Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by navver on 03/3/2016

---

Don't you find dogs keep peeing on it? Looks very tempting.

---

Quote: Originally posted by JTQU on 02/3/2016

---

Many more modern vans have bonded construction roofs, here fixing the framed type of solar panel on spacer brackets is solid enough.
However, older vans had fully floating roof outer skins and fixing to these could well invite problems. Fixing is done by bonding, and the normal framed panel needs to be well vented underneath so is spaced off the roof on brackets. If not spaced off the panel performance will be significantly reduced by the heat generated.
There are semi flexible panels that can be bonded directly, but are marketed at much more solid roofs than used on vans so their fatigue life might be an issue on a deflecting roof; they are not as efficient size for size due to heat issues.

I use a portable framed panel that stands up freestanding from the van. In transit mine pops into a cassette I made and fitted under the rear of the van.

---

Quote: Originally posted by yotanka62 on 04/3/2016

---

Interested in these folding ones. What would be the minimum wattage you would buy please?

---

Quote: Originally posted by boff on 04/3/2016

---

Quote: Originally posted by yotanka62 on 04/3/2016Interested in these folding ones. What would be the minimum wattage you would buy please?

---

---

We coped with a 40W freestanding panel for years. It kept the battery charged between the endo of Mach to the End of October.   However I would consider that we are low users of power we don't watch much TV

Before you rush out and buy a panel remember it is only part of the answer. Is you battery healthy?   You can have the best panel in the world and if your battery is no good then there is no where to put the energy that you produce. Also have you swapped to low energy light bulbs. LEDs are relatively cheap these days and save about 80% of the energy that of a conventional halogen bulb.   You really need to see a solar panel as a 1 part of a three part triangle that is production, storage and consumption. If one of those links is weak then the whole thing falls over.

To answer your original question how big?   As big as you can comfortably carry which for me would be a 120W folding panel which is 2x60W. Shop arround prices can vary enormously and your friendly caravan dealer is not normally the place to buy SP's economically

---

Quote: Originally posted by Johnnie Boy on 04/3/2016

---

I've got a 100w solid frame panel and transporting it is a bit of a pain. My roof is a non bonded skin and would love to fit it up there, but don't want to risk damaging it. (had enough problems with water ingress)

Could I ask how you constructed and fitted the cassette for transporting the panel.

---