100w Flexable Solar Cell For Roof

[Mark Elvin]

Guys. Im looking for a flexable solar cell, preferably IRO 100w that fits on the ATF, behind the glass panel.

From my measurements it would need to be 1000mm long maximum x 1100wide maximuim.

im a fussy sod so I need a cell size that will fit on the roof, with the junction box in the middle, at the rear, having it to one side will mess with my melon.

[Mini Men]

I'm planning on one as well but have not got around to measuring it. I think all the junction boxes are on one side due to the way the panels are connected internally. Might be wrong though.

[Mark Elvin]

The junction bixes are centrally located on the short side of the panell normally

[Simon Jones]

I'm think of doing something similar on mine. Saw a really smart Wellhouse VW T5 (a mere £50k) which was fitted with a flexible solar panel and that had rear centre connection that was fed directly thru the pop top roof. This would be relatively easy with an AFT as the rear 30cm or so is outside of the tent area so making it 100% waterproof is less critical.

[Mark Elvin]

That was my exact plan. The other option is 2x50w panels side by side, at least it would still be symmetrical.

[Mark Elvin]

Two of these 50w units could be wired in parallel, with the wires at the rear edge of the roof, popped though a hole outside of the AFT 'living' area.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281172608099? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Or one of these could be popped up there, they are 1040mm long, pretty much the same length as the available space to the mm.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281172608099? ... EBIDX%3AIT

[Mark Elvin]

Proving quite difficult, I have sent questions to Ebay sellers as the 100w panel is exactly 1040mm, the 80w is actually longer so will not fit the roof.

The keep suggesting the 80w item as the 100w is out of stock.

I'll keep trying.

[Simon Jones]

Chap to speak to is 'Dodgey' on this forum as he supplies solar panel kits. From my limited research on the subject, you can get cheap & cheerful panels for under £100 & then go all the way up to about £800 for a really efficient model. It seems keeping the panel cool is a key factor which is fine for a rigid panel mounted on spacers so there is airflow underneath, but that is not an option when bonding direct to roof.

[Mark Elvin]

I've had a chat, he has the correct panels but only sells as part of a kit.

I can get panels in pairs, but I only need one obviously - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-STOCK-200W ... 3a7d5ca4ed

Looking like 2 x 50w may be the best option.

[helen&tony]

Hi
I bought one of Dodgey's kits last year, and just got around to fitting it...Frankly, I wouldn't use a flexi panel for the reason Simon says, and the fact that all the wires go under the rigid type panel. Sure you can get cheaper, but with all the kit there, it's an hour or two to fit once everything is to hand, and I'd pay the extra for not having the bother of finding and getting all the bits together...The end result is very neat!
Cheers
Helen

[Mark Elvin]

Solar cell performance drops off by about 10% with elevated temps.

Having said that, the hassle of de-bonding a flex able one doesn't bare thinking about, so I think I may go for a rigid one, mounted to some of the corner brackets you can get here, bonded to the roof. - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Biard-Solar-P ... 2ed1822e5c

With the addition of a couple of side brakets we should be fine http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SIDE-MOUNTING ... 27e4071d89

[helen&tony]

Hi
That'll depend on quality of the product, and the temperatures...we get 40 deg. C over here in high summer
Cheers
Helen

[Mark Elvin]

I'm going to go rigid, it's so much simpler to replace if we get a problem.

I'll post my installation.

[Dodgey]

Thanks Helen

Regarding the flex panels - I just tell people to think of them as permanent - and a good selling point when they buy another van. I would not want to clean up the mess when removing one, though it is totally doable.

In this country the heat is fine but it does indeed knock off around 10% of the power on hot days. 40 degrees plus and I'd want air gaps under a flex panel. Even if it's just the gaps made by roof ridges. Like this: (one I installed yesterday) - and yes, the wire is on the side but my client has yet to go mad





My China supplier sells all my panels in pairs, just like the Ebay sellers (they all do it now to cut down on packaging, at least for the keener prices), that's one reason why I don't just sell panels - I have to pay and have them sitting in stock so my money is tied up in them and it's not worth selling them on alone , there is not enough money in it. I bought two to do a Bongo a couple of months ago and the other will sit there now until another Bongo owner wants one, or I fit it to a VW. I'll obv keep it for Bongos unless I'm caught short!

If you are going down the ebay route you could always buy 2 and sell one on....

[PisceanJoy]

What about these I know the pople who make/import them http://www.bimblesolar.com/solar/unisolar68w