Solar Panels Installed

[Daydreamer]

Just wanted to say a big thanks to Dodgey for supplying me with the 100W panel that I've just fitted to my Bongo.

Installation was very simple, I followed all instructions but extended the wiring after advice from Roger as I couldn't easily route it in my conversion down the drivers side. I have a permanent installation now and the Solar controller installed neatly behind the drivers seat with all cabling tucked behind all the interior trim. From the controller I routed the cables down the drivers footwell under the trim, up behind the fuse box and along past the glove compartment and through the rubber seal to the leisure battery, few zip ties keeping everything in check.

I finished the job around 5.30 this afternoon with a dark and overcast sky and to my surprise the LB was being charged.

The panel, brackets and screws all lined up perfectly and am really pleased with now being able to be off hook up and have a bit more freedom.

All in all great service, advise and product. I have no connection to Roger apart from being a happy satisfied customer, if anyone wants a Solar set up I would highly recommend http://www.solarcampersolutions.co.uk/

Cheers Lawrence

[Dodgey]

Thanks Lawrence. It was a pleasure dealing with you

... p.s. if you thought 100Watts was a lot. I went out in my mate's microlight yesterday and saw this...

[bongojoe]

I'll second that - bought one of Roger's kits a few weeks ago and it's been great so far. My leisure battery has never been so happy nor my beer so chilled!

Running the wire behind the conversion was a bit fiddly, but I got there in the end. Opted for a semi-permanent installation (no hole in roof but wire securely fixed to underside of AFT) and put the charger panel in the back wardrobe where I can see it easily.

[digitalgypsy]

new bongo later this year, along with another of Dodgey's solar panel kits

[eightball]

I just want to third this! Another happy customer

I installed one of the kits a month ago and it kept my beer cold and battery happy for a three week trip. Worked great for over 5 days with no driving

If you want a Solar set up I would highly recommend http://www.solarcampersolutions.co.uk/

[Davidl]

And another happy customer.....fitted the 100w panel to the leisure battery in my factory kitchen in about an hour and a half.... Just come back from Cornwall for a week and it kept the original Japanese cool box buzzing away all week, with the brilliant sunshine there was plenty of electric to spare! Excellent piece of kit and excellent instructions.

[Dodgey]

Glad you are all happy - Winding down for the Autumn now (though it's still summer in the UK - miracle!!) but I keep a few in stock.

Making up a kit for VW's at the moment, with thin flexible panels to bond to their pop tops.

[Paltibine]

Q. for Dodgey:
I was looking at your kits but was wondering why you use the "standard" panels rather than the much lighter semi flexible ones you sound like you plan to use for your VW kit?
There seems to be as much as 5kg difference between the standard and flexible units at 100W although the flexible ones look about 10% more expensive. Given the extra weight and wind drag I would guess you would get the cost back in fuel savings (although not sure how quickly).

Are you thinking of a Bongo kit using the thinner panels?

I was thinking of getting a flexible 80W panel and charge regulator and connecting it up to the battery at the Zig unit rather than running wires all the way along the van to the battery itself.

Interested in your comments.....

[Dodgey]

Hi - A good question!. I'm using 100w framed panels for a few reasons:

- they fit without obscuring the sunroof (I can only use 80w max semi-flex panels on the bongo. 100w are too large). Often even the 80w flex panels are too long as that's the format they seem to come in.
- they are significantly cheaper which keeps the price down. I've never seen semi flex panels 10% more expensive than their framed equivalents. More like 80% normally.
- they need permanent "intrusive" installation. They need bonding down, and they won't come off without leaving the roof in a heck of a mess. Not only would you lose paint, I'd gamble that Sikaflex would take some of the fibreglass with it too.
- they require a good degree of DIY skills to bond neatly on the Bongo's curved roof. The point of my kits is their simplicity in installation (utilising existing bolt holes for mounting) and lack of permanent damage to the AFT (the single hole, if chosen, for the wire, is very simple to fill with decorator's caulk and touch up with paint). I've bonded panels to the Bongo AFT and it's a tricky job due to the quite severe curvature. The panels are not as flexible as the manufacturers make out!

I don't think, in the grand scheme of things, that 5kg is much to worry about bearing in mind most people fill their water bottle/tank with 15kgs of water before they set off. Sure, it all adds up, but it's the difference between taking a bag of charcoal for the BBQ or not.

The reasons I'm using flex panels for my VW kit are:

- VW pop tops are almost exclusively flat - so the bonding is dead easy.
- VW vans are significantly lower than Bongos so the framed panels are only just above the eyeline - on a Bongo they become mostly invisible from ground level, but on VWs they are really obvious.
- VW owners tend to be, how can I say, very image conscious - They frequently spend a lot of time and money on paint jobs, wheels, etc and won't entertain a visible solar panel on the top.
- With a VW pop top you'd need to drill several holes in it to mount a framed panel. There are no existing holes like on the Bongo. Most people are not willing to drill many holes in their roof! Drilling just one for the cable puts a lot of people off! (it's actually easy and safe).

And finally, if you can use a framed panel, then you should, as they perform significantly better than thin flex panels, which can't dissipate heat nearly as well.

You can indeed plug your regulator into your zig/pms unit. I do this frequently on installations.

[DILLIGAF]

do you do a kit for tin tops??

[Paltibine]

Dodgey:
Thanks for the comments.
I agree that most 100W thin panels are too long but I could fit 2 x 50W in the space available and I was thinking of mounting them on an intermediate plastic sheet which can be screwed into the existing holes in the AFT. The plastic sheet I had in mind is probably best described as "like plastic hardboard" and I think it's used for display boards - fairly strong, light and waterproof.

Looking on ebay 100w flexible panels are available for <£150 (sold from Europe so no extra charges) while rigid panels are £120ish so although my 10% was a bit optimistic your 80% is a bit pessimistic too!

I will try a bit more research as the rigid panels are a more tested technology and I've never even handled one of the semi flexible ones.

[Dodgey]

The plastic sheet mounting method sounds like a lot of work for a 5kg saving. The rigid panels really don't stick up that much to worry about.

Dilligaf - I don't I'm afraid. There is no easy entry point for the cable, and I don't know if they have the same roof bar mounting holes.

[DILLIGAF]

Oh b****r!!!

[mikexgough]

Decided to join in with the solar panel users..... fitted the excellent kit from Dodgy today..... charger is in my conversion and was still charging happily in overcast skies this evening. It charged the LB fully this morning, fridge running all day and inverter used to charge my impact driver too
Many will know we have a shed as well as Bongo and on sites you never have the option to split your electric and as we use the fridge in the shed and the Bongo fridge too the solar kit will help a lot rather than 4 days then run out to charge the LB.
We like the shed/Bongo combination as the Bongo makes trips out from the shed's base camp site so nice with on board facilities while out.
The solar will come into play for me at Race circuits with no hook up as well as other non hook up events ....if you are looking for a Solar kit then the Bongo specific from Dodgy gets a thumbs up from me

[madlec]

Hi all,

This question has been asked before, but I can't find an answer. Has anyone noticed a drop in MPG since fitting a solar panel to their roof? I know they are only a few mm deep, but still adds drag...

Cheers,