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Topic: Roof fixed solar panels

Just do it

14/11/2012 at 1:15pm
Location: Nottingham
Outfit: Discovery 4 + Elddis Crusader Tempest

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hi folks
Interested to hear the experience of anyone who has had a solar panel fixed to the roof. considering one for our new van but little concerned about risking the warranty for water ingress, get 10 years from Elddis but only 12 or 24 months for the fitting of the panel so if I get water coming in where the wire enters the van in 3 years im stuffed. anyone got one and had any problems?

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Carpe diem...

G7ACU

14/11/2012 at 4:44pm
Location: West Mids
Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0

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Is the plan purely for the convenience? Personally if there's any risk of infringing your warranty, I wouldn't fit them to the roof. It leaves quite an opportunity for any future repairs to be questioned.

As it happens, a colleague of mine fitted panels to the roof of his Avondale several years ago (out of any warranty) and hasn't had any problem so far as he's aware; however this doesn't necessarily suggest one way or the other that you wouldn't experience an issue further down the line. The quality of the install would obviously differ between different vans, fitters etc.

I simply wouldn't want to risk it with a new van.

Incidentally, I do run solar but have a 60w free standing panel. To be honest, I'd consider a free standing type more efficient as at least I can position for optimum output.

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Paul

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DaveCoaches

14/11/2012 at 5:45pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche

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I know a few people that have had them fitted to new caravans by the dealer. I fitted mine myself though I had no warranty on my caravan.

Just do it

14/11/2012 at 7:12pm
Location: Nottingham
Outfit: Discovery 4 + Elddis Crusader Tempest

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Apparently des not affect the warranty bless the water ingress is directly related to the soar panel install, I don't see if it's dotted correctly why it should be any more liable to leak than any other part of the van and with regular checks and a yearly service that will check damp anyway I think my mind has been put at rest, looks a great bit of kit and will keep battery topped up in storage and open up more opportunities when on sites without EHU

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Carpe diem...

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