Solar Panel Dilemma

OllieGBR

OllieGBR

VCDS user
T6 Guru
I’m trying to select my solar panel for the WestDubs pop-top due to be installed in a few weeks.

The installation company have recommended a flexible 105W panel. The connector is on the underside of the panel and makes for a very neat and tidy install.

However, I’ve watched many reviews on these and they appear to suffer with cupping, overheating, (as there’s no heat sink or air flow) and scratching.

A fixed aluminium panel will last longer and not suffer from the same issues, however there’s the wind noise and general ugliness of it to consider.


What’s the collective consensus of the group?

Cheers
Ollie

I have yet to make the decision between AGM and Lithium batteries yet
 
OllieGBR said:
I’m trying to select my solar panel for the WestDubs pop-top due to be installed in a few weeks.

The installation company have recommended a flexible 105W panel. The connector is on the underside of the panel and makes for a very neat and tidy install.

However, I’ve watched many reviews on these and they appear to suffer with cupping, overheating, (as there’s no heat sink or air flow) and scratching.

A fixed aluminium panel will last longer and not suffer from the same issues, however there’s the wind noise and general ugliness of it to consider.


What’s the collective consensus of the group?

Cheers
Ollie

I have yet to make the decision between AGM and Lithium batteries yet
Click to expand...
I’ve had a flexible 250W Photonics Universe panel bonded to my roof for 18 months. No problems at all. Frame mounted ones are better if you’re not sure, or likely to change the panel in future but I ruled them out because they add too much to the height
 
We realised that most of the time we would be driving or on a campsite with hook-up i.e. we didn’t need a permanent solar panel. So we fitted all the electrics for one, but bought a suitcase style folding portable one. On longer trips this goes in the roofbox or rear storage, and is brought out and connected up if we don’t have hookup.
Might work for you ?
Pete
 
Last edited:
andys said:
I’ve had a flexible 250W Photonics Universe panel bonded to my roof for 18 months. No problems at all. Frame mounted ones are better if you’re not sure, or likely to change the panel in future but I ruled them out because they add too much to the height
Click to expand...
I think I read one of your posts on this Andy. Didn’t you also have the Bluetooth Victron charge controller? I have solar panels on my house and am always logging in to check how much energy I’m generating!
 
OllieGBR said:
I think I read one of your posts on this Andy. Didn’t you also have the Bluetooth Victron charge controller? I have solar panels on my house and am always logging in to check how much energy I’m generating!
Click to expand...
Yeah it’s addictive isn’t it? :D
Earlier this year I upgraded from the 75/10 to the 100/20 as the 10A limit was proving to be a bottleneck for my panel.
 
As per Pete we use two flex 120w panels that can be placed on the floor around the van in direct sun. Found a few times that if the panel was on the roof due to parking in certain orientations (campsite restrictions) it gets no or very little sun.
 
I've got a 300w Photonics flexible panel on my van also with the Victron controller with no problems so far although it hasn't been on as long as @andys
 
True Romance said:
As per Pete we use two flex 120w panels that can be placed on the floor around the van in direct sun. Found a few times that if the panel was on the roof due to parking in certain orientations (campsite restrictions) it gets no or very little sun.
Click to expand...
Do you just clip directly into the leisure battery?
 
OllieGBR said:
Do you just clip directly into the leisure battery?
Click to expand...

What we did was buy a panel without controller, and put an Anderson connector on the leads. In the van is a controller (just for the solar panel) permanently connected to the leisure battery. This has a short flying lead with an Anderson connector on. This just connects to the connector on the controller in a few seconds.

You can buy panels with and without a controller. You just have to make the connection to the leisure battery easy to use.

Pete
 
I had 2 150w flexible panels on my T5 directly on the roof but the standard roof has an up and down profile so the down parts allowed air flow. I am in the same boat as Ollie as I have just got a westdubs. I am seriously missing my solar already.
I could just glue them to the roof but the idea of not being able to replace them without completely destroying the roof annoys me. The framed panels I get but they are not very slim line. I do believe they need cooling, Mine have got really hot and I guess they are deisnged to a point. I think the only real way to do it is with the rigid panels.

Those with rigid panels, do they whistle on the roads like a roof rack does? Is it worth installing an upsweep at the front to direct air up and over?
 
There are new slimline portable high power foldable solar panels coming out now, which are way less bulky than the framed suitcase style one that we have. We will be moving to one of these in the not too distant future.

Dell posted a link to them a while ago - will see if I can find it.

Pete
 
bullracing said:
I had 2 150w flexible panels on my T5 directly on the roof but the standard roof has an up and down profile so the down parts allowed air flow. I am in the same boat as Ollie as I have just got a westdubs. I am seriously missing my solar already.
I could just glue them to the roof but the idea of not being able to replace them without completely destroying the roof annoys me. The framed panels I get but they are not very slim line. I do believe they need cooling, Mine have got really hot and I guess they are deisnged to a point. I think the only real way to do it is with the rigid panels.

Those with rigid panels, do they whistle on the roads like a roof rack does? Is it worth installing an upsweep at the front to direct air up and over?
Click to expand...

It's the cooling that concerns me too, and the fact that it's bonded to the roof. The Westdubs will take 70Kg I believe, so mounting the rigid type not an issue. It's the potential wind noise I worry about.

I have the suitcase style solar panel, but I want the best of both - the solar panel will also keep my batteries conditioned through the times of van idleness:speechless:
 
OllieGBR said:
What pop top roof is that bolted to Simon?
Click to expand...

I’m not actually sure who makes it, it’s the one fitted by Redline camper conversions.
It’s pretty thick with an insulated layer between the top glass layer & the bottom.
 
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