexes ( which work hardens it and makes it brittle ) that it worries me. As you know you must not use domestic thick stranded mains cable in a motorhome for just this reason.

I am just assuming that the tails that join the cells are copper.

An obvious point of failure is the pendulum that is the junction box, it will bounce with ever bump in the road but I think you have that well glues down.

 

[Nigel67]

This is an interesting thread, as on the last three motorhomes I've had I have fitted a single 80 watt panel via a dual battery regulator charging both the base vehicle battery and the single 110 amp leisure battery. We wild camp quite a lot all year round and watch tv/films on our 19" tv/DVD combo unit and use all the other associated electrical items, lights, pumps,radio/cd player, phone/tablet chargers etc, and have never had an issue with lack of battery energy. Am I missing something here or is the need for extra panels and batteries purely to do with the equipment others are using as its seems an awful lot of extra weight eating into your payload. This is not a criticism just a question.

 

[wizzer59]

Hi Nigel
Same as you realy, I fitted a 80w panel on my last van and it had a 85amp battery and it did us fine, we never had a problem with battery power but didn't have a tv, so when we bought the Hymer the first thing I did was have a look on the roof and at first was going to fit a normal 100w panel but after looking around and finding the semi flexible ones that were light weight, low profile and at reasonable prices decided to go for those and as they would be barely noticable on the roof decided to go for two so as any loss of performance in hot weather would be compensated for hopefully

I'm sure its a little over the top but as the weight of two 100w was less than one 80w normal one, I for one ain't bothered

I'm pretty certain that my one 95amp leasure battery will do me fine

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[Nigel67]

I fitted one of those semi flexible 100watt panels on my freinds VW T5 van, it seemed to be a good piece of kit and not very heavy plus it was very discreet you could only notice the small box where the wires were connected. Made a neat alternative to the standard panel and seemed to work well.

 

[wizzer59]

How long ago Nigel? any feedback?

 

[Andy]

Thanks for those pic's Tim.................very neat job, there mate.
Certainly the look and fitting I'm looking for..............I've often wondered about those panels that are fitted with 'airspace' beneath them, and the amount of drag and pressure they next experience when Mh is punching into a headwind.

 

[wizzer59]

Thanks Andy no problem. Re drag, that was the thing I was worried about when I saw that the only place to put panels on the roof of my Hymer was right at the front, I just didn't fancy the normal one's stuck up in the air.
The wires go through the roof about an inch away from the junction box, into the cabinets inside so all nice and neat, although the junction box and hole are all filled with sealant, I have two low profile waterproof boxes on order that will cover the lot and look a little neater

 

[Nigel67]

How long ago Nigel? any feedback?

I fitted it about 18 months ago and he has just sold his van and it was working perfectly still, so I can assume they are as good as a conventional panel albeit a bit more expensive( about 50% more) but on the plus side they are discreet and east to fit.

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[Techno]

If you deduct the cost of brackets from the install budget they are possibly no dearer.

 

[Nigel67]

If you deduct the cost of brackets from the install budget they are possibly no dearer.

Good point, although I fitted my own conventional panel with 2" aluminium angle bonded to the roof with PU40 and fixed to the panel using rivnuts so I am still able to remove the panel if I need too for any type of maintenance, hopefully this will never be needed.

 

[Techno]

I just use rivets and drill them out if needed. Never have yet.
I use a pan head screw to maintain adhesive thickness.

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[wizzer59]

I cleaned and waxed the roof yesterday so took a couple more pics of the panels

 

[Techno]

Very nice result Tim.
However your aerial is facing the wrong way for travel.

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[wizzer59]

IS IT! omg what am I gonna do, ah I know I'll reverse everywhere

I didn't know that, just assumed the pointy end needed to go foreward

 

[Techno]

A common mistake made by probably 8 out of 10. The red dot denotes the front of the aerial (for the purpose of pointing at a signal) For travelling it should point to the rear.
Extract from status manual

 

[wizzer59]

And before anyone criticizes the state of the house windows and door, its not mine ok

 

[wizzer59]

A common mistake made by probably 8 out of 10. The red dot denotes the front of the aerial (for the purpose of pointing at a signal) For travelling it should point to the rear.
Extract from status manual

Thanks for that Andy, duly noted, wondered why I keep on getting airborn

 

[wizzer59]

Still waiting (china) for the little waterproof boxes to go over the juntion box and hole

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