fitted 100 watt solar panel (1 Viewer)

Neckender

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Oct 15, 2007
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I've just completed the installation of a 100 watt solar panel to our Tribute 650, so we are virtually not relying on hook up anymore,

100 watt panel £245 ebay
10amp controller £17 ebay
10 metres of cable with waterproof connections £14 ebay
plastic entry cover with gland nut £6-50 ebay
sika flex 252 £22 ebay

total £284-50 plus my time

John.
 

Douglas

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I've just completed the installation of a 100 watt solar panel to our Tribute 650, so we are virtually not relying on hook up anymore,

100 watt panel £245 ebay
10amp controller £17 ebay
10 metres of cable with waterproof connections £14 ebay
plastic entry cover with gland nut £6-50 ebay
sika flex 252 £22 ebay

total £284-50 plus my time

John.

Hi John, Congrats on the panel, tell me have you laid it flat or can it be angled to face the sun? if its flat you can get another 30% approximately, out of the panel by being able to angel it to face the sun.

Doug...
 

kennygd

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:Smile:Hello John,
What can yuu run off the 100watt solar panel, does it run direct into the appliance or is the power stored somewhere, I am a bit thick about these panels, did you buy from an ebay shop?
KennyGD:thumb:

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imprint

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Doug's right about the angle, but if it's fixed at 30 degrees, it will cause wind resistance as you motor on your merry way, and in theory you'll need to keep moving the van *when parked to get the panel pointing in the direction of the sun.

PS* except at night, I'm reminded by the local literalist as I type!
 

pappajohn

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:Smile:Hello John,
What can yuu run off the 100watt solar panel, does it run direct into the appliance or is the power stored somewhere, I am a bit thick about these panels, did you buy from an ebay shop?
KennyGD:thumb:

hi kenny.

panels are a form of battery charger and arent really suitable to directly run appliances.

the output varies depending on the strength of the sun.

in theory a 100w panel will produce 8 amps @ 12v with the sun directly overhead on a very sunny day but will be nearer to 5amps in reality.
 

Douglas

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Doug's right about the angle, but if it's fixed at 30 degrees, it will cause wind resistance as you motor on your merry way, and in theory you'll need to keep moving the van *when parked to get the panel pointing in the direction of the sun.

PS* except at night, I'm reminded by the local literalist as I type!


You may care to re-read my post again, and have a re-think.

Doug...

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6pm Cowboy

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Guessing here....... but unless you have some outlandish ( and heavy ) mechanism to produce the varying angles needed you will have to keep climbing up onto the MH roof to alter it, and even then fixing points would be a problem.

How heavy and fragile are these things ? free standing on the roof ( out of kids way ) would be easier but I suspect it is all to much hassle.

What we need in the UK is an easy and effective way to make rain produce electricity
 

pappajohn

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Guessing here....... but unless you have some outlandish ( and heavy ) mechanism to produce the varying angles needed you will have to keep climbing up onto the MH roof to alter it, and even then fixing points would be a problem.

How heavy and fragile are these things ? free standing on the roof ( out of kids way ) would be easier but I suspect it is all to much hassle.

What we need in the UK is an easy and effective way to make rain produce electricity

free standing on the roof and one good gust and its free standing on the ground...in pieces..:ROFLMAO:



mine measures around 1.2mtrs X .75mtrs and is heavy and unwieldy so not an option for lifting onto the roof and down again when it can be fixed there permenently.

if you desperately need more solar power then buy a second or bigger one:thumb:

angling towards the sun may give you 30% more output but a second panel will give you 100% more:thumb:

this is what Olley came up with...tilt and track the sun for two panels..
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Douglas

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Guessing here....... but unless you have some outlandish ( and heavy ) mechanism to produce the varying angles needed you will have to keep climbing up onto the MH roof to alter it, and even then fixing points would be a problem.

How heavy and fragile are these things ? free standing on the roof ( out of kids way ) would be easier but I suspect it is all to much hassle.

What we need in the UK is an easy and effective way to make rain produce electricity

Well your guess was miles off, but I will tell you that a roof rack makes everything easy. but there is a purpose built attachments to do it without the roof rack. easy!!

Doug...

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Geo

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You may care to re-read my post again, and have a re-think.

Doug...

