Roof Rails On Reimo Pop Top

[Pummer67]

I've been reading all sorts on the forum but I think im more confused now than before I started.
Where do I find which roof rails to fit to the pop top. I want to fit a solar panel and was going to go semi flexible and glue to roof but I'm now thinking get roof rails and fit across them instead. Any advice?

 

[Dilbert]

Why are you going off bonding the solar panel to the roof?

Personally, I want to keep the van below 2m which I have with the Reimo Easy Fit roof and 40mm lowering. And the extra drag when touring does not appeal to me.

Just my opinion though....

D.

 

[Pummer67]

Just because of other things I have read on here about the heat from the solar panel not being able to dissipate which can break the panels and then it's a nightmare to remove. I nearly bought a semi flexible one and then changed my mind at last minute. What panel do you have?

 

[Dilbert]

It's a Carbest (Reimo) Product number: 85329. 160W Ultra-flexible. It is bonded to the roof. Chosen because:

• All black finish
• Ultra Flexible
• High voltage output which is advantageous using an MPPT charge controller (I use a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75/15)
• EFTE coating making it tough and with high light transmittance due to honeycomb structure. More info here: ETFE - Wikipedia
• Can be walked on when bonded flat (not that useful but must be tough!)
• Heat-resistant up to circa. 150 °C (I have measured the surface temperature when we had the 28 deg C days with direct sun and it was 62 deg. C.)
• Thin 3mm
• Light

Info here: Reimo - Solar panel flexible 160W, 1505x540x3mm, 8m cable, ETFE + fiberglass, black

More details here in PDF catalogue. https://www.reimo.com/de/bilder/Carbest_Katalog_2018_EN_Web.pdf See page 4. Power Panel Flex 160 Pro black.

Not the cheapest but I am very pleased with the performance.

Hope this helps.

D.

 

[Pummer67]

Cheers mate. I will have a bit more of a think again then