Hi, need to fit solar panels to Van roof which is fibre glass using the no drilling method. Any suggestions for panel type, fitting and wiring advise? I would like to use every available place to fit as many as possible which means different ratings and not sure if that would be a issue with connections to dc/dc charger. Thanks.
elliemike said
01:03 PM Dec 23, 2020
Weven wrote:
Hi, need to fit solar panels to Van roof which is fibre glass using the no drilling method. Any suggestions for panel type, fitting and wiring advise? I would like to use every available place to fit as many as possible which means different ratings and not sure if that would be a issue with connections to dc/dc charger. Thanks.
I have had my panel on the roof for years, and it is fixed on with Sikaflex 291 adhesive. It is a framed panel and I added aluminum angle on the edges to give air clearance and a bit of surface area for the Sikaflex to bond to.
My roof is aluminum.
-- Edited by elliemike on Wednesday 23rd of December 2020 01:03:37 PM
I would like to use every available place to fit as many as possible which means different ratings and not sure if that would be a issue with connections to dc/dc charger. Thanks.
Have a look at my setup, it's not on a caravan, but it will give you a heads up on shadow issues, DC-DC, MPPT controller, wiring etc.
The first thing I would do is draw up a scale drawing 1:10 or at least 1:20 of your caravan. You will be able to get a clearer picture of how to fit things in. (I did a 1:1 drawing of my roof rack setup & it saved a multitude of issues which would otherwise have been very expensive). If you get your problems solved on drawings you will only have to build it once. HB pencils & a rubber are cheap!
Shadows: If you have other things on the roof you do not want to have a solar panel right up next to it. A tiny shadow can bring down your whole system.
Better to have a bit less solar but having it work reasonably early in the morning. Work out what angle of sun in the morning is your cut off point.
Solar panels: They are a small percentage of the overall expense of the system, it is false economy putting a cheap big panel. Find a quality panel, one size, use 4, 6 or 8 & if you choose a MPPT you can put 2 panels in series.
Panel pads: There are a lot of fake ABS pads, no matter how much glue you use they do not stick like sh.. to a blanket!
Fridge & other power requirements: What are you trying to run?
Wiring: Get wiring size right, calculating resistance is the total length of + & -
Camping style: If you tend to move you can get away with a smaller system & have the car charge the batteries. If you stay put longer then more solar & batteries are the go, by maybe top up by simply running the engine.
Weight: Solar panels are heavy & also raise your centre of gravity. Batteries weigh a lot. How much of your payload are you prepared to sacrifice? Do you actually know what your caravan weighs?
Before wasting hard earned cash: Once you have worked out what you actually need rather than want, then it's going to be a lot easier to narrow down the hardware you need to purchase.
Weven said
10:05 PM Dec 23, 2020
Thanks for the replies, adhesive looks good. When, yes that system is great.
Hi, need to fit solar panels to Van roof which is fibre glass using the no drilling method. Any suggestions for panel type, fitting and wiring advise? I would like to use every available place to fit as many as possible which means different ratings and not sure if that would be a issue with connections to dc/dc charger. Thanks.
I have had my panel on the roof for years, and it is fixed on with Sikaflex 291 adhesive. It is a framed panel and I added aluminum angle on the edges to give air clearance and a bit of surface area for the Sikaflex to bond to.
My roof is aluminum.
-- Edited by elliemike on Wednesday 23rd of December 2020 01:03:37 PM
Have a look at my setup, it's not on a caravan, but it will give you a heads up on shadow issues, DC-DC, MPPT controller, wiring etc.
https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t65231112/custom-6x20-watts-solar-setup-with-mppt/
After all that!
The first thing I would do is draw up a scale drawing 1:10 or at least 1:20 of your caravan. You will be able to get a clearer picture of how to fit things in. (I did a 1:1 drawing of my roof rack setup & it saved a multitude of issues which would otherwise have been very expensive). If you get your problems solved on drawings you will only have to build it once. HB pencils & a rubber are cheap!
Shadows: If you have other things on the roof you do not want to have a solar panel right up next to it. A tiny shadow can bring down your whole system.
Better to have a bit less solar but having it work reasonably early in the morning. Work out what angle of sun in the morning is your cut off point.
Solar panels: They are a small percentage of the overall expense of the system, it is false economy putting a cheap big panel. Find a quality panel, one size, use 4, 6 or 8 & if you choose a MPPT you can put 2 panels in series.
Panel pads: There are a lot of fake ABS pads, no matter how much glue you use they do not stick like sh.. to a blanket!
Fridge & other power requirements: What are you trying to run?
Wiring: Get wiring size right, calculating resistance is the total length of + & -
Camping style: If you tend to move you can get away with a smaller system & have the car charge the batteries. If you stay put longer then more solar & batteries are the go, by maybe top up by simply running the engine.
Weight: Solar panels are heavy & also raise your centre of gravity. Batteries weigh a lot. How much of your payload are you prepared to sacrifice? Do you actually know what your caravan weighs?
Before wasting hard earned cash: Once you have worked out what you actually need rather than want, then it's going to be a lot easier to narrow down the hardware you need to purchase.