Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Nice --- and there's still room for another one.With a little help from my work mates Solar Power ️ up and Running
View attachment 710489 View attachment 710490 View attachment 710491
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Probably would need another in this countryNice --- and there's still room for another one.
You cant have too much solar.
Have you also connected it to your starter battery?
Complete 200W solar panel kit with 20A MPPT controller for charging a 12V/24V battery https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07T2ZWHKX/?tag=mhf04-21Hi Ian,
In the process of sourcing a second panel for mine. Could you tell me (us) what panel it is, and the feet - where did you get them from?
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Looks nice and tidy. one small point, if I may. I fitted a panel in a similar position and found the close proximity of the status antenna cast a shadow if facing that way, which caused a not inconsiderable drop in performance.With a little help from my work mates Solar Power ️ up and Running
View attachment 710489 View attachment 710490 View attachment 710491
It looks like the your kit photonic controller only has one battery connection.Probably would need another in this country
It is connected to the leisure and the starter Battery.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
It is never a nice thing to be a big negative about what looks like a very tidy job, but Mike brings up a very important point and one I came across towards the end of last year.Well done, and sorry to be the harbinger of doom, but have a look at the feed back for those plastic fixing feet. I believe if their given a really good angle grinder abrasive treatment, along with the footprint on the roof their OK. But the blocks just straight to the ABS can lead to adhesion failure. You can retrofit some 75mm ally angle brackets [ 150mm long] , 2 per side, like I have done on the same size panel. It's somewhat shielded by other roof fixings, so not in the full force of the air stream.
Was it a "Craig panel" ?
It's not a disaster, but worth knowing.
Mike.View attachment 710689
YesAdria ?
I keyed both surfaces and cleaned them thoroughly with alcohol. The front of the Panel frame is under the bar so can only lift one inch if it does come unstuck. I watched numerous videos on YouTube about fitting and everyone had done the same. I may add a couple of fixings between the panel and the bar above at the front for extra security just incase it does lift.It is never a nice thing to be a big negative about what looks like a very tidy job, but Mike brings up a very important point and one I came across towards the end of last year.
I was replacing a single panel on someones PVC, and it secured down with mountings similar to these, but the long ones front and back, rather than the corner ones. Unscrewed the panel from the mounts. And was then about to attempt to wrestle the mounts from the roof, expecting a lot of grief and they literally came off in my hand! I could have removed them with my little finger. How the panel had stayed on for around 5 years or more I really don't know.
The Sikaflex between the mount and the roof was extremely well adhered (and I actually left it on as was concerned the paint would come off - it was a Ducato after all), but there was not a sign of any adhesive on the bottom of the mount.
As Mike says, those feet need very good prep to provide a solid key. (I have always been wary of relying just on adhesive to stick down a big wing on a roof, which is what a solar panel acts like, and my experience last year did nothing to persuade me).
What migh be worth doing as a precuation is fitting some kind of "spoiler" at the front of the panel to deflect air over the top? I think the only thing that saved 'my' panel not flying off was the fact the mount was full width on the front so there was little lift underneath.
The two wires on the roof are negative and positive. They go into the the controller. From the controller there is a feed to the leisure and Starter Batteries.It looks like the your kit photonic controller only has one battery connection.
Am I missing something?
I can still only see one battery out on that controllerI keyed both surfaces and cleaned them thoroughly with alcohol. The front of the Panel frame is under the bar so can only lift one inch if it does come unstuck. I watched numerous videos on YouTube about fitting and everyone had done the same. I may add a couple of fixings between the panel and the bar above at the front for extra security just incase it does lift.
The two wires on the roof are negative and positive. They go into the the controller. From the controller there is a feed to the leisure and Starter Batteries.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
I keyed both surfaces and cleaned them thoroughly with alcohol. The front of the Panel frame is under the bar so can only lift one inch if it does come unstuck. I watched numerous videos on YouTube about fitting and everyone had done the same. I may add a couple of fixings between the panel and the bar above at the front for extra security just incase it does lift.
I think the comments about the battery is that the controller does not have a feed to the Leisure AND Starter batteries. The pair on the right are for a LOAD connection, not a second battery.The two wires on the roof are negative and positive. They go into the the controller. From the controller there is a feed to the leisure and Starter Batteries.
Adria ?
We also have the same roof rail. When I enquired about them from an Adria dealer, I was told they are mainly aesthetic BUT also denote the area on the roof that is 'safe' to walk on ....
Good to ask the question to make sure.We also have the same roof rail. When I enquired about them from an Adria dealer, I was told they are mainly aesthetic BUT also denote the area on the roof that is 'safe' to walk on ....
They are not for loading/carrying anything in the roof.
I think the comments about the battery is that the controller does not have a feed to the Leisure AND Starter batteries. The pair on the right are for a LOAD connection, not a second battery.
If you want to charge the Starter as well as Leisure when getting Solar Power, you would either need a different controller or get a Battery Maintainer/Trickle Charger such as the Ablemail AMT12 for example.
the Battery Maintainer would be a better option than changing the controller as you both already have the controller, and it is a decent enough one, and the Battery Maintainer would operate on EHU as well as
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
What migh be worth doing as a precuation is fitting some kind of "spoiler" at the front of the panel to deflect air over the top? I think the only thing that saved 'my' panel not flying off was the fact the mount was full width on the front so there was little lift underneath.
Well done, and sorry to be the harbinger of doom, but have a look at the feed back for those plastic fixing feet. I believe if their given a really good angle grinder abrasive treatment, along with the footprint on the roof their OK. But the blocks just straight to the ABS can lead to adhesion failure. You can retrofit some 75mm ally angle brackets [ 150mm long] , 2 per side, like I have done on the same size panel. It's somewhat shielded by other roof fixings, so not in the full force of the air stream.
Was it a "Craig panel" ?
It's not a disaster, but worth knowing.
Mike.View attachment 710688View attachment 710689
maybe the wrong terms, dunno. but stopping air getting underneath to try and stop the panel lifting seems a good idea to me.I am not any form of aero engineer, but is the principle of lift on a wing not to do with causing the air to take a longer route over the wing than under it which causes lower pressure on top of the wing, hence "lift". Is that not what you are doing by putting the spoiler right across the front ?
I am confused by you saying you took an angle grinder to the base of the ABSmounting brackets ? I'd have thought an angle grinder would just rip the bracket to bits on first stroke ?
Also, on the ali brackets you made up what sort of preparation did you do to the base of those prior to sticking them down ?
Hi, yes a fairly fine grit blade, abrading all the bottom [ mating face ] of all the brackets used to take away the shiny surface finish.I am confused by you saying you took an angle grinder to the base of the ABS mounting brackets ? I'd have thought an angle grinder would just rip the bracket to bits on first stroke ?
Also, on the ali brackets you made up what sort of preparation did you do to the base of those prior to sticking them down ?
Subscribers do not see these advertisements