Solar Panel Installation and Setup

[Krabby]

Redarc.

To your original question, I was just moving my car and came across a neat installation on a Rhino Pioneer Rack.

View attachment 7797935View attachment 7797936View attachment 7797937

In a setup like this, can solar panels be loaded upon? Or are you sacrificing the use of the roof rack for gear?

FYI, I have no clue about solar panels, but like the idea very much.

 

[Davman]

It is sacrificing space - you cannot load gear on top of the glass panel. That being said it would be easy to install some raised protection over the top/sides/middle to allow some storage if/when necessary.

 

[Krabby]

Gotcha. Makes sense. Million dollar idea - a solar panel that swings out and flips over like the screens on some digital cameras. If it's put in a "shell" that can handle some weigh it could be used for gear when faced down. Even if the load it can handle isn't too great, you could still put lighter things up there.

 

[emax]

The Sunnyside had a big aluminum box on the roof and on top of the box they mounted a hinged solar panel.

Later, they cut the box to have a lower profile, but the panel was still there. Good solution imho.

Recommend watching from 6:10 to 6:40.

 

[Nocrays]

I’ve got an earlier model of this.
Solid quality and as said before, more options to place it without moving the car around as the sun moves. Of course no good to charge on the go like a fixed hard panel on the roof but I reckon it’s a more flexible option. Mine has tie down rings so you could technically mount / tie it to the roof while on the move I suppose.
I normally put mine on the windscreen of the 200 but the IG screen being smaller and more upright would mean it would need to sit on the roof or bonnet, or on rhe ground using the extension cable.

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I’ll be doing something similar using a portable setup. I like the flexibility of a system like this.

Historically I haven’t needed much extra charging with the the type of travelling I do.

 

[Nocrays]

I know that Nakatanenga will provide us Grenni drivers with a cargo bear rack. I really hope, it has the same feature as the one for the old Defender, a lower first roofbar and so an angled first segment. And now add a frame with a solarpanel…Could be good…

View attachment 7797941

Sorry to depart from subject - but these cargo bear racks look the bunsiness.

 

[Inez]

There are many options...how much solar does it take to be a practical source of charging?

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[Tazzieman]

There are many options...how much solar does it take to be a practical source of charging?

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How much sun ya got? Summer? Winter?
Fixed panels aren't much good where I live @43S

 

[Inez]

I don't have any experience running fridges etc with batteries so not sure how much charging is enough and is it practical. My guess is that it would be supplemental and mainly just extend time between actual charging via engine or plug in. How much charge caapacity would it take to be worth the effort?

 

[das mo]

For those interested. On my previous vehicle which I’ve just soldView attachment 7797947. I installed semi flexible solar panels 2 x 100 watt controlled via a Victron solar controller fixed on top of the Bundutop roof top tent. View attachment 7797945

Great.
Also plan to use the hardshell top of our RTT.

 

[Davman]

It all depends really on how much you drive the car, how much solar your region can collect, how much battery storage you have, and how much power you need.
For me:
I run a car fridge that draws an average of around 2 amps per hour.
I don’t drive much at all.
I have a 50AH LifePo4, with a 25amp charger.
I live in an area with relatively good solar gain.
I have a quality 100W flexible on my canopy.
I monitor it via a Victron Bluetooth shunt.
The end result is that my beer is never warm. Good result I would say.

There is something extremely satisfying about using the Sun to cool your beers

 

[Tazzieman]

Obviously if you live in desert conditions you need more power to cool your beers, but you have more sun!
My Bushman fridge draws .67 Ah in 52L (set at -4º in 25º ambient) but I have no idea yet how it will perform in 40C (engine stopped , hot day)
Like all these things you live & learn!
There are worse things than cold beer. Not many , but there are!

 

[grenadierboy]

Obviously if you live in desert conditions you need more power to cool your beers, but you have more sun!
My Bushman fridge draws .67 Ah in 52L (set at -4º in 25º ambient) but I have no idea yet how it will perform in 40C (engine stopped , hot day)
Like all these things you live & learn!
There are worse things than cold beer. Not many , but there are!

Only one......water

 

[Logsplitter]

Obviously if you live in desert conditions you need more power to cool your beers, but you have more sun!
My Bushman fridge draws .67 Ah in 52L (set at -4º in 25º ambient) but I have no idea yet how it will perform in 40C (engine stopped , hot day)
Like all these things you live & learn!
There are worse things than cold beer. Not many , but there are!

