[Phatty]

I bought 2 solar panels from maplins recently as they've got a sale on them.

I'm currently just opening my sunroof and trowing then out on the roof, but then i've got cables hanging down and i have to take them off before driving.

So I was thinking of fitting another sunroof with clear glass and fitting them behind that (a bit like my old audi s8 had) or even fitting some dummy rear windows (or even in the back doors) and mounting them in there.

just wondered if anyone had done either of those options and if they were effective?

 

[David]

what size panels did you buy? the smaller size's that maplins do probably worth going to that much trouble for the power they put out. Good to provide a maintenance charge to the battery but not much cop when camping.

 

[twosugars]

solar panels work best when they are angled directley toward the sun so you may not get the best out of them by mounting them flat.

i do the same as you and put mine up on the roof but have one side raised up. still have to turn it round as the sun moves round during the day though

also if you do mount them permanently, you must still disconect them somehow before starting the engine as backfeeding the solar panel from the alternator can damage them.:ILU:

 

[westray321]

solar panels work best when they are angled directley toward the sun so you may not get the best out of them by mounting them flat.

i do the same as you and put mine up on the roof but have one side raised up. still have to turn it round as the sun moves round during the day though

also if you do mount them permanently, you must still disconect them somehow before starting the engine as backfeeding the solar panel from the alternator can damage them.:ILU:

Hi, does that apply if you are charging a leisure battery that is charging through a split relay, Yes it does ,ive just answered my own question as i was typing, I:

which panels did you get from maplins Phatty,Cheers.

 

[twosugars]

i had an 18w waterproof one for £69 but looks like they stopped doing that one now.

 

[Phoenixsp1]

also if you do mount them permanently, you must still disconect them somehow before starting the engine as backfeeding the solar panel from the alternator can damage them.:ILU:

Proper solar systems use a charge regulator with the panels to stop you overcharging the batteries and this also stops you back feeding power to the panel which would flatten your batteries whenever the sun went in. With this system you don't need to disconnect anything.

 

[twosugars]

i think you are meaning a blocking diode to stop backfeeding, i thought a regulator was to stop larger panels overcharging smaller batteries ( unless it does both jobs)

 

[Phatty]

I bought 2 of these.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=115194&C=MS&U=Storage

they didn't come with a regulator or anything, but the ones brookster got came with a free one.

they are specially designed so they don't have to be in direct of bright sunlight. just daylight is enough.

 

[Phoenixsp1]

i think you are meaning a blocking diode to stop backfeeding, i thought a regulator was to stop larger panels overcharging smaller batteries ( unless it does both jobs)

Normally yes it does both jobs.

 

[Phoenixsp1]

I bought 2 of these.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=115194&C=MS&U=Storage

they didn't come with a regulator or anything, but the ones brookster got came with a free one.

they are specially designed so they don't have to be in direct of bright sunlight. just daylight is enough.

They don't really supply enough power to need a regulator.

 

[nbsurf]

The guys at Southwest Conversions had a T5 at the North Devon regional meeting a few months ago that had a large solar panel bonded to the rear roof panel - very neat too, you wouldn't know it was on there unless looking down on it from above. I know he was saying that the cheaper panels are not really up to the job and they had installed customer supplied panels in the past with mixed results. Might be worth giving them a call, they are very helpful.