Solar Panel pictured as mentioned ages ago!

[Bongo Virgin]

Ages ago I said I'd post a picture of the 18W Solar Panel I fitted to the roof of my Bongo. It means that we never think twice about leaving the fridge running when we are out for the day away from a site and as the panel only cost about £50 on ebay it was a doddle to rig up. The L Section Steel frame bolts to the rear roof rack mounts and with additional rubber feet holds it very securely. The charge is controlled, though not really needed, by a basic Maplins charge controller wired by fuse box in the back of the van. The wire from the panel comes through the rear section of the roof beyond the tent section so it doesn't cause any leaks.
Anyway, the info and pic' is just for anyone who is interested!
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd14 ... 1006-1.jpg

[tridentlee]

bloody hell, is that big enough ? what ever electricity you dont use can be sold back to EDF ENERGY, but more to the point it looks like a great bit of kit, the only trouble is you need sun to power it & we aint had a lot of that this summer, theres always next year, enjoy ,lee

[dandywarhol]

Looks good nice looking solar panel too!

[bigdaddycain]

Dandy!

[mikeonb4c]

I'm tempted - a list of where to purchase parts and idiots guide on how to connect them would be fantastic please Bongo Virgin

How would I feed the charge back into my LB under the bonnet without unsightly wires? Also, can 18W really remove the worry of running the fridge from the LB without flattening it? Did the panel mounting points match up naturally with the Bongo mounting points or did you have to make something up?

Anyway, very neat job & well done

[mister munkey]

I'm tempted - a list of where to purchase parts and idiots guide on how to connect them would be fantastic please Bongo Virgin :lol)

Back feeling better then. . .


Number what? on your "must-do" list mike?

[dandywarhol]

18W won't make a helluva difference, and by the time there's a bit of energy loss in the wiring going up to the front I would doubt if there's an amp of currrent getting to the LB - I've checked mine! Still, 1 amp is better than no extra amps and apart from the initial outlay, it's free

[mikeonb4c]

Well spotted MM. But my wife has her beady eye on me and if I'm fit for anything then I have family duties to attend to first (damn!). I'm tempted by a solar panel but not sure I can be ar*ed t oget around to it, and then there's the £ - spend, spend, spend

[Bongo Virgin]

As mentioned, the actual current arriving at the LB is less than the maximum out put as there is a long length of wire between the two. It is a little over 1A as suggested but then the maximum output for the panel is only 1.5A. This type of panel gives some current whatever the weather so it is a case of something being better than nothing. It extends the run time of the LB and also keeps it in good condition when the Bongo hasn't been moved. The Fridge we have is a modern Vitrifigo one which is better value than Waeco and similar. It has a Cold Accumulator and an external Compressor and has an average consumption of only 12W. Even with loss in the system the Panel provides the majority of this Power.
I cut and Brazed the Steel frame in which the panel sits and had to do some careful measuring to get the mounting points to be aligned.
A fun little hobby which kept me out from under the wifes feet If anyone wants to know more than message me your email and let you have anything I have.

[dandywarhol]

Never heard of that make of fridge BV - need to investigate that one 12W is nothing really.

Just don't let Pippin hear you say it's better than a Waeco

[mikeonb4c]

Excellent BV - thanks for filling in hte missing bits - it all seems to makea lot of sense.