Solar again - Fixed vs Portable

[mikexgough]

Of course as Dodgey says parking in the right direction I notice a difference but I still get more than enough for fridge and phone charging parked the "wrong" way on a half decent day. Maybe I'm just lazy but I don't bother

Same here....never had an issue with this myself......

[seventiesboy]

Vote for portable here.

I have a 60w portable, have wires connected to LB, fused and then poke out at the front of the grill.
Easy to connect/disconnect and can follow "the sun" whatever that thing is
Comes in a padded bag at fits nicely in the van when not in use.
Works a treat.
Yes it could be stolen but I am a trusting soul.

Wouldn't have any objection personally fixed or portable.
Portable works for me and was pretty cheap.

[Muzorewa]

Having just returned from three weeks in Europe, wild-camping, Dodgey's fixed kit worked a treat, pics HERE

Always chilled beer & fizz, and the cheese made it home in an edible form, I just wish I'd done it years ago

[mikeonb4c]

Vote for portable here.

I have a 60w portable, have wires connected to LB, fused and then poke out at the front of the grill.
Easy to connect/disconnect and can follow "the sun" whatever that thing is
Comes in a padded bag at fits nicely in the van when not in use.
Works a treat.
Yes it could be stolen but I am a trusting soul.

Wouldn't have any objection personally fixed or portable.
Portable works for me and was pretty cheap.

I like the idea of roof mounted demountable but no one seems to have tried that. Being honest, my need is so occasional it's probably academic anyway!

[g8dhe]

Its only held in place with two bolts, and there is an electrical connector under the back of the panel, so adding an extension cable wouldn't be a problem. Main hassle is that most people will need a step ladder to easily undo the bolts and reach the connector.

[Dodgey]

Indeed. The connector is there so you can demount it, then tuck the plug under the rear of the aft. Takes two minutes. I do do this so people can remove the panel for whatever reason and still drive without a flapping plug

[mikeonb4c]

Its only held in place with two bolts, and there is an electrical connector under the back of the panel, so adding an extension cable wouldn't be a problem. Main hassle is that most people will need a step ladder to easily undo the bolts and reach the connector.

I can happily reach the back portion of the AFT roof standing on my towbar mounted rear steps so it could work for me without a stepladder

[Bob]

Agree Mike, for £25 from Towsure the rear steps are one of our best ever mods.

[mikeonb4c]

Agree Mike, for £25 from Towsure the rear steps are one of our best ever mods.

Great for sitting on when I'm drinking veg oil

[Bob]

If any Bongonaught should find me and Mike sitting in a corner drinking veg oil an e-mail to the Bongomeister will reveal where to send us back.

[mikeonb4c]

If any Bongonaught should find me and Mike sitting in a corner drinking veg oil an e-mail to the Bongomeister will reveal where to send us back.

To adapt a famous line of Eccles (for those old enough to remember The Goons):

"I like veg oil. My mum says veg oil gives you a good run for your money."

He could just as easily have been talking about Bongos as laxatives

[helen&tony]

Hi
And Limbo dancing was developed after seeing someone who'd just drunk a pint of veg oil arrive at a loo door with a bent penny in their hand!!!!
Cheers
Helen

[mikexgough]

Having just returned from three weeks in Europe, wild-camping, Dodgey's fixed kit worked a treat, pics HERE

Always chilled beer & fizz, and the cheese made it home in an edible form, I just wish I'd done it years ago

Ditto with me and my EU jaunts..... as well as my Cycling trips away...... all I have lost out on is.... my waistline... not so portly these days.....
With Solar it's easy to Wild Camp and use Aires.... as well as CL sites sans electrique'

[the1andonly]

Fixed v portable?
I use both
100W fixed on the Bongo and 20w portable (now 9-10 years old and more expensive than Bongo setup).
The 20W has been used to charge my battery in the penine folding camper (not realy suficient power additional charging required with bad weather over 2 weeks).
I do not use normal commercial sites so security is not a problem.
A ridged panel can be easily be removed (with appropriate design and fittings) and be replaced with new technology in 3-5 years time and used for secondry purposes.
Pherhaps the next project is to connect the van to camper and charge 2 or 3 LB's in different positions. (2nd LB behind drivers seat in van (as seen in another Bongo in Dolgellau))