Solar panel on a lift up roof.

[Lenny HB]

You only have a small van so I assume you usage is not that high I would have thought 120 watts more than enough. Our last van we only had an 80 w panel & 160 A/H of batteries never had any problems with power, but did not use for more than a few of days at a time in the winter. I fitted 2 x 100W panels to the new van as we are going to fully retire this year and hope to use the van a lot more also my 200w set up cost the same as the 80w on the last van, prices have come down so much.

 

[John.]

The weight of 2 x 60 watt panels is nearly twice as much as the 120 watt so looks like the latter.

Regarding the semi flexible panels I've read they lose 10% output re the heat in the height of summer
but are fine autumn / winter.
These panels (brand unknown) were mounted by Sikaflex direct to a grp roof with a gap in the Sikaflex
to allow air flow.

The big advantage for me would be the light weight of 2.5kg.
Think I'll call Sunstore in the morning & see what products they recommend.

 

[Harrers]

Harrers.
If you could please.
Is your roof aluminium or grp ?

As requested some pics of my solar panels. You can see that my roof is grp or something similar. The panels weigh 2.8kg and can be purchased along with everything else you need from here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100W-Watt...01089071551?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item2ed1d7b9bf

 

[Harrers]

Further to my post (of about 5 minutes ago), I called at my mh which is in storage in the Vale of Glamorgan last week to pick something up. I was a bit pushed for time but had a quick look at the displays to check on the batteries. The MPPT display for leisure bank 2 showed 14.1 volts and the led on the CB2 indicated they were charging bank 1. The Sargent display showed that bank 1 was at 13.7 volts and vehicle battery was 12.3 volts.

The two panels at the rear of the vehicle are connected to the MPPT controller for bank 2 and the front panel is connected to a 10 amp controller which then connects to the Sargent ECU which charges bank 1 and also the vehicle battery.

 

[Lenny HB]

A bit worrying that the vehicle battery is down at 12.3v when it is supposed to be getting charged by the solar.

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[Harrers]

A bit worrying that the vehicle battery is down at 12.3v when it is supposed to be getting charged by the solar.

12.3 volts is good enough to start the vehicle. It is the only battery with some load - the vehicle's alarm. However the 10amp controller splits the charge unevenly for normal usage. From memory it's 70 % leisure and 30% vehicle battery.

I could change that whilst it's in store as the leisure batteries have no load and bank 2 is charged from bank 1 (if bank 2 are above 13.5 volts). As the vehicle battery is the only one doing any work, I could reprogram the 10amp controller to make it the priority whilst it's in store.

Definitely something to think about. Thanks for making the point.

 

[John.]

As requested some pics of my solar panels. You can see that my roof is grp or something similar. The panels weigh 2.8kg and can be purchased along with everything else you need from hereQUOTE]
Look a nice tidy job The weight of them has got to be a consideration !!
Had a quick look at the Ebay link really cheap prices

 

[gozomike]

It is perhaps worth noting that any shadow across any part of the panel will reduce its output drastically. I did some experiments with my portable one and even the shade from a finger made a big difference.

 

[John.]

Spoke to Sunstore today all good news

"As there is no glass on these panels there is not so much of a "greenhouse" effect, this means that the panel does not get as hot. There would be no problems fitting the panel flat on the roof with no air gap."

Probably the best answer I could get.

They suggested I use the 140w semi flexible panel. (2.4kg)


12v 140w Monocrystalline All Black Semi Flexible Panel
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EP Solar view star 20A controller.
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Although we could only guess the amount of wire/fitting etc 355.97 inc vat

Any body any thoughts about using this instead? Broken Link Removed
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[John.]

Question please.

Does this look to be ok ?

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[John.]

Update on the solar installation.
6 weeks later / 800 miles the 140w flexible panel is still firmly fixed to lift up roof

No significant heat build up where the panel is fixed to the roof.

The leisure battery seems to replace its charge easily after we use the 12v or the inverter.

Hope this helps someone in the future.

 

[Trikeman]

Excellent work - you won't regret it for sure.

Nice one.

Trikeman.