Yes, the difference between it and the old 160W panel is quite telling, I never saw that panel above 50w at its best. I had everything inside the van switched on, burning and turning to see what the panel could do.
I had to remove the old one (4 years old) with a stanley knife on the sikaflex then a bit of force and pulled the panel off my pop top roof, it was only sikaflexed round the sides, I think there was double sided tape along the inner edges inside the sikaflex but nothing in the centre. Some WD40 and careful use of a wallpaper scraper removed the remnants.
To put the new one on I used a combination - 5m of velcro double sided tape in the centre of the panel, sikaflex 292i around the all the sides of the panel. The velcro was worse to put on than the sikaflex as I had to join the two halves of it first before sticking it on the panel. Then I removed the remaining backing from the velcro and positioned the panel on the roof. That was a nervous bit as you have to get it right first time as everything sticks quickly. I went along the gaps at the edge of the panel and at the side of the poptop centre rib with clear sikaflex EBT and smoothed it all off. I'm going to leave it 24 hours before driving but before I do so I might put some gorilla tape along the leading edge of the panel although it looks fairly well sealed.
The leads from the panel (pre-fitted with MC4s) were a bit awkward as I've had to extend them outside the van with extension MC4's (panel tails cable sleeved, zip tied and sticky mounted flush as possible), the extension leads then attach directly into the Victron MPPT as before.
I was hunting about for MC4 connectors locally as my plan was to snip them push the bare ends inside the van and then attach new MC4s to the bare ends, and connect to the extension leads. My previous install was through the tailgate grommet (I've a barndoor) and into the MPPT in the back units inside the van. Thinking about it, I just need to connect the panel leads to the extension leads so why not a junction box? The solar panel leads won't leave me much room to play with inside the van and I think a pre crimped end will be easier to put an MC4 connector on than trying to connect through a junction box that is hard to reach. I've sealed the grommet around the ingoing leads with Sikaflex EBT, this is more of a concern to me as I'll have to check it's sealed properly. I'll have to think whether I snip and reattached MC4s or leave it as it is.
The job wasn't as bad as I'd thought, about 3 or 4 hours. Fingers crossed the panel works okay and stays on the roof, so far, so good.
I had to remove the old one (4 years old) with a stanley knife on the sikaflex then a bit of force and pulled the panel off my pop top roof, it was only sikaflexed round the sides, I think there was double sided tape along the inner edges inside the sikaflex but nothing in the centre. Some WD40 and careful use of a wallpaper scraper removed the remnants.
To put the new one on I used a combination - 5m of velcro double sided tape in the centre of the panel, sikaflex 292i around the all the sides of the panel. The velcro was worse to put on than the sikaflex as I had to join the two halves of it first before sticking it on the panel. Then I removed the remaining backing from the velcro and positioned the panel on the roof. That was a nervous bit as you have to get it right first time as everything sticks quickly. I went along the gaps at the edge of the panel and at the side of the poptop centre rib with clear sikaflex EBT and smoothed it all off. I'm going to leave it 24 hours before driving but before I do so I might put some gorilla tape along the leading edge of the panel although it looks fairly well sealed.
The leads from the panel (pre-fitted with MC4s) were a bit awkward as I've had to extend them outside the van with extension MC4's (panel tails cable sleeved, zip tied and sticky mounted flush as possible), the extension leads then attach directly into the Victron MPPT as before.
I was hunting about for MC4 connectors locally as my plan was to snip them push the bare ends inside the van and then attach new MC4s to the bare ends, and connect to the extension leads. My previous install was through the tailgate grommet (I've a barndoor) and into the MPPT in the back units inside the van. Thinking about it, I just need to connect the panel leads to the extension leads so why not a junction box? The solar panel leads won't leave me much room to play with inside the van and I think a pre crimped end will be easier to put an MC4 connector on than trying to connect through a junction box that is hard to reach. I've sealed the grommet around the ingoing leads with Sikaflex EBT, this is more of a concern to me as I'll have to check it's sealed properly. I'll have to think whether I snip and reattached MC4s or leave it as it is.
The job wasn't as bad as I'd thought, about 3 or 4 hours. Fingers crossed the panel works okay and stays on the roof, so far, so good.
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Awesome. Would you use the same fixing method if you did it again or how would you do it differently?
Any pics would be interesting to see.