In 40 c heat unfortunately the solar panels will be less efficient and the fridge will require more cooling. Solar panels need light not heat. They become less efficient as the temperature starts to get above 30c . In fact solar panels are more efficient on bright sunny days with cold ambient air conditions.
I had 200w of fixed solar panels on my roof . 47l ARB fridge and lots of gadget batteries to charge and very hot conditions in South Africa and Namibia. We managed OK as was moving every three days. Where possible we would hook up to mains power and trickle charge the batteries
Hope this helps.

 

[Tazzieman]

In 40 c heat unfortunately the solar panels will be less efficient and the fridge will require more cooling. Solar panels need light not heat. They become less efficient as the temperature starts to get above 30c . In fact solar panels are more efficient on bright sunny days with cold ambient air conditions.
I had 200w of fixed solar panels on my roof . 47l ARB fridge and lots of gadget batteries to charge and very hot conditions in South Africa and Namibia. We managed OK as was moving every three days. Where possible we would hook up to mains power and trickle charge the batteries
Hope this helps.

True , and Lithium batteries aren't fond of heat.
I haven't used solar on the mainland.
Solar in Tas (Vehicles , houses) is not that popular , obviously due to latitude less sun despite longer days at times of the year.
Plus it's unlikely you would find yourself offgrid for more than a few days unless you really wanted to be. And no 12 hour drives just to get away from other people!

P.S. I was thinking 40C inside the car on a warm day (30C) outside. If you are away all day that fridge will have to work harder.

 

[globalgregors]

In 40 c heat unfortunately the solar panels will be less efficient and the fridge will require more cooling. Solar panels need light not heat. They become less efficient as the temperature starts to get above 30c . In fact solar panels are more efficient on bright sunny days with cold ambient air conditions.
I had 200w of fixed solar panels on my roof . 47l ARB fridge and lots of gadget batteries to charge and very hot conditions in South Africa and Namibia. We managed OK as was moving every three days. Where possible we would hook up to mains power and trickle charge the batteries
Hope this helps.

I’m not sure - I gather those flexible solar panels don’t have the same drop off but I’m struggling to recall where I saw the question examined.

 

[Davman]

Just don’t buy cheap crap flexible panels— they are much like cheap crap solar blankets.
This is what I have - brilliant
https://www.solar4rvs.com.au/sunman-earc-100w-flexible-solar-panel-2022-high-ef

 

[globalgregors]

Just don’t buy cheap crap flexible panels— they are much like cheap crap solar blankets.
This is what I have - brilliant
https://www.solar4rvs.com.au/sunman-earc-100w-flexible-solar-panel-2022-high-ef

Oh, perhaps I stand immediately corrected: that product asks for a vented gap. Thanks!

 

[Davman]

Yes, you install it with a vented gap kit (plastic spacers) which basically just lifts it about 8mm off of the surface - easily done though. I mounted/glued it to the top of my ute canopy.

 

[Logsplitter]

True , and Lithium batteries aren't fond of heat.
I haven't used solar on the mainland.
Solar in Tas (Vehicles , houses) is not that popular , obviously due to latitude less sun despite longer days at times of the year.
Plus it's unlikely you would find yourself offgrid for more than a few days unless you really wanted to be. And no 12 hour drives just to get away from other people!

P.S. I was thinking 40C inside the car on a warm day (30C) outside. If you are away all day that fridge will have to work harder.

Buy quality whether it’s rigid or flexible solar panels. Quality solar panels are very good as well as rigid especially top notch like used on sailing yachts.
lithium batteries also have their problems. We’ve just installed a large bank of lithium for an off grid set up and they are next to useless in cold weather. Like below 2c. Won’t take a Charge or discharge to the inverter chargers.
over the last few years I’ve gained a lot of useful insight into off grid set ups. As I’ve spent most of my working life off grid dealing with large solar bank, wind turbine and back up generators plus private borehole and internet link. Also been wiring my own Landrover setup and dealing with boats. as I said before use quality and you’ll be ok. By the way I’ve only dealt and have experience with Victron kit which is top notch .Other quality brands are bailable s they say