On a recent trip I managed to destroy my 120 watt sola panel on my new Kokoda caravan .
Adelaide City Caravans and the builder, Skytrax caravans have been great by supplying a new (150 watt) sola panel at cost price.
The panels are the same physical size so there shouldn't be any moving of brackets and stuff (whew!) and I've even devised a way to unscrew/screw the metal thread screws to the middle of the roof (I'll post a piccy "if" it works)
Anyway I have a couple of questions to the "experts" before I begin the job -
- The damaged panel is still working even though the surface looks like a shattered car windscreen. Do I need to take any (electrical) precautions before disconnecting?
- Would I need to "re-program" the smart charger thingy for the extra 30 watt panel?
- Is there anything else I might need to do?
- Where the heck do you dispose of an old panel?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated
Jeff
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Live Long and Prosper
MN Triton auto diesel 4x4 & 20' 6" Kokoda Tribute II XL Platinum
The voltage coming out of a panel is not dangerous (In these sizes) so dont worry about the disconnecting bit.
If your regulator (smart charger bit) handled the 120, it should be fine on a 150, if you look at the regulator what Amps does it show? my 20Amp regulator handles the 200w panels fine
Nope, just unplug the old one and plug in the new (or wire up if it needs it)
There arent any liquid chemicals in the panels so safe to just throw in the bin, there is a fair amount of metal and other bits if you feeling adventurous and want to break it up and put the metal and wires into recycling, the actual panel bits go in the bin tho, with the size you might need to take it to a dump
If you are at all worried about the power, just place a towel or something that is thick over the panel, then no power you can pull it off then, but as Nomad Nev said it really is not a problem, just un hook and remove, take panel to tip.
Why throw the damaged panel away as I have seen quite a few people still using their damaged panels ie foldouts are always being damaged. If not for travelling fit to the shed if you still own one to use for backup or connecting to van when under shed roof. It might not be 100% output but still usable.As an example I still have a dual set of BP Solar 74 watters at 24 yrs old still pumping 6.5 amps,New were close to 8.5 amps but with the combined extra 200 watts on the Ute canopy I still have more than enough to cope with the Trailblaza fridge and extra power to boost the van batteries up.
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