I’m planning on using…
white Stixall in 6mm bead lines on the panel onto the poptop ribs (3 ribs) and then on the edges of the panel. 2mm plastic tile spacers pressed into the beads to give a 2mm final squashed bead.
White gaffa tape just to neaten down the panel side edges away from the wind.
I’m not sure whether to tape and seal up the low parts of the ridges? (Front and rear edges of panel)
- not sealing would allow airflow/convection along those channels when poptop is up (good)
- But also allow wind to blow down when driving (could loosen/put pressure on panel? Bad)
- leaves could accumulate underneath?? The ridges are quite deep 6-10mm
Any pics would be interesting to see.
I’m planning on using…
white Stixall in 6mm bead lines on the panel onto the poptop ribs (3 ribs) and then on the edges of the panel. 2mm plastic tile spacers pressed into the beads to give a 2mm final squashed bead.
White gaffa tape just to neaten down the panel side edges away from the wind.
I’m not sure whether to tape and seal up the low parts of the ridges? (Front and rear edges of panel)
- not sealing would allow airflow/convection along those channels when poptop is up (good)
- But also allow wind to blow down when driving (could loosen/put pressure on panel? Bad)
- leaves could accumulate underneath?? The ridges are quite deep 6-10mm
Temporary tape is fine for emergencies or to protect for a day or two while sealant sets but it's no way a long term installation adhesive to hold a panel in UV/Rain/100mph winds for years...
You want to absolutely be sure the panel doesn't lift on the road while driving, the force of 100mph+ wind is harsh (70 mph vehicle speed with 30mph storm head winds). That's the primary consideration for mounting, do not compromise safety by worrying about ventilation.
With the amount of camping kit I’m cramming in my van would have trouble hitting anywhere near 70 with a headwind! A bit of lift from the solar panel might help
But I get your point, thank you.
Gaffa wasn’t intended as the fixing mechanism (Stixall and Sika EBT+ will be doing that job).
Look what I got over the weekend.....
Renogy 200w suitcase on a victron 75/15 connected to a Roamer 230ah lithium.
Almost didn't believe it, but the numbers sent to add up.
Go Renogy
...
....
Renogy 200w suitcase on a victron 75/15 connected to a Roamer 230ah lithium.
Almost didn't believe it, but the numbers sent to add up.
Go Renogy
...
....
Wow!! That’s good going, must be a record.Look what I got over the weekend.....
Renogy 200w suitcase on a victron 75/15 connected to a Roamer 230ah lithium.
Almost didn't believe it, but the numbers sent to add up.
Go Renogy
...
View attachment 243116View attachment 243117View attachment 243118
....
yeh, id say. . .
thats 100% STC Max Power yield.
the panel shows P-Max 200w - which i got.
it was only for a second or two, but managed to get a screen shot.
everything was for it, cold panel temp, perfect clear sky, perfect panel angle, lithium low power so ready to take a bulk charge, Victrom MPPT that can deliver the full 200W (75/15A).
+++++++++++++
www.t6forum.com
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+++++++++++
just for balance, these were the other screenshots,
then this happened an spoilt my day . . . . lol.
.
the solar was feeding the SB230 Roamer in the battery box at the bottom left,
that was trickle charging the EF Delta2 Max, which was running 240v for the fridges, coffee machine, kettle etc.
the EF river 2 was just random tablet,phone,battery pack topups to be passed around.
thats 100% STC Max Power yield.
the panel shows P-Max 200w - which i got.
it was only for a second or two, but managed to get a screen shot.
everything was for it, cold panel temp, perfect clear sky, perfect panel angle, lithium low power so ready to take a bulk charge, Victrom MPPT that can deliver the full 200W (75/15A).
+++++++++++++
[Guide] Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It -
@Dellmassive im about to fit my new solar panel (rigid 100w on roof bars) and I’m up to about page 10 of this thread but need to shortcut to an urgent question. The above is going into my CTEK 250, not to the battery. Does it still need an inline fuse prior to the CTEK? The diagrams in the CTEK...
+++++++++++++
+++++++++++
just for balance, these were the other screenshots,
then this happened an spoilt my day . . . . lol.
.
the solar was feeding the SB230 Roamer in the battery box at the bottom left,
that was trickle charging the EF Delta2 Max, which was running 240v for the fridges, coffee machine, kettle etc.
the EF river 2 was just random tablet,phone,battery pack topups to be passed around.
