Solar questions

[monzer]

Finally getting round to adding some solar to the van but a few questions before I go ordering.

I have a small panel up there already. I didn't add it and no markings on it so not sure the power of it but dimensions are roughly 800mm x 550mm.

Now is this going to affect what I need to do? If I removed it I would have enough space up there to change it to 130w panel giving me 2 x 130w panels total but how are they to remove? A lot of adhesive bonding it there so maybe better to leave alone?

So options are either 1 new 130w panel wired in with the existing panel (not sure how easy they are to wire together) or remove the existing panel and wire in 2 130w panels.

Any thoughts?

 

[the1andonly]

I would go for 2 new panels if old one unknown size and age.
Removing is more fun.
Elbow grease and blades, even a bread knife. I used some silicone eater/remover to soften it up. didn't use the cheese cutter I bought.
Search will giver better advice
Much easier to use a wife for the Job!

 

[Lenny HB]

Existing one is probably 60 watt if it's quite old I would remove it and fit two new panels.
Not hard to remove just takes time, Best to use a windscreen removal wire to cut through the adhesive, cheese/clay wires break too easily I know from experience, then clean up the remains with a blunt chisel. Silicon remover does soften the PU adhesive a little bit.

 

[monzer]

Thanks chaps. Looks like I'll remove the old one and fit 2 new 130w's.

I should still be able to use the existing cables from existing panel down through roof in to controller though, right?

I guess I'll need:

1 set of 3 metre 4mm cable.
2 mounting kits
Adhesive
and a set of 2 to 1 MC4 connectors

Will I need 2 fuse kits or 1? Is the fuse kit fitted inside the van or immediately after each panel?

 

[monzer]

In fact is the fuse kit for in between the controller and battery? If it is then I will already have a fuse in there so shouldn't need to buy this.

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[autorouter]

Solar panels don't really need to be fused. If you look at the 'short circuit current' (Isc) it's not much more than the 'maximum power point current' (Imp), so it wouldn't blow any fuse that can take the normal working current. However come people fit a fuse for convenience to isolate the panels during maintenance, changing batteries, etc.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you need to fit new cables down from the roof buy a male to female cable twice the length you need and cut it in half.
What controller are you going to use?

 

[fat haggis]

On the Bluetooth controller. You can isolate vie the app. Depends on what flavour of controller you have.

 

[tonka]

To remove the old one if its been bonded down..
A cheese wire or some strimmer wire and wrapped around a couple of bits of wood to make handles..

 

[monzer]

If you need to fit new cables down from the roof buy a male to female cable twice the length you need and cut it in half.
What controller are you going to use?

I'm hoping I can use the existing cables. The old panel did work so think I can just use the 2 to 1 adapters and link the 2 new panels to existing cable. Save running anything new through the roof unnecessarily.

I've got a Victron 100/30 controller in already.

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[monzer]

On the Bluetooth controller. You can isolate vie the app. Depends on what flavour of controller you have.

That's right I forgot about that function.

 

[monzer]

Making a bit of progress on this but not sure whether I'll get away with using the existing cable entry gland and existing cable down through roof to controller.

This is what I might have to do...

The thing is, panel 2 is quite far away from the existing entry gland so I think I would need to join the 2 panels via 2-1 connectors then run the output cables from those connectors to my existing cable and join them again there some how?

Or if I could get a longer length of cable direct from panel 2 instead of the 3/400mm they come supplied with I could joing everything under panel 1 keeping the roof neater.

Any ideas before I go sticking things down?

 

[the1andonly]

Any ideas before I go sticking things down?

Yes one question what is diameter/ gauge / current of the wire going through roof?
For a small panel it could be as small as 1mm . Your 2x 130w would be happier with 4mm.

 

[monzer]

Yes one question what is diameter/ gauge / current of the wire going through roof?
For a small panel it could be as small as 1mm . Your 2x 130w would be happier with 4mm.

Thanks but no going back now. It's well stuck down