Our T6 has a poptop, with a solar panel bonded directly to it. The panel has failed, but we can get a replacement under warranty. However, getting the panel off the roof is not covered by the warranty, and my conversion company say it's impossible without causing damage to the roof. They suggest bonding the replacement panel directly on to the old, failed panel. I'm reluctant to go down this route, as I fear developing a rising stack of failed panels is inevitable? Any suggestions?
Get a section of vinyl wrap stuck to the roof....
Then bond the panel to that.....that way when it's removed it shouldn't damage the paint work.
Some ppl do just stick the new one on top as they are so thin....but getting the same size panel can sometimes be an issue.
The old one can be cut off using the cheese wire method with a string line or cotton to cut the old adhesive. Then you need to remove the residue...then maybe vinyl wrap.
Then bond the panel to that.....that way when it's removed it shouldn't damage the paint work.
Some ppl do just stick the new one on top as they are so thin....but getting the same size panel can sometimes be an issue.
The old one can be cut off using the cheese wire method with a string line or cotton to cut the old adhesive. Then you need to remove the residue...then maybe vinyl wrap.
Some info over here....
www.t6forum.com
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Mobile Solar Panels ? . . . - How I Did It - There is loads of background to this . . . . . but for now here is a vid for you all. =] Just remember W = V*A and as a general rule a good 100W panel will give you up to 6A charge with good sun. 25w = 1.5A 50W = 3A 100w = 6A 200w = 12A 300w = 18A...
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Join the club, loads of failed panel stories on the forum. I’m on my 3rd. The first 2 failed & were semi flexible bonded ones like yours. The first one was removed using the cheese wire method. I then had the next one bonded on top of a piece of vinyl wrap in anticipation that this would fail too. It did, & now I have a rigid, which is what I should have had in the first place.
Weight certainly isn’t an issue. For the sake of my OCD I’d want the dead one off & gone. But feasibly yes it could.
8 hours labour!? A windscreen company could wire it off in 10 minutes. If you glue back down over the top, no need to remove all the old glue, just go over it.
Yep, that's what they advised, based on their recent experience of having removed another failed panel like mine
Now just had a strip panel just put on and the converter from Glossop said there has to be a 3mm gap between the panel and roof
That's interesting. I presume to prevent the panel getting too hot?
I’ve got a bonded panel directly stuck to the Reflex Silver Reimo roof. It’s almost 5 years old and no issues.
I checked the roof temperature on one of the hottest days last summer and it wasn’t even warm, I suspect that the surface temperature is a significant factor affecting reliability.
I checked the roof temperature on one of the hottest days last summer and it wasn’t even warm, I suspect that the surface temperature is a significant factor affecting reliability.
I'm in Spain and have had a motorhome with panel stuck to roof direct, it never failed in 6 years of use before selling.
Our current camper T6 I fitted same make of panel 3 years ago and expect to get same usage from it. I have stated before on the forum buy cheap buy twice.............
www.t6forum.com
Our current camper T6 I fitted same make of panel 3 years ago and expect to get same usage from it. I have stated before on the forum buy cheap buy twice.............
Another failed solar panel
After a second flexi solar panel failure, I'm going for a rigid type in the hope that it's a last time fit & forget job. The first flexi to fail was a generic chinese one factory fitted to the poptop by Reimo, that lasted around 2 years. The second one, which has just failed was a Carbest...
Yes thats what he said many people do not give a gap
And the panel will fail
unitedwestand
New Member
Mine also failed under warranty, as far as I’m aware the installers used a device similar to a wire cheese cutter to slice through the bonding agent.
Yes, I gather that's exactly what it is - a giant cheese cutter!
