Installed Solar in a mushroom roof I've not seen before

[Dodgey]

Did a very enjoyable installation today for a lady called Jen with a mushroom roof that opens WAY up, almost vertical, pushed up with a metal bar with a hoop in it, and then a board inside flips over to fully open the tent. Huge inside. The roof locks down with keys. Really good roof. I forgot to take pics with it open

[weebrian]

Looks like a JAL conversion.

[Bob]

Neat all round.

[briwy]

There's a fact sheet which I did about three years ago in the members area on fitting a panel on a mushroom roof if anyone is thinking of doing it themselves.

[sgt_elvis]

Hi Dodgey,

Fabulous looking installation. I'll be seeking an identical install on the same roof in a couple of months, it looks like the panel you use for V dubs? Is that because the AFT kit is incompatible? Could you give me a parts and installation quote by PM if possible please?

Briwy - it is a great BF guide you did on this, really thorough but I know my very limited limits and the adhesive application etc gave me a fright so going to leave it to the professionals!

[mikeonb4c]

How does the panel perform when the roof is up if it tilts to near vertical?

[Dodgey]

The angle still means it point pretty much at the sun in the perpendicular. I got 4.5 amps in partially cloudy weather yesterday with the roof up but without the vehicle aligned optimally. You can be off axis quite a bit with not much consequence.

Sgt elvis. I use this panel ( indeed the same as the vw one) as there are no existing mounting holes and I'd need to drill two 8mm holes through the roof to bolt a regular panel on. It's not a problem. I bolted one on another aftermarket roof recently, but most people don't want that. That roof was heavily ridged and warped so bolting a panel on made more sense.

I'll pm you.

[digitalgypsy]

Hey Dodgey,

Good to see you're fitting the solar panels on aftermarket roofs as well. Would you say the mushroom is the best aftermarket roof you've come across?? Still yearn for a manual roof sometimes...

[Dodgey]

Hey mate the mushroom roof is the best so far. It has boards so you can sleep up there too.

The side lifting one is quirky. You need a long pole with a hoop to raise and lower it, and there are no gas struts to help. The end lifting one is far more logical, BUT the side lifting one gives you a ton of room once up.