Can you use those cross bars to mount your rigid panel, front and back? No shadowing that way...
Solar panel working?
- Thread starter DannyDT
- Start date
Shading, even small amounts, is a killer for the output on simple panels.
My old panel was a 75watts 165 x 31 cms panel, the new one is 100watt 93.5 x 45 cms and will mount behind the rearmost cross bar and the rear of the van. So no shading should happen, I hope. I can mount the panel either way round either long ways or side ways. I think long ways will work best but any thoughts are welcome.
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Interesting as hopefully I wont get any shading as I will mount as far back to rear of van as I can.
I have just been out to check and I have a clear area behind rearmost cross strut and the gland for the cable that is 102 cms and 120 cms wide between the roof side bars.
This is the area that the old panel was located and that went under the rear cross strut.
See post #39 of this thread for the old panel in place. Shading definitely occurring!
Any suggestions on how to remove the old white glue. Google searches say nothing removes 'set adhesive' except chiseling off!
A toffee wheel?
Some folk call them Caramel, or eraser wheels, I've always known them as toffee wheels!Are they available in Screwfix?
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88mm Rubber Eraser Wheel Caramel Type for Drill, Low Heat Vinyl Decal Stripe Remover, Safe on Acrylic Enamel & Urethane Paint : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive
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Think I need to see if I can move the crossbars rearward.
Ideally I would like a new pair to mount onto but I do not know the make/model. I have seen the in another post on the forum. They look suspiciously like the OMTEC roof rails.
Thanks I will search. Still learning after all these years!
Bought a pair of OMTEC roof bars that fits on my roof rails.
They needed to be shortened to fit the width of the rails fitted.
Then drilled a pair of holes in each bar.
Put the solar panel on it just held by cable ties at present but will change to 8mm nylon bolts.
Tested the panel and all working on that front as it is showing 20.3v on the meter but am getting zero at the MPPT Pro connection so there must be a wiring issue.
Another job but at least I know the panel is mounted and working so the next job is a test of the roof wiring which is relatively easy.
They needed to be shortened to fit the width of the rails fitted.
Then drilled a pair of holes in each bar.
Put the solar panel on it just held by cable ties at present but will change to 8mm nylon bolts.
Tested the panel and all working on that front as it is showing 20.3v on the meter but am getting zero at the MPPT Pro connection so there must be a wiring issue.
Another job but at least I know the panel is mounted and working so the next job is a test of the roof wiring which is relatively easy.
By the time you’re done, you’d have been better off with a rigid panel.
Always an option but I bought the flexible panel first with a view to gluing it straight on top of the old one. Then I saw the stories about the flexi panels failing and decided to do the removal of the old panel and sticky it down but thought that cooling might still be an issue so to where I am now.
Would be easy to drop a rigid panel in if/when this one fails and the wiring will be easy with MC4 connectors.
I bonded a flexible Renogy 200W panel to a sheet of twinwall polycarbonate to form a sandwich which is mounted in an aluminium frame and fixed to crossbars made from two 1290mm lengths of aluminium 3030 profile. There is a gap of around 10mm between the underside of the panel and the roof surface, and the overall height still remains under 2.1 metres. The output cables are fixed to the roof with adhesive pads and the cables are connected with MC4 connectors. The total weight is around 7.5kg unlike a rigid panel which would be more than double. Having done several sustained 70mph runs I’m pleased to say there’s no wind noise. It can be removed very easily should it ever be necessary.
Long ways is best if van parked East West.....
Going out tomorrow to find an old vinyl record player that should keep the panel pointing any which way! 
Since I could not find one local. I did the easy option... Do nothing. Thought I would do it later when I had more time.
However with all this hot weather, the old adhesive has gone soft and can be scraped off really easily with a scraper. Just need to clean off the residual and buff up.
Sometimes it is good to wait.
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