Another failed solar panel

[The Flying Scotsman]

I'd love to see a picture of those bolts Gord, but wouldn't expect you to go ootside in this pouring rain we have down here...
Oh wait, you're in Dundee, seemingly much closer to the equator than we are!

Totally mate. Back in Costa del Dundee it’s still baking away.
Apparently Dundee is Scotlands sunniest city.
Here’s the blue sky. Still working on my driveway. Hopefully get totally finished tomorrow.
Pic of bolts also

 

[Drive Wayne]

Totally mate. Back in Costa del Dundee it’s still baking away.
Apparently Dundee is Scotlands sunniest city.
Here’s the blue sky. Still working on my driveway. Hopefully get totally finished tomorrow.
Pic of bolts also View attachment 288927View attachment 288928View attachment 288929

Let me know the nut size and I'll post you a couple of black plastic caps.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Let me know the nut size and I'll post you a couple of black plastic caps.

Thanks. Forgot to say I had to push the canvas back out of the way to find the bolt before I took the pic

 

[Drive Wayne]

It's that wet here I've had to set up the Joolca in the conversatory (lean to) while the awning dries out!
Looks like the Joolca lives after a near death experience in Bala!

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

They are M6 35mm ones I used
These ones

https://ebay.us/m/RilqmP

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

It's that wet here I've had to set up the Joolca in the conversatory (lean to) while the awning dries out!
Looks like the Joolca lives after a near death experience in Bala!

View attachment 288930

I would swap weather with you in an instant.
I’ve been praying for rain for months now.
Not been fishing for weeks and weeks.
Rivers have virtually ran dry

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

It has however been great weather for working on my driveway.
But not apparently for trips away in the camper

 

[Mene]

The bolts aren’t hidden inside.
I got bolts that were just long enough so you barely notice them.
Make sure the bolts are stainless steel so they don’t rust.
Do you want a pic of the bolts inside?
One bolt in each front foot is enoug

Yes please!

 

[Drive Wayne]

Mines going in to Tamworth Transporters today to have a rigid 270 watt Victron panel fitted. (Too cowardly to fit it myself).
They are using 'stealth' brackets to fit it, quite low and thin, the front two only are being bolted through the roof.
After 2 failed flexi panels in 3 years it's time to go rigid!
This is a picture of a 185 watt panel on TT's van, my solar cables will be hidden going through the roof under the panel, through the old flexi which will be more than covered by the new 270.
Temporarily this last weekend at Bala we used a Renogy 220 watt suitcase panel array which performed really well (until it got flipped by the wind!), last Friday it captured over 1.2 kWh and a max 244 watts. I did spend time tracking the sun though.

View attachment 288911

View attachment 288912

EDIT!!!

The stealth brackets turned up today but need to be powdercoated black the same as the panel which I dropped off to Tammuth (as the locals say) Transporters last week.
Upsetting after yesterday having removed the poptop bedboard and taken the panels from the wardrobe so the job can be done more easily. And removed the temporary solar cables from the mppt, I'll just have to drive it a bit more to keep the batteries happy, the parasitic drain is quite heavy even only running one fridge!
Bummer, I'll have to wait until Friday or next Tuesday for the panel to be fitteded.
No solar for a few days, first world problems eh?!
All good things, etc.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Yes please!

If you look at my post above there’s a pic of one of the bolts inside. It’s the last of the 3 pics.
I had to push back the canvas to see it as they are hidden when the roof is closed

 

[ginkster]

Campervanparts.uk do some flush bolts for their pop top roof rail kits. Maybe worth speaking to them to see if they will supply them separately if you fancy a super tidy fixing inside.



Elevating Roof Racks - Campervan Parts UK

 

[Drive Wayne]

Campervanparts.uk do some flush bolts for their pop top roof rail kits. Maybe worth speaking to them to see if they will supply them separately if you fancy a super tidy fixing inside.

View attachment 288940

Elevating Roof Racks - Campervan Parts UK

Brilliant, wonder if they do them in grey?! Looks like a job for Mr Sharpie! Thanks @ginkster

 

[Drive Wayne]

Today is the day, in with Neil and Andy at Tamworth Transporters for them to install the new Victron 270 watt rigid panel.
Only 4 'stealth' brackets on each corner, bolted through on all corners.
So far so good.

 

[Dellmassive]

Taking the old.one off?

 

[Drive Wayne]

Taking the old.one off?

Not completely, just covering it with the new panel which is a fair bit bigger.
Hole saw through the old panel, sealed round the edges and a tailor made grommet through the old and under the new panel so there's no visible cables.
It'll be a tidy waterproof job when finished.
Good guys for any midlanders interested in any Transporter related jobs.

 

[Drive Wayne]

And we are done!
Hurrah for Tamworth Transporters!

 

[GDog2]

After a second flexi solar panel failure, I'm going for a rigid type in the hope that it's a last time fit & forget job. The first flexi to fail was a generic chinese one factory fitted to the poptop by Reimo, that lasted around 2 years. The second one, which has just failed was a Carbest German jobby, also supplied by Reimo (but made in China). I've ordered one of these, a PV Logic Mono High Density which should arrive tomorrow. I know it's not "Stealth" but tbh, I'm more concerned with performance & reliability than aesthetics. There's a slight curve in the poptop which I think I can work around, watch this space.

I've been reading your post with interest, as I am considering fitting a PV Logic rigid panel to the poptop on my van, having had three flexible panels fail. In your initial post, you mentioned that there was a slight curve in your poptop; would you mind telling me how much, and how you worked around that please? Presumably you increased the thickness of the adhesive towards the outer edges of the brackets?
Out of interest, did you consider fitting the PV Logic Slim Edge panel as an alternative? I'm tempted by the slimmer profile, but concerned that the air gap would not be sufficient.

 

[Salty Spuds]

I've been reading your post with interest, as I am considering fitting a PV Logic rigid panel to the poptop on my van, having had three flexible panels fail. In your initial post, you mentioned that there was a slight curve in your poptop; would you mind telling me how much, and how you worked around that please? Presumably you increased the thickness of the adhesive towards the outer edges of the brackets?
Out of interest, did you consider fitting the PV Logic Slim Edge panel as an alternative? I'm tempted by the slimmer profile, but concerned that the air gap would not be sufficient.

The curve resulted in around a 3mm gap between the roof and either end of mounting bracket. I used some plastic packing (you could use window packers) to make up the gap and form a firm base. I then stuck the packers to the roof with mastic and bedded the bracket onto the packers. A bead of sealant around bracket and job done.

 

[GDog2]

The curve resulted in around a 3mm gap between the roof and either end of mounting bracket. I used some plastic packing (you could use window packers) to make up the gap and form a firm base. I then stuck the packers to the roof with mastic and bedded the bracket onto the packers. A bead of sealant around bracket and job done.

That makes perfect sense......many thanks for your help.