HiLo / Horizon roof owners: Solar

[Skyliner33]

Looking for some information about how the solar panels are fitted.

I am interested in how the cables from the solar panel enter the van.
So would like to know do they come through the roof inside or outside of the canvas and how they are routed after that.
Also was the panel fitted by the roof installers as the roof was fitted or was it fitted at a later date?

Photos would be great.

Thanks in advance

 

[True Romance]

Fitted my panels between roof bars. Didn't want to start drilling holes in the roof so only connect the panels to battery when parked using standard solar connectors.

 

[roadtripper]

If the base van has barn doors a popular route in is via the grommets filling the punched holes were the tailgate hinges would fit.

You may be able to use that and a curly cord to connect things without drilling any holes as this company does:

Solar Camper Solutions - VW T5/T6 Bolt-on Solar Kit (NOT California)

A bolt on, drill free kit for VW T5 and T6 vans - this kit is for regular vans, (NOT VW California vans, please check out other products for a Cali ki...

solarcampersolutions.co.uk

 

[Skyliner33]

Thanks for the replies, but I'm particularly interested in Horizon/HiLo roofs (with tailgates).

Thanks

 

[JB_T5.1]

Not a HiLo roof but not sure why that would make a particular difference. Thought this photo might be useful.



Cables are routed outside the canvas then through the van roof with cable entry glands similar to this:



When the pop top is down everything is hidden.

Panel was fitted by me (onto vinyl wrap) but cables were pre fitted by the pop top installer to the glands and left coiled up internally. I had to drill the hole in the pop top though.

 

[Ads_Essex]

Thanks for the replies, but I'm particularly interested in Horizon/HiLo roofs (with tailgates).

Thanks

Have you seen @Deaky’s posts on this?

Anyone fitted a solar panel to a Hilo roof?

Has anyone fitted a solar panel to a Hilo roof? Wondering how you went about it, roof bars or bonded direct to roof etc...and which way you ran the cabling etc. When the roof is up on a Hilo there is quite a big gap to bridge from the back end of the roof and the tailgate so wondering how people...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Skyliner33]

Have you seen @Deaky’s posts on this?

Anyone fitted a solar panel to a Hilo roof?

Has anyone fitted a solar panel to a Hilo roof? Wondering how you went about it, roof bars or bonded direct to roof etc...and which way you ran the cabling etc. When the roof is up on a Hilo there is quite a big gap to bridge from the back end of the roof and the tailgate so wondering how people...

www.t6forum.com

Thanks. Yes I saw that. But I think now Visiontech produce the roof they route the solar differently.

 

[Ads_Essex]

Thanks. Yes I saw that. But I think now Visiontech produce the roof they route the solar differently.

Next time @Visiontech Automotive log on, hopefully they’ll advise

 

[dErZ]

This is our panel, cable is visible as it enters into the roof space (Ie when the roof is up you can see the cable) and then disappears into the van. We had to have the panel replaced last month as it died..

 

[Ads_Essex]

This is our panel, cable is visible as it enters into the roof space (Ie when the roof is up you can see the cable) and then disappears into the van. We had to have the panel replaced last month as it died..

View attachment 257086

Is that panel set back as far as it can, so that the cable entry is as close to the canvas as it can be?

 

[dErZ]

Is that panel set back as far as it can, so that the cable entry is as close to the canvas as it can be?

Ill grab a pix next time its up. Hopefully off to Bournemouth airshow today so will be an excuse to pop the top.

 

[dErZ]

Ill grab a pix next time its up. Hopefully off to Bournemouth airshow today so will be an excuse to pop the top.

 

[Ads_Essex]

Thanks @dErZ - currently sizing up what size panel I could get for mine now I’ve replaced my Ring (oooh er) with @Lee’s Redarc.

@Jon what size panel are you going for (presuming the roof shape/design is the same on the new VTA roof as it is on the original HiLo, ie: ridged)