Solar dimensions

Moorey · Senior Member

Solar dimensions

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Installing more, smaller panels has an advantage when in partial shade situations, so the 100W ones are a better solution than larger panels.
The extra cost should be minimal.

Cheers,
Peter

Barboots · Senior Member

The benefit of redundancy also offsets some of the additional cost and cabling requirements.

macka17 · Guru

Hey.
I just bought 2 x 130w panels to replace 1 x 200w. The 2 were $260
The 1 x 200w was $235 from memory.
6 x10in lengths of 2 x 2 Ally angle 6 rivets to each for the 200w
8 x 10in 2x2 ally for the two x 130w with again. 6 rivets to each.
Plus junct box for through roof. Cabling.
SIKA PRO. the best adhesive\sealant. or 3M sealant.
Plus a decent Regulator.

Do yourself a favour.
Go to Broons hire, whatever.
Hire 2 x 9ft trestles with 2 x 9\10ft planks. Set up alongside SAFELY. just walk back and forth.
Rather than climb up\down. FALL OFF Ladder.

I've done all 3. Trestles. Ladder. Fall.

It hurts. DON'T.

Several small is ALWAYS better than one big. in virtually everything.

And that bloody 40 x 40 x 3mm Angle was $56 a length.

ONLY needed 2 x 10in pieces to finish off the job. grrrr.

-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 22nd of October 2017 10:48:02 AM

swamp · Senior Member

hi
try
bit deals
sunyee
vic offroad
then ....google

Try to keep all the panels the same size and brand . The solar harvest will be improved , particularly if u have a Mppt controller .

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi Moorey

From my searching, when I wanted panels, I found that the dimension sizes went up in proportion to the wattage

Perhaps you will have to compromise, as others have said, smaller would give some redundancy in part shade

I managed to fit one large panel across the rear of my motorhome

The method behind the madness, is that with the rear facing north, nothing on the roof will shade the panel

Perhaps the sketch below, will give you some ideas, as my motorhome is also Jayco build

Top of motorhome.png

toglhot · Senior Member

You don't mention what size SPs your after. Anyway there are long narrow SPs available on ebay, they are only 75 watt but two or three may fit your bill. www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-75-Watt-12v-Mono-Solar-Panel-75W-Unique-Narrow-Design-Custom-Panel-/222175860193

It may be worthwhile contacting the company and asking if they have other sizes available.

Jaahn · Guru

Moorey wrote:
Hi all
In the process of preparing my new Jayco 18ft semi off road ready for the big lap. I am having trouble finding panels that are 550m wide to fit the space on the roof. I can find them in 100w but that would mean additional panels and cost. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Moorey

Hi Moorey smile

I am not sure what your constraint is with the size of the panel(s). Do you have a space that is only 550 wide but the length is not limited ? Or do you imagine that several 550 wide panels will fit in a spot ? or could you explain what you are trying to do so we can help.

550 is a common width of some smaller panels as you have found. But as the panels get a larger power rating then they have to be bigger area too. The area more or less sets the power. A 200 W panel is roughly twice the area of a 100W panel. There are some longer and slimmer panels and some shorter and fatter panels but the area is the same for the same power. aww

Generally speaking, as others have also said, several smaller ones work out better than one large one. They are not so prone to breaking the glass and they will give more in partial shade conditions, which commonly happens. hmm

Jaahn