Camping interior Solar panel fitted to a tintop

Solar panel on a tintop

(Covkid)

The reduced height of a tintop is good on most car parks, but they do pose their own problems when it comes to attaching solar panels.

A rigid panel with a frame is one possibility although if mounted flat they do tend to pool with water and it requires far more thought (though possible) in terms of fixing - ie drilling holes. Flexible solar panels offer a quick and easy way to add solar power but the roof ribs do prevent you from fixing the panel down directly - unless you bridge the gap with stand-offs as follows.

Heres what I used:

100 watt flexible solar kit (around the £140 mark)

Builders exterior grade silicone sealant (clear) - about £3

Wickes PVCU white cladding joint bead (2500m length) - 2.99

Planning

Decide where you're going to run the cable first. I can't advise on this since its your vehicle. I drilled into roof just above B pillar and fed it out through the interior at the bottom, but you may want to route another way. Make sure you TEST everything works before you begin fixing down the panel.

Cut the joint bead to fit the gap between roof ribs (5 lengths) as pictured above. They sit slightly higher than roof ribs but the curve of the panel makes these perfect. Measure panel length and stick standoffs down with blobs of sealant leaving sufficient gap for any moisture to escape in the future. Outside standoffs should fit flush with panel (see pics).

Allow to dry for 36 hours.

Fix panel with sealant, using bricks if needed to flatten edges of panel down. Clean off excess and use some kind of adhesive cable clips to tidy wires. Again, allow to dry for 36 hours.

Inside, connect battery to charge controller then connect panel. Follow the instructions carefully.