I have had the same panel and MPPT as @Captain Rick for over 2yrs now and been very happy with the performance. 250W is just the right amount to cope with all my electrical needs (lights, fridge, diesel heater, inverter, Ebike charger, laptop, camera, drone and phone chargers etc) without ever having to bother with EHU (don't even carry a cable any more) except in the winter when I would rarely be in the same place without driving for more than 2 days anyway.
Solar Panel selection
- Thread starter Captain Rick
- Start date
hey, did you ever get your solar panel fitted and did you install it at the front of the roof rather than the rear? I have had my panel for a while but have been working out ways to either not cut into the tintop or to at least minimise it.
would be interesting to see your install down the B-Pillar.
I had it fitted just on Friday. I had my local converter do it for me as I‘m still not brave enough to cut holes in the roof. It’s fitted towards the rear of the roof BUT the cable entry is at the front. My panel has a cable entry on the back of the panel so it is completely hidden anyway. The cable was long enough to reach under the drivers seat without needing any extension cables, routed down the B pillar. It’s not connected yet as I wanted to do that myself and I’m just waiting for some connectors to arrive. I don’t have any pictures of the cable coming down the B-Pillar I’m afraid but here’s a few of the panel on the roof.
@Big.mac Looks very tidy. Thanks for the quick response.
I’ve just purchased a 3/4 length retro racks roof rack so I’m trying to work out where the best place for the panel will be. I’m with the idea of installing the solar at the front (above the cab area) or mounting out in the rack itself but that seems a bit clunky. If I don’t go on the rack though I think I will need to cut the roof..
I’ve just purchased a 3/4 length retro racks roof rack so I’m trying to work out where the best place for the panel will be. I’m with the idea of installing the solar at the front (above the cab area) or mounting out in the rack itself but that seems a bit clunky. If I don’t go on the rack though I think I will need to cut the roof..
The Big Mac way is exactly the way I installed a panel, even looks the same panel, as I did on my last van.
P
Phil_G
Guest
Neat installation but I'd suggest a fillet all around and filling in the gaps at the front, to prevent the slipstream lifting it 
This is exactly what i'm looking at now.
3/4 retro roof rack with hardwood slats, fitted to the rear end. - What one did you go for?
Semi flexi panel to the front - i'm searching for the right one with rear hidden cable points.
Fitting direct to the Ctek 250SE - so i need a small dimensioned panel that doesn't exceed 23 OC.
Let me know what you panel you go for please. And how you installed it etc, if you don't mind.
Thanks
I’ve hit my first major snag in that I originally bought the panel to live centrally at the rear (mounted portrait/the length of the van) it’s the 160W unit that Travelvolts has on its website. It’s quite a long panel 1345mm x 665mm so mounting it at the front in landscape means the edges hang over the roof drain sections and are unsupported from the final ridge (about 250-300mm on each side). If I mount it portrait then a large portion of the rack will be over the panel.
I might swap my plans and move to a foldable/portable solar solution that I rest on the roof rack when stationary or mount this panel to the rack.
I went with the 3/4 black with charred teak.
It hasn’t arrived yet but I’ve marked up on the van where things can/will fit so I’ll take some pictures over the weekend and share.
Not with this particular panel no. The VOC is 23.9V which exceeds the CTEK limit. I understand if you exceed the limit on a CTEK it goes pop. I changed my CTEK for a Renogy which has a VOC limit of 25V and which also shuts down if the voltage goes over 25.5V (instead of going pop).
Photonic universe do a smaller panel at 130Watts which does sit inside the CTEK limits. I’m sure there are others as well. Just look to ensure the VOC is less than 23V.
12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine
12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-grid
www.photonicuniverse.com
I was very conscious of the panel size, i wanted to make sure it fitted.
Im going to look for a smaller panel that would fit at the front etc.
Let me know how the roofrack goes when it arrives.
What would you fill the gaps with? Just the sealant/Adhesive? Id be afraid it wouldn't look neat enough.Neat installation but I'd suggest a fillet all around and filling in the gaps at the front, to prevent the slipstream lifting it
P
Phil_G
Guest
If the airflow gets under it and it rips off, it wont look very neat anyway! 
<Ripped off panel, damage to following car>
<Ripped off panel, damage to following car>
Out of curiosity, what do you use to fix it down? And has anyone else filleted the gaps with adhesive. I thought the gaps may have been useful for the air to flow through?If the airflow gets under it and it rips off, it wont look very neat anyway!
<Ripped off panel, damage to following car>
I stuck mine down with velcro.
Mine is stuck down with Sikaflex. I’m quite happy with the gaps not being filled. I get no whistling from the panel on the motorway and i don’t think it’s going anywhere. The cable being at the front and on the back of the panel would add a bit more security if it ever did start to lift.
Hi @Skyliner33 How did you find the velcro held up? I'm getting ready to install probably the same flexible panel and was going to go for sealant/adhesive but fear if there was ever a need to get the panel off it would be a nightmare. Velcro could be a good option. If you were doing a similar install again would you go for Velcro again?
The Velcro held fine. No movement what so ever. No reason at all not to use it again. However if I was doing it again I wouldn’t attempt it on my own I would get a few extra hands.
I am looking at the panel below to fit to the top of the van
uk.renogy.com
It seems to cheap? Compared to something like this:
Am I missing something? The renogy has a 5yr warranty or so it says. At £200 a solar panel is something I'd go for, for £400 less so, thanks in advance
200 Watt 12 Volt Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Renogy 200 Watt 12 Volt Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel, bendable up to 240° for versatile use, maintains 80% efficiency over 25 years and resists hotspots with bypass diodes and half-cut technology.
uk.renogy.com
It seems to cheap? Compared to something like this:
12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine
12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-grid
www.photonicuniverse.com
Am I missing something? The renogy has a 5yr warranty or so it says. At £200 a solar panel is something I'd go for, for £400 less so, thanks in advance
I’ve just put a 100w version of the Renogy one on. The photonic and Renogy panels look remarkably similar.