Well your guess was miles off, but I will tell you that a roof rack makes everything easy. but there is a purpose built attachments to do it without the roof rack. easy!!

Doug...
Mind Readers Wanted
Apply Within:Doh::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 

imprint

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Doug I know you were referring to 30 degrees vertically, rather than lying flat.

I was making 2 points.

1, If the panel is simply fixed at that angle, there will be much more wind resistance when travelling than if it were laid flat.
2 A level (i.e flat on the roof panel) is the same whatever the relative position of the van. but if you have a fixed, 30 degree panel, you've got to allow for the changing relative position of the sun and the roof of your vehicle.

Not sure from your avatar whether you're also an aviator??
 

scotjimland

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Hi John, Congrats on the panel, tell me have you laid it flat or can it be angled to face the sun? if its flat you can get another 30% approximately, out of the panel by being able to angel it to face the sun.

Doug...

Doug's post is quite clear.. he said ... CAN IT BE ANGLED ...

I understood this to mean can the panel be angled as required to face the sun directly rather than lying flat .. no where did he mention having it fixed at 30deg

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markymark

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Nice one John:thumb:
Did you have to drill any holes into the roof? I mean for the cables entering MH as i guess you secured panel with silkaflex

Was it a company on Ebay or private seller that you bought from? Have you any photos of finished product
 
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Neckender

Neckender

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I removed cab overhead locker front, removed side panelling, removed bed settee framework, because I wanted to hide the cables with out using plastic trunking. I fitted stainless steele bolts in roof rack.

Click on pictures.

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http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j156/harleyjohn/th_fittingsolarpanel006.jpg[/img][/URL]
Pic 1&2 shows bolts fitted in roof rack


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.Pic 3 shows water proof cover with gland nut & trunking with cables inserted all Sikaflexed on roof.


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Pic 4 shows the cables through to batteries & some timber strenthening for bed base


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Pic 5 shows Controller fitted in top locker.

I've finished fitting the panel this morning (Sat), top picture showing the waterproof cable connections, the middle one with the pipe insulation to middle of roofrack support to prevent vibration and the last one is the finished product.

I also had to remove front and rear roof rack bars ,lift them up on scraps of timber to enable getting arms and spanner underneath to tighten fixings. Then fit hole assembly back on to roof rack bolts.

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Last edited:
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Neckender

Neckender

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Oct 15, 2007
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Hi John, Congrats on the panel, tell me have you laid it flat or can it be angled to face the sun? if its flat you can get another 30% approximately, out of the panel by being able to angel it to face the sun.

Doug...

Hi Doug, yes I've fitted the panel flat as shown above.

John.

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Neckender

Neckender

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Oct 15, 2007
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Exp
Since 2004
:Smile:Hello John,
What can yuu run off the 100watt solar panel, does it run direct into the appliance or is the power stored somewhere, I am a bit thick about these panels, did you buy from an ebay shop?
KennyGD:thumb:
Hello Kenny, It charges my 2 85 amp batteries hopefully will not ever need hook up again.

John.
 
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Neckender

Neckender

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Oct 15, 2007
3,221
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Neckend or North Wales.
Funster No
635
MH
VW T6.1Kombi day Van
Exp
Since 2004
Nice one John:thumb:
Did you have to drill any holes into the roof? I mean for the cables entering MH as i guess you secured panel with silkaflex

Was it a company on Ebay or private seller that you bought from? Have you any photos of finished product

Hi Mark, I brought it of a company on E bay wwwesunsolarcom they were selling for £259 or best offer, I offered £249 and they agreed. Yes I drilled 2 holes in roof to bring the wires through I also fitted a water proof cover with cable gland nut which I Sika flexed to the roof.

John.
 

Snowbird

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free standing on the roof and one good gust and its free standing on the ground...in pieces..:ROFLMAO:



mine measures around 1.2mtrs X .75mtrs and is heavy and unwieldy so not an option for lifting onto the roof and down again when it can be fixed there permenently.

if you desperately need more solar power then buy a second or bigger one:thumb:

angling towards the sun may give you 30% more output but a second panel will give you 100% more:thumb:

this is what Olley came up with...tilt and track the sun for two panels..
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Bloody hell John, have seen smaller trailer chassis than that, whats he fitted it on?.

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