installing solar power in a westy

[NicBeeee]

I made this a couple of years ago, the motor comes from an automated sat dish, you just need to alter the limit switches for the stepper motor, the circuitry came in kit form with just a bit of simple soldering, the sun finding sensors for the panel are just a couple of led`s with a shadow board in between. Although this only cost me around 50 quid to make and works well as opposed to the 1000 a normal sun tracker would have cost at the time, I find it is generally left behind on trips as it is to cumbersome to carry around. Anyway I just like making things, but the moral of the story is if I were to go down the solar route again I think I would have a fixed flexi panel that I wouldnt have to mess about with, although our roof is normally got a kayak or boards or some kind a fun on top.

[ghost123uk]

I'm convinced that the majority of the MPPT controllers on eBay are just bog standard solar regulator with MTTP printed on the box .

I wouldn't mind betting you're right. It would be interesting to compare charge rates, direct v cheap MPPT box, (using the same panel of course).

[kevtherev]

I made this a couple of years ago, the motor comes from an automated sat dish

I rather like that..it appeals to my "after the apocalypse" gene.

[lloydy]

How about a bit of genuine vw solar?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-Solar-Panel ... 9a&vxp=mtr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ninja.turtle007]

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[ninja.turtle007]

I've moved away from a flexible panel glued to the roof of my westy. The curve of the roof, roof rack causing a shadow when the sun is low and having to position the van for the sun rather than which is best for camping/sleeping pushed me towards a removable panel.

Also I wanted to change from a roof basket to a roof box due to a change of plans. Roof box covers 50% of the flexible panel now has virtually no output.

I bought the same brand panel (Baird) as Kevtherev as he gets some very good figures. I went slightly larger to a 150w panel. This is fixed to the roof bars but can be removed or refitted in about a minute. Over the weekend the peak input was 8.5A at 13.1V.

My battery bank is 288AH. Power demand consisted of waeco cr50 fridge, around 12 hours per day of Eber plus charging of phones and 2x Hudls. I'd normally expect 4 days or less before discharging to 12v Friday and Saturday, no sun. Sunday was sunny, as was Monday. The panel was moved with the sun on Sunday every couple of hours or so and on Monday morning it went back on the roof by 10am. By the time we arrived home, with the Sterling charger turned off, the batteries were fully charged.

Being able to reposition the panel has made a huge difference.

[kevtherev]

cracking stuff Tom
What are the dimensions of that 150 watt Panel?
Which controller did you get?
I also found that the ability to tilt the panel eeks out the best.
I compromised by keeping the adjustable tilt but losing the tracking.
As long as I can park my nose.. east, west or west, east then I can enjoy a good arc of power without adjustment.
One day I parked north south by a beach, I tracked the sun from early morning (east), midday (overhead) till it disappeared over the horizon (west), adjusting the panel as it tracked the sun.



As you can see I have room for a larger panel on the supports.

[ninja.turtle007]

The panel is 1480x680. The controller I already had is this one http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/121317138627

My first westy came with solar panels mounted in a nicely made aluminium carrier. I still have panels, Japanese manufactured in 1992. Still work well but the size and shape of them wouldn't work with my current setup.


I've used parts of this to make the current carrier. At the moment it doesn't tilt like yours but I may look into modifying it to tilt but a westy poptop isn't ideal for this unlike your roof.

[jed the spread]

I posted something I have been working on over on the Syncro forum in preparation for our next trip. I know not everyone ventures over there so I thought I would share on here whats going on.

I had some bits turn up during the week so I thought I would start at the top and work my way down. I carefully removed the old premaritally fixed flexy panels that were fitted before Morocco and they will be used again later. I need to give the roof a good clean still, fit a new roof seal from our stores and a new skylight lift arm but the new CVC Safari Roof Rack System is 99% done and I am just working on the add ons right now. It is nice to have a much lighter roof rack and be able walk and stand on the roof.













New solar panel rails have been worked out just now, all Aluminium and stainless steel just to keep things light and weather proof. The cargo rails can be slid up and down the rack and tightened up giving you the option to fit any size panel of or add more rails.





Threaded inserts are to be used to hold Solar panels in place, the nut will be swapped for wing nuts so no tools will be needed to whip the panels off and pop them in the direct sunlight while the van can be parked in the shade keeping cool and the fridge not working as hard as it would in the direct sunlight. The threaded inserts are really clever, when the washer sits in the circle cut out in the rail it locks into place when the nut is tightened and can not move. We have been selling this stuff for ages and lots of people use it for fitting seats in vans that can be moved around real easy or the seat can be taken out in a jiffy. It was originally designed for aircraft.



Washer in place ready to be tightened,



The edges of flexy panels can be drilled if needed and the threaded inserts can hold them in place. The panel in the picture is just to get the idea.



And this time two so you can just keep adding,





The panels sit jut below the top of the rack for some protection from branches and stuff.





Had a ton of stuff arrive at CVC HQ this week from Westy water filler caps to spoon holders to CVC made awning brackets to fit our new ARB awnings and safari room add ons etc, and while going through it all and adding it to the web shop I was happy to have one of those moments when you think, "what the hell is this?" and you realise it is for you!

More about this later, just sharing what is to be added next...




Well I had 10 minutes before starting work this morning so had a little mock up of how the removable new Ninja panels are going to sit. Solar Guru Huw Matthews has been on side again with professional advice when I need it. I have to admit this is all looking very tidy indeed although getting all this together as a development package takes about 100 times longer than if you just wang something on your own van as a quick fit. The panels sit just right and slightly lower than the top of the roof rack protection rails. The good thing about the protection rails is that the caps on the end can be removed and cable can be run down them to the back of the van where the wiring is that goes through the van to the leisure batteries.

[ninja.turtle007]

That looks very nice. What's the output of the new panels?

[jed the spread]

That looks very nice. What's the output of the new panels?

[kevtherev]

That looks very nice. What's the output of the new panels?

529mm, is that one panel Jed?

[jed the spread]

That looks very nice. What's the output of the new panels?

529mm, is that one panel Jed?

Yes Kev, that is the back of one panel. They are called Ninja panels I believe.

Jed

[shepster]

Nice.

[stoneageman]

I'm just about to install a solar panel on the roof, has anyone used these fixing brackets? If so, do they work ok with the glue that is being recommended?

These are the brackets i have in mind

[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Panel-M ... 46335103c7