Got any spare room on your roof?
- Thread starter Emmit
- Start date
glenn2926
Free Member
I think I could get two possibly three of those on my roof. I do fancy solar but the thought of drilling holes in a type of vehicle that’s renowned for leaking puts me off big time. Plus adding all the extra control units sounds a bit of a faff.
We have currently a 130 amp leisure battery and haven’t run out of electric yet so if I want I could probably look at adding a second leisure battery before considering solar.
We have currently a 130 amp leisure battery and haven’t run out of electric yet so if I want I could probably look at adding a second leisure battery before considering solar.
ambulancekidd
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Eh, just a bit on the large side for my motorhome, perhaps it'd be ok on the house or my man cave.
Boringfrog
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Never mind the panels, what's the green things on the floor?
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That's a good price for a house panel could no with a few if those on mine. Assume the green boxes are batteries for storage.ooks a good set up for a DIY jobby.
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Emmit
LIFE MEMBER
It was set up for a house JimThat's a good price for a house panel could no with a few if those on mine. Assume the green boxes are batteries for storage.ooks a good set up for a DIY jobby.
What wasn't in the photo were some big bu&&er off batteries that, from memory were displayed as, I think 2250 watts which would make them 187amps.
I bow to your greater knowledge re the 'boxes' on the front of the photo.
I can only imagine what Mrs Emmit would have said if I'd have turned up with one of those panels under my arm!!
A soprano singing voice springs to mind!
funflair
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The green boxes are AGM batteries <Broken link removed>
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Emmit
LIFE MEMBER
I've got some spare weight capacity.
Anybody want some!
suavecarve
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250 ah AGM batteries for 309 euros or £258 ish
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I have the same phobia about drilling thro the roof of our vehicle so when / if I get round to fitting a solar panel I am going to route the cables from the panel the shortest distance to the awning box. After removing the awning box will drill a hole thro the side of the vehicle behind where the awning box sits, into a hidden area inside the vehicle and thence to the controller. The hole will be sealed behind the awning box and the awning box replaced. A drip strip along the top of the awning box should stop most of the water getting behind it and the seal thro the side makes it waterproof.
Where are you now ?
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Emmit
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That's about the size of them.
Need a 40amp controller?
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On the link from funflair there are also used panels for sale near Norwich at £40 each collected.ex a solar farm ,5 years old but with a lifespan of 25 years from original install.
Minxy
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Corrrrr ... the 'Sale of the Century' is back!
Enjoy
I’ve got 400w of solar and 30A Victron MPPT… I think 30A would work with one of those, unless you were in perfect optimal sun conditions. Remember 450w will be at 20v, so should be good on the amps side
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Mine are glued down using the dealer supplied fixing, hassocks stood the test of time since 2019 and 15000 miles
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glenn2926
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It’s the drilling to bring the cables inside that worries me. I would stick the panels down but would still need to drill a big hole for the cables. Still thinking about it.
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I think that’s why some installers use cable entry boxes like these. Protects the hole through the vehicle from the elements.
Solar cable entry box
Solar cable entry box
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i find those very difficult to stick down much prefer an ip rated box glued down so much more surface area for the adhesive
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The cable entry fixing is glued down and covers the hole. There is a gland to seal it from water so it makes for a very secure watertight entry. Try also to see it there are other routes less likely to be affected by water incursion but also seal the entry hole just to be sure, more than enough is the name of the game with the sealant.
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It took me a couple of years to summon up courage but I drilled through so the cable is not obvious but visible above the high level cupboards so I would see any possible leaks early. The cable was actually a tight fit through the hole and in a sealed gland so I think leaks are pretty unlikely.
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Was the difficulty due to locating a flat surface, mine is totally flat so had no problems?
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