Marj..Look on Google, type in motorhome solar panels ..This site is quite comprehensive .Have a look at CMCA Panels and accessories...Hope this helps Marj .Not a lot of pricing but did not go into the fine details..Good luck hope this helps.... May point you in the right direction..Alan
-- Edited by mongrel on Monday 8th of July 2013 04:41:32 PM
Happywanderer said
11:04 PM Jul 8, 2013
I went to the caravan place today to get prices for getting a solar panel fixed to the well on the top of cabin of Myrtle.
Wanted at least 120w, and maybe up to 200, but after measuring he said only just get 100w and that's right to the outside measurements. All up will be close to $1000, with just the bits and panel coming to $522.
There has to be a better deal than that, so where would I get a panel to fit with the sizing I want.
John (yeoeleven) I was wondering what size you had up in the well in the old van?
GaryKelly said
11:15 PM Jul 8, 2013
I'm betting you're right, Happy. There's gotta be a better deal than that! Sounds outrageous to me.
Beth54 said
12:39 AM Jul 9, 2013
I already have the mobile type of solar panel, so I was wondering if that could be mounted on the roof. Anyone have any idea?
Happywanderer said
12:47 AM Jul 9, 2013
The reason I didn't mount the portable one I had in the well was the sizing didn't fit because of the hinge in the middle of the fold up.
Yours is a flat roof isn't it Beth? No reason why it couldn't be fitted there as long as doesn't make it too heavy to push up.
That's why I sold mine and intend to get a single panel that will fit, but now they tell me I can't get the size to fit for the watts I want.
I'm sure some other place might have something different, will check over in Shepp during the week.
Thanks Alan, will start googling after tea.
Beth54 said
12:53 AM Jul 9, 2013
yes flat roof Marj, but you could be right about the lifting. Sometimes it's easy to push up and other times it's a real chore.
Back to the drawing board. Have you looked at Ebay? That would probably be a cheaper way to go. I got mine from there, as did bil.
bill12 said
01:05 AM Jul 9, 2013
I have 2 - 80 watt portable panels fixed to the roof of the slide on with no problems.Ally channel of the right size tech screwed to the roof with a dob of silastic works well, and the portable ones are cheaper. Try ebay, but remember that the charge rates are optimistic, and the regs are of the cheaper kind. I fitted a mppt type reg and it works great.Perhaps youcould fit them