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Topic: Solar Panels

andymarshall

04/5/2014 at 2:29pm
Location: South Yorkshire
Outfit: Swift Lifestyle 6 -VW Touran III Sport

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Does anyone have any advice on fitting Solar Panels to their van? I am conscious that I have a GPS tracker and alarm fitted which sucks life out of my leisure battery and was thinking of fitting a 40 KW solar panel but worried about drilling my new van? Looking at some kits they range from £50 - £100 so would be good to understand the price difference?

birdman101

04/5/2014 at 2:47pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford

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This is what is factory fitted to my 2013 Swift van, they are also fitting 40w model to this years vans.
http://sargentshop.co.uk/epages/eshop328964.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop328964/Products/WB1080

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G7ACU

04/5/2014 at 3:55pm
Location: West Mids
Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0

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I assume you mean a 40w panel. Are you concerned more presumably, about the loss of charge while the van is in storage? While a 40w might cope during the summer months, it will struggle during the shorter days to keep the battery charged.
I'd be interested in the manufacturers current consumption claims of the equipment you mention (alarm and tracker); you may need to consider a larger panel to cope all year round.

So far as fixing is concerned, I've fitted a 120w panel to the roof of my van (neither the best or most efficient solution on the roof), however a colleague sits his 80w panel within his main roof light while the vans in storage. This keeps the panel in the van (no holes drilled) and he's provided a simple direct connection to the battery from within the van too.

If you really do want to permanent external solution, then I would encourage use of something like these, which effectively glue to the roof of the van. You then only need a single point of entry for the cabling, which can be done through a well sealed cable entry gland.
The link shows an example of mounting only, I bought my kit of bits through various on-line suppliers.

-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!

andymarshall

04/5/2014 at 4:05pm
Location: South Yorkshire
Outfit: Swift Lifestyle 6 -VW Touran III Sport

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Thanks Paul, very enlightening as I was sure 40W would suffice, and yes your assumption is correct with regard to my van being in storage and the winter months are probably more vulnerable. The idea of sitting the panel in the main roof light is brilliant, never thought of that and definitely the solution I will opt for. Many thanks for your comments I have learnt two very useful elements here. :)

Sproz

04/5/2014 at 8:22pm
Location: Freckleton Nr Preston
Outfit: Autotrail Apache 700

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Make sure the kit you get has a regulator and wont discharge the battery at night.
we have a portable foldable 80w kit that I swap between boat and van and it charges the battery very well, last night we were on the boat watching tv with the lights on and by 2pm today the battery was fully charged and it was cloudy!

Onewheelonmywagon

04/5/2014 at 10:12pm
Location: W Midlands
Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 560-4 & Discovery 4

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My van was factory fitted with a 20 watt panel to overcome the drain from the alarm and tracker. When the panel expired (long story) I replaced it with a 40 watt panel and it's more than enough to keep the battery topped up in storage including during the winter. Bear in mind you won't be able to store the van inside, or put a cover on it unless it's fitted with a transparent window.

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