Low Sun

[Dazzlin]

Not a Chinese takeaway...

I know it is lower up in Norway, Finland etc but....

We were parked 15 mins from Sterling, in the south of Scotland, just over the border really, last night.

As it's only our second night since I've made the van nearly liveable, I am still taking pics too often.

First pic is 9.52 this morning when it showed from behind the clouds.

Second pic was 2.07pm yesterday when we parked up.

Really looking forward to longer days..... ?

Been a bright couple of days, but it was frosty last night.

Nice and warm in the van from our newly painted Truma.

 

[WillH]

The low sun is why my solar just ain't enough in the winter and I'm a little south of you.

 

[Figaro]

Never mind, it's the winter equinox on Sunday so the days will start to lengthen.
Can't wait.....

 

[Gellyneck]

Up north it's sunrise around 09:00 and sunset around 15:00 just now.
Stirling will be around 30 mins earlier \ later.

 

[Mickey1]

Low sun posted by dazzlin ????

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[TerryL]

Good to see you back on the road Darren & Lynne.

 

[Ivory55]

Never mind, it's the winter equinox on Sunday so the days will start to lengthen.
Can't wait.....

Is it not till sometime in January that the day light hours starts increasing.

 

[klaatu]

Is it not till sometime in January that the day light hours starts increasing.

Daylight hours do start increasing again slightly after the winter solstice (not equinox as mentioned above), by definition, as that’s the shortest day. You’re possibly thinking of the fact that sunrise continues to get later for a while after the solstice. Sunset has already started to get later.

 

[DavidG58]

Good to see you out and about again

Your post reminded me of my trip to Durness January 2015

this was a midday shadow

if the heater is working well, I recommend the trip at this time of the year, empty roads

 

[Geistguy]

Those Truma heaters are brilliant, keep the van cosy and no battery drain. Wish we had the option to have one in modern vans.

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[David and Sally]

Never mind, it's the winter equinox on Sunday so the days will start to lengthen.
Can't wait.....

So what are we all going to do with our extra 4 mins of daylight a day? Roll on the Spring.

 

[Figaro]

Small steps = closer to spring and summer every day

 

[Chris51]

Would an adjustable solar panel that you could tilt towards the sun make a lot of difference as that is what I may do ?

 

[TerryL]

Would an adjustable solar panel that you could tilt towards the sun make a lot of difference as that is what I may do ?

Apparently so. Dazzlin could tell you more, he's just done that on his "new" van.

 

[Wild Brambles]

The creative amongst us hang out solar panels on the side of the van.

That gives me an idea - if I wanted to rehypothecate my van ( if I get short of money ), will the DVLA accept a solalr panel rail as an awning rail?

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[Dazzlin]

Would an adjustable solar panel that you could tilt towards the sun make a lot of difference as that is what I may do ?

Hi Chris.
I haven't used these properly yet, but it more than doubled the input on our last van.

'Scuse the state of the roof, been busy...

 

[Chris51]

Where did you get the brackets from ?

 

[Figaro]

And do they lock down ?

 

[autorouter]

I haven't used these properly yet, but it more than doubled the input on our last van.

What are those mountings, and where can you get them? They look like window stays. Do you have to climb on the roof to tilt the panels?

 

[Dazzlin]

Where did you get the brackets from ?

Screwfix. About a tenner a pair.

And do they lock down ?

Yes, I made a rough 'turn-latch from angle ali onto a bolt'

What are those mountings, and where can you get them? They look like window stays. Do you have to climb on the roof to tilt the panels?

Yes, as above, from screwfix, they are upvc window stays, and 'up the fixed ladder and onto the roof' or I can sort of get to them from the rooflight.

They are friction hinges and have an adjustable screw, so stay up even when quite windy. I'm happy with them up but wifey flaps a bit and I have to lower them.
Worse that can happen is they blow flat - or blow off!

Neither has yet occurred.....

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[Figaro]

Did you consider mounting one to lift the other way around so you could alternate which was lifted depending upon where the sun is ?
As it is it looks like you'd need to turn the van around

 

[Dazzlin]

Did you consider mounting one to lift the other way around so you could alternate which was lifted depending upon where the sun is ?
As it is it looks like you'd need to turn the van around

No. This way works for us. When we full timed for 5 years, every jan/feb/march in Morocco and a bit either side in Spain, we were always charged, only on ehu about half a dozen times over those years.

Park facing east. Usually wild camping, so easy to choose direction.
Sun warms the cab in the morning, (I need that when it's me that makes madam her cuppa in bed) and comes in the hab door all day.
As they are only tilted roughly November to March when the sun doesn't travel very far.
Summer, they are flat.
I have another 2 panels to fit when we get back to Spain.

 

[Armytwowheels]

It's great to see you back on the road again. Happy travels you two.

 

[irnbru]

Stirling will be around 30 mins earlier \ later.

I too thought the OP meant Stirling but as you know...its not just over the border in South Scotland?

We were parked 15 mins from Sterling, in the south of Scotland, just over the border really, last night.

Do you have a map image of where you were?

 

[Dazzlin]

I too thought the OP meant Stirling but as you know...its not just over the border in South Scotland?


Do you have a map image of where you were?

It's just over the border (2 hours) when you look at Durness that DavidG58 recommended........
Another 5 hours north of Stirling!!

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[irnbru]

Aaah ok , Sorry you puzzled me by saying just over the border , which to me Is The Scottish Borders.

Stirling is in The Central Belt of Scotland.

Anyway it’s good to see your now getting to use your van.

Have you visited Hawick yet which is in the Scottish Borders, a lovely little town that actually welcomes motorhomes.

 

[Dazzlin]

Aaah ok , Sorry you puzzled me by saying just over the border , which to me Is The Scottish Borders.

Stirling is in The Central Belt of Scotland.

Anyway it’s good to see your now getting to use your van.

Have you visited Hawick yet which is in the Scottish Borders, a lovely little town that actually welcomes motorhomes.

We did Hawick and Jedburgh a couple of years ago in the other van. As you say, Hawick actually has motorhome spaces marked out!

Met a great old guy there named Bill, who drove us round, gave a tour and generally entertained us, a real character!

 

[Littlewheels]

Please don’t promote the Scottish Borders lets just try and keep this wonderful area to ourselves, at a guess 99% of visitors to Scotland fly straight by it to “proper Scotland “ but they don’t know what they are missing it’s brilliant, light or no traffic, I’ve said enough.. Schhhhh.

 

[Mrsambulancekidd]

Never mind, it's the winter equinox on Sunday so the days will start to lengthen.
Can't wait.....

It's today the changes start, shortest day, solstice....

 

[Figaro]

It's today the changes start, shortest day, solstice..

I think it depends exactly where in the UK you are but we don`t need to be pedantic, from this weekend daylight is getting longer

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