Truma 150w solar panel

[Hayesdec]

Hi All
Why are Truma solar panels the most expensive. I have a 100w Truma on my motorhome and wanted a Truma 150w extra panel. I was told it’s best to keep to the same make together. £500 fitted. Admittedly the guy is going to come out and stick it on top of motorhome. Think it’s only a case of joining it to the 100w As I already have an mppt smart solar charge controller 100 l 20 fitted.
I have looked around and Truma 150w panels can be £700.
Altho I am pleased with the panel I have.
Richard

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hi All
Why are Truma solar panels the most expensive. I have a 100w Truma on my motorhome and wanted a Truma 150w extra panel. I was told it’s best to keep to the same make together. £500 fitted. Admittedly the guy is going to come out and stick it on top of motorhome. Think it’s only a case of joining it to the 100w As I already have an mppt smart solar charge controller 100 l 20 fitted.
I have looked around and Truma 150w panels can be £700.
Altho I am pleased with the panel I have.
Richard

They are probably expensive because people will pay for the name. All you've got to do is buy one that is of the same rated voltage. Our 150w panel was about £150 if I recall correctly. They'll be cheaper now.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

To be honest ,I thought £500 for supply and fitting of a 150 w solar panel was ok.
If the panel was around £150 plus £25 for the brackets,£12 for the sealant plus £10 for connections, leaves £300 for fitting ,which really is someone's day rate
He has to buy the panel, buy the bits and pieces,pick them up ,travel to your van with ladders ,prep your van roof attach the brackets,panel connect up and test.
Truma panels are usually expensive ,I would take his hand off.
You could always do it yourself.

 

[Hayesdec]

Hi Jimbohorlicks

I wasn’t complaining about the price I got.
That’s why he is fitting it.
My question was why are Truma panels so expensive. I probably would have had a go at fitting myself but could not find a Tuma 150w panel for less than £500.
Thanks.

 

[ICB]

To be honest ,I thought £500 for supply and fitting of a 150 w solar panel was ok.
If the panel was around £150 plus £25 for the brackets,£12 for the sealant plus £10 for connections, leaves £300 for fitting ,which really is someone's day rate
He has to buy the panel, buy the bits and pieces,pick them up ,travel to your van with ladders ,prep your van roof attach the brackets,panel connect up and test.
Truma panels are usually expensive ,I would take his hand off.
You could always do it yourself.

The fitting is dead easy - just clean the relevant roof area with alcohol solvent, glue the panel fixings to the roof of the van and splice the cables into the existing cables from the 100W panel. Job shouldn't take more than an hour. That's £300 per hour, wish I got paid that!
In terms of extra panel selection, as said by another commentor, what is important is matching the operating voltages of the panels. However, try as I might, I can't find a technical spec for the Truma panels anywhere (optimum operating voltage and current, open circuit voltage, short circuit current). It's as if Truma are deliberately withholding this information perhaps to force people to stick with their inflated prices!

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[ICB]

To be honest ,I thought £500 for supply and fitting of a 150 w solar panel was ok.
If the panel was around £150 plus £25 for the brackets,£12 for the sealant plus £10 for connections, leaves £300 for fitting ,which really is someone's day rate
He has to buy the panel, buy the bits and pieces,pick them up ,travel to your van with ladders ,prep your van roof attach the brackets,panel connect up and test.
Truma panels are usually expensive ,I would take his hand off.
You could always do it yourself.

The fitting is dead easy - just clean the relevant roof area with alcohol solvent, glue the panel fixings to the roof of the van and splice the cables into the existing cables from the 100W panel. Job shouldn't take more than an hour. That's £300 per hour, wish I got paid that!
In terms of extra panel selection, as said by another commentor, what is important is matching the operating voltages of the panels. However, try as I might, I can't find a technical spec for the Truma panels anywhere (optimum operating voltage and current, open circuit voltage, short circuit current). It's as if Truma are deliberately withholding this information perhaps to force people to stick with their inflated prices!

Hi All
Why are Truma solar panels the most expensive. I have a 100w Truma on my motorhome and wanted a Truma 150w extra panel. I was told it’s best to keep to the same make together. £500 fitted. Admittedly the guy is going to come out and stick it on top of motorhome. Think it’s only a case of joining it to the 100w As I already have an mppt smart solar charge controller 100 l 20 fitted.
I have looked around and Truma 150w panels can be £700.
Altho I am pleased with the panel I have.
Richard

Hi, did you get the 150W Truma panel fitted? If yes, then how well are the 2 panels working together? Any problems?
Thanks.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Its not just about the fitting though is it? I have fitted panels ,no issues ,but in the case of the OP maybe he didn't have the wherewithal to do it.Its not £300 an hour ,the fitter has to buy all the bits and pieces.Truma panels can be bought as part of a kit but they are expensive.
The fitter has to travel to the van ,check the existing system and disassemble part of it ,layout and fit all the parts etc.
I agree its cheaper to do it yourself,if you can.

Truma SolarSet - Inform now

The Truma SolarSet uses solar energy to supply electricity to your vehicle. Find out more about the efficient Truma solar panels for caravans and motor homes.

www.truma.com

 

[ICB]

Its not just about the fitting though is it? I have fitted panels ,no issues ,but in the case of the OP maybe he didn't have the wherewithal to do it.Its not £300 an hour ,the fitter has to buy all the bits and pieces.Truma panels can be bought as part of a kit but they are expensive.
The fitter has to travel to the van ,check the existing system and disassemble part of it ,layout and fit all the parts etc.
I agree its cheaper to do it yourself,if you can.

Truma SolarSet - Inform now

The Truma SolarSet uses solar energy to supply electricity to your vehicle. Find out more about the efficient Truma solar panels for caravans and motor homes.

www.truma.com

And the fitter will be buying the panels at trade prices (discounted to the prices we see) and passing on the VAT. To save argumant however, I do agree that these days the labour charge is often the biggest part of fitted cost.
I just think that Truma prices are way too high and quite frankly I don't know why caravan/motorhome manufacturers and dealers continue to sell them. They could offer customers far better deals using, say, Victron, Eco-Worthy or Renogy panels (or any of the many other good makes out there).

 

[Rohsman]

The fitting is dead easy - just clean the relevant roof area with alcohol solvent, glue the panel fixings to the roof of the van and splice the cables into the existing cables from the 100W panel. Job shouldn't take more than an hour. That's £300 per hour, wish I got paid that!
In terms of extra panel selection, as said by another commentor, what is important is matching the operating voltages of the panels. However, try as I might, I can't find a technical spec for the Truma panels anywhere (optimum operating voltage and current, open circuit voltage, short circuit current). It's as if Truma are deliberately withholding this information perhaps to force people to stick with their inflated prices!

I have a Truma 100w panel and want to add more but was planning to use another brand so need the specification to get a suitable match. I posted yesterday to see if anyone can get a technical specification because as you note Truma seem to hide this information. I haven't had any replies to that post so guess you are right about Truma deliberately witholding information!