Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Caravans and Caravanning 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Solar Panel`s on Caravan
Page:  1  2 Post Reply Post New Topic
Personyotanka62
04/3/2016 at 6:18pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: Kia Sorento + Sprite Major 4 View yotanka62's Profile View Profile   Reply to yotanka62 Reply   Quote yotanka62 Quote  
Joined: 25/5/2005

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   241
Site Reviews Total: 9
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Thanks Boff, something to think about as we get more experienced at this caravan lark


Personnaturlist123
04/3/2016 at 6:38pm
 Location: Southport
 Outfit: Adria Adora Premium Yeti 4x4 run about View naturlist123's Profile View Profile   Reply to naturlist123 Reply   Quote naturlist123 Quote  
Joined: 13/1/2013

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   702
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Google solar panels for caravans and you will find you can bolt or bond on to roof of van panel is fitted in plastic or ally frame.
On a older van you would be better off bonding. Depending on van most panels seem to be fitted on offside near to Heki skylight.
To bond pick location put frame on flat part of roof and draw round frame with pencil in and out of frame and bolt holes.
Wires into van are best through wardrobe roof if poss drill hole of correct size for sealing unit plastic under where solar panel will be.
Rub inside pencil lines with emery cloth to rough up feed wires though seal apply bonding to seal inthole also push into place.
Apply bonding to roughend part of roof,put frame into place make sure bonding comes through bolt holes and fills holes leave to set/bond
Feed extra cable through roof and thighten seal on cable leaving enough slack to put panel in frame tighten pinch bolts to hold panel in place.
Depending on panel regulator or not required you will have to follow wiring diagram suppled to connect to battery.
24hrs after bonding van will be safe to tow without panel blowing off.


Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off!
UKCampsite.co.uk users are rewarded with up to 12.5% off Caravan Guard touring caravan insurance, folding camper and trailer tent insurance, and 5% off motorhome and campervan insurance. Static caravan insurance is also available. Get an online quote now

Personboff
04/3/2016 at 9:38pm
 Location: N Wales
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 590GL View boff's Profile View Profile   Reply to boff Reply   Quote boff Quote  
Joined: 13/2/2005

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   528
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Truth is it is perfectly possible to survive a weekend without ehu or a solar panel. It is easy to get caught up in the smoke and mirrors that you need this and that.   IMHO you need to start with the battery and build from that.   We rally all year round and store so our van might not see an ehu for months and we find a solar panel brilliant for the way we caravan but everyone is different.


PersonPaul_B
04/3/2016 at 9:42pm
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Car & Caravan View Paul_B's Profile View Profile   Reply to Paul_B Reply   Quote Paul_B Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2004

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   825
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
The solar panel needs an air gap so its better to fasten the panel to mounts then glue the mounts to the roof. you'll also require a waterproof gland for the cable.

The mounts come in black or white and in a wide selection of shapes and sizes

You will need a much larger roof mounted panel to get the same output of a freestanding panel.


Personboff
05/3/2016 at 4:26am
 Location: N Wales
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 590GL View boff's Profile View Profile   Reply to boff Reply   Quote boff Quote  
Joined: 13/2/2005

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   528
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Paul_B is quite correct when he mentions the need for mounts and the fact that a roof mounted panel needs to be bigger than a free standing one.   The roof of a caravan is far from the ideal to place a panel. It is to flat to work efficiently.

In an earlier post a said we had used a 40W free standing panel for year and it kept up with the rate of discharge from March to October. We used to get 2 or 3 weekends away then I would charge the battery during the winter. I subsequently fitted a 135W panel to the roof and I believe it kept the up with the rate of discharge from March to October    The big difference is that it carries on working when the caravan is in storage so the battery is fully charged between use. We normally go away on a rally over new Year for 4 nights with no hookup and never had a flat battery. But the voltmeter is telling me that the sun is only high enough in the sky to make the the SP work between about 10am and 2pm. So not very long and not very strong.

