Solar fail, time for an upgrade

[Toffermora]

I think my solar panel cooked itself in the latest heat, battery is at 70% but this is all my mppt is showing? I am sat at work so can't get a multimeter on it today to double check, but thought I would see what the collective knowledge of the forum thinks.

So if this is the case I am thinking of going rigid and avoiding the same happening again. Any recommendations on a rigid panel? Was thinking of fitting some rails and putting it between them on my poptop.
Currently I have a 230ah Fogstar and only use it for fridge, lights and usb sockets, no electric hookup, what do people think I need size wise? The one on there at the moment is 270w and has lasted 3 years!

 

[FWhite]

View attachment 330192
I think my solar panel cooked itself in the latest heat, battery is at 70% but this is all my mppt is showing? I am sat at work so can't get a multimeter on it today to double check, but thought I would see what the collective knowledge of the forum thinks.

So if this is the case I am thinking of going rigid and avoiding the same happening again. Any recommendations on a rigid panel? Was thinking of fitting some rails and putting it between them on my poptop.
Currently I have a 230ah Fogstar and only use it for fridge, lights and usb sockets, no electric hookup, what do people think I need size wise? The one on there at the moment is 270w and has lasted 3 years!

Fantastic. A solar panel gets damaged by too much sun. In only 3 years!
If it is really damaged, check your warranty, it might be longer that the usual 2 years and some users here go them replaced.
This is usually the case with the rigid panels, that in order to save our planet must last much longer, at least on paper.
If you install a rigid one on rails there are several threads here that you could refer to. My humble suggestion would be not to underestimate the aerodynamic forces that such stuff can generate at speed (and can tear it away).
It is like having a decent wing on your roof, and some kind of aerodynamic fairing might be in order.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Is it going on a standard van roof or a pop top?
Either way I couldn't bring myself to put a solar dining table top on the roof but constantly moan and worry about my two flexi panels trying to escape or simply dying.
@Drive Wayne is your man for advice as he has gone solid and now lugs around a 15kW rigid panel on his pop top.

 

[Drive Wayne]

Is it going on a standard van roof or a pop top?
Either way I couldn't bring myself to put a solar dining table top on the roof but constantly moan and worry about my two flexi panels trying to escape or simply dying.
@Drive Wayne is your man for advice as he has gone solid and now lugs around a 15kW rigid panel on his pop top.

Only 270watts in actuality, but it works so well, you just have to duck a bit going under 2m barriers... 2 flexis died to make me go that way! No regrets after over a year.

 

[Paynewright]

Battery power is the 2027 project and after reading a few threads I’m going rigid! Still undecided whether it’ll be charging a portable power pack or in-built leisure battery - its mainly to run the fridge.

I screen grabbed this picture from a forum thread, curtesy of @CJW , which is my inspiration / design brief for what I want to achieve. I’ll need to swap the awning C rails when I fit the roof bars. Van currently 1.95m high so hoping to keep it under 2.05m as most carparks 2.10 where there is a barrier.

 

[Qnapper]

I must be very lucky as my flexible 200watt solar panel has been stuck on our camper for 3 years now in temps up 40C around Spain and Italy and is still working

Not cheap but must be worth it if it has lasted this lomg:

NDS Energy Lightweight Semi Flexible Solar Panel 12V 200W (Rear Juncti

LIGHTSOLAR is the “Glass & Frameless” range of solar panels designed for applications where weight, thickness and resistance are fundamental characteristics. The cells of these monocrystalline panels, with an efficiency of 18.75%, are embedded in an exclusive multi-layer structure: the upper...

vanjunkies.co.uk

 

[Toffermora]

Fantastic. A solar panel gets damaged by too much sun. In only 3 years!
If it is really damaged, check your warranty, it might be longer that the usual 2 years and some users here go them replaced.
This is usually the case with the rigid panels, that in order to save our planet must last much longer, at least on paper.
If you install a rigid one on rails there are several threads here that you could refer to. My humble suggestion would be not to underestimate the aerodynamic forces that such stuff can generate at speed (and can tear it away).
It is like having a decent wing on your roof, and some kind of aerodynamic fairing might be in order.

I have had a look and I think it had a three year warranty, typically that was April this year!! I have seen a few pics on here of peoples setup that have used rails and they look pretty low profile so hopefully wouldn't be too much of a sail!

 

[Toffermora]

I must be very lucky as my flexible 200watt solar panel has been stuck on our camper for 3 years now in temps up 40C around Spain and Italy and is still working

Not cheap but must be worth it if it has lasted this lomg:

NDS Energy Lightweight Semi Flexible Solar Panel 12V 200W (Rear Juncti

LIGHTSOLAR is the “Glass & Frameless” range of solar panels designed for applications where weight, thickness and resistance are fundamental characteristics. The cells of these monocrystalline panels, with an efficiency of 18.75%, are embedded in an exclusive multi-layer structure: the upper...

vanjunkies.co.uk

Mine was about that price I think and yet

 

[Qnapper]

Mine was about that price I think and yet

I would still try warranty route as you never know they may cover it. I would also inform them lot of people waiting to see the outcome on campervan forum, might make them think twice

 

[Dellmassive]

View attachment 330192
I think my solar panel cooked itself in the latest heat, battery is at 70% but this is all my mppt is showing? I am sat at work so can't get a multimeter on it today to double check, but thought I would see what the collective knowledge of the forum thinks.

So if this is the case I am thinking of going rigid and avoiding the same happening again. Any recommendations on a rigid panel? Was thinking of fitting some rails and putting it between them on my poptop.
Currently I have a 230ah Fogstar and only use it for fridge, lights and usb sockets, no electric hookup, what do people think I need size wise? The one on there at the moment is 270w and has lasted 3 years!

32v from the panel,

battery at 13.61v with 0.3A charge going in. and in float mode.

thats showing the battery is fully charged?

what battery have you got and what battery settings is the mppt set to?

 

[Toffermora]

I have seen a few posts on here of what I am thinking of trying to achieve, just need to decide if I go ahead and do it now before my holiday to the continent at the end of August or not bother, we have a dc-dc charger and will be moving each day so might not be needed. This is what I am thinking:
@Creamytash

@Bigsidavies

@sgh

 

[Sackmycook]

Is that battery not able to accept much charge as its on Float ? Therefore the solar controller isn't allowing a big charge.
I thought SOC readings were not always reliable ?

 

[Toffermora]

32v from the panel,

battery at 13.61v with 0.3A charge going in. and in float mode.

thats showing the battery is fully charged?

what battery have you got and what battery settings is the mppt set to?

Well I thought that it's a bit odd. Fogstar drift 230.
This is battery now:

MPPT settings:

Shunt:

I don't know why that is now showing different % either?!
Shunt settings:

 

[Dellmassive]

You van try tweaking the mppt charge profile

Set the absorbtion/bulk voltage up a bit.

You have 14.4v. so I'd try , 14.4v, 14.5v.... but no higher that 14.6v.

(14.2v is the default)

Id imagine there are s some small volt drop over the charge cables.... So tweak the charge voltage up a bit.

Then you should start to see the battery charging battery, and the SOC will start to increase.

 

[Toffermora]

Ok will have a look, the system has been fine for the last couple of years, the only thing I did recently is take the battery out to put in a new holder, do you think I have loosened a cable or something and that has affected it?

 

[Dellmassive]

Ok will have a look, the system has been fine for the last couple of years, the only thing I did recently is take the battery out to put in a new holder, do you think I have loosened a cable or something and that has affected it?

Very possibly,.. seeing as nothing else has changed.

 

[FWhite]

I have seen a few posts on here of what I am thinking of trying to achieve, just need to decide if I go ahead and do it now before my holiday to the continent at the end of August or not bother, we have a dc-dc charger and will be moving each day so might not be needed. This is what I am thinking:
View attachment 330232@Creamytash
View attachment 330233
@Bigsidavies
View attachment 330234
@sgh

These pictures is exactly what I would be afraid of.
That empty layer under the panel could in the wrong conditions create massive upwards pressure (lift), like an aiplane wing. Basically it is enough that the speed of the airflow on the upper surface is much higher than on the lower one.
Of course I didn't study the phenomenon extensively and my fluid mechanics knowledge is minimal, but I would think that at least a front fairing/spoiler would be beneficial.

 

[Paynewright]

These pictures is exactly what I would be afraid of.
That empty layer under the panel could in the wrong conditions create massive upwards pressure (lift), like an aiplane wing. Basically it is enough that the speed of the airflow on the upper surface is much higher than on the lower one.
Of course I didn't study the phenomenon extensively and my fluid mechanics knowledge is minimal, but I would think that at least a front fairing/spoiler would be beneficial.

There have been lots of posts about bonded panels failing, not so many about rigid panels. I think aerodynamics less of an issue / risk.

 

[FWhite]

There have been lots of posts about bonded panels failing, not so many about rigid panels. I think aerodynamics less of an issue / risk.

As you like, of course.
Just think how MUCH bigger the possible damage of a rigid panel flying away would be, though.

 

[Paynewright]

I dont recall any post of one departing but thats not to say a badly installed panel hasnt come adrift.

If fixed properly no more risk than a roof tent, roof box, bike, wind out awning etc all of which create more drag than a flat roof panel.

I would expect fitted further back on the roof they are less prone to buffeting as the windscreen is pushing the air upwards.

As you say its a personal choice as to what you’re comfortable with.