I recently got a new caravan and fitted a 150W panel to the roof. To give you some idea of what it cost. The panel was £130, the controller was over £100 because I wanted a good one with a meter much cheaper ones are available. The mounts were relatively expensive at about £30 I think the cable gland was arround £10 cable £15ish tube of sikaflex £12. So I suppose getting close to £300 all in, but in this case particularly with the regulator I wanted to do it to a standard not a price.


Advertisement



PersonJohnnie Boy
05/3/2016 at 6:00am
 Location: Cleveland
 Outfit: Swift select 164 View Johnnie Boy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Johnnie Boy Reply   Quote Johnnie Boy Quote  
Joined: 07/4/2008

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   760
Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

like I mentioned before I would love to go down the fit and forget route, but don't want the panel bouncing up and down on the roof and the aluminium skin working any mastic loose.

Was advised by Elddis not to fit one and a couple of installers were also against it.

Mind you there were also quite a few who said it would be no problem.!


PersonJTQU
05/3/2016 at 7:13am
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hymer Nova S View JTQU's Profile View Profile   Reply to JTQU Reply   Quote JTQU Quote  
Joined: 01/11/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2189
Site Reviews Total: 6
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 1  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 1
Quote: Originally posted by Johnnie Boy on 05/3/2016

like I mentioned before I would love to go down the fit and forget route, but don't want the panel bouncing up and down on the roof and the aluminium skin working any mastic loose.

Was advised by Elddis not to fit one and a couple of installers were also against it.

Mind you there were also quite a few who said it would be no problem.!




IMO the advice from Elddis was very sound. Bonding to floating skins that have no ability to hold the panel from bouncing up and down is a wholly different proposition to bonding to a fully bonded sandwich construction roof.


PersonPaul_B
05/3/2016 at 8:49am
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Car & Caravan View Paul_B's Profile View Profile   Reply to Paul_B Reply   Quote Paul_B Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2004

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   825
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Quote: Originally posted by Johnnie Boy on 05/3/2016like I mentioned before I would love to go down the fit and forget route, but don't want the panel bouncing up and down on the roof and the aluminium skin working any mastic loose.
Was advised by Elddis not to fit one and a couple of installers were also against it.
Mind you there were also quite a few who said it would be no problem.!



To go freestanding is the most efficient way, I would recommend getting a good brand panel something like a Kyocera panel (wholesalesolar.com have an efficiency chart) the next important and probably the most important bit is the controller, buy a good one.
Morningstar are good and a Morningstar Sunsaver would be ideal, but buy from somewhere reputable as there's plenty of fake controllers and cheap copies available.

The controller should be close the battery, not on the panel and use good quality 12/24v cable to the panel.


It will cost more initially but it will last longer and work out cheaper in the long run, plus you can move it to the next caravan.


PersonJTQU
05/3/2016 at 1:57pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hymer Nova S View JTQU's Profile View Profile   Reply to JTQU Reply   Quote JTQU Quote  
Joined: 01/11/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2189
Site Reviews Total: 6
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 1  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 1
These two images should show the cassette I made of plywood about 9 years ago and have used on both the last two vans. These vans had nice big open areas between the Al-Ko chassis rails so the cassette could be screwed up via its flange under the floor, and be accessible fro the van's rear. The prop stand of the panel was made to fold away into the panel frame's depth.



Post last edited on 05/03/2016 14:50:30[/IMG]
[/IMG]

Post last edited on 05/03/2016 15:03:45


PersonJohnnie Boy
05/3/2016 at 8:17pm
 Location: Cleveland
 Outfit: Swift select 164 View Johnnie Boy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Johnnie Boy Reply   Quote Johnnie Boy Quote  
Joined: 07/4/2008

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   760
Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

JTQU... Thanks for the construction info, I'll have a look under the van and see what can be done.
At the moment it's stored in the wash room which ain't the best place but it does fit neatly behind the loo.
All I need now is some time for constructing the cassette..



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

  Prev       Next

Jump To Page:  1  2

Quick Links - All Forums - Caravans and Caravanning - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...

6859 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement
Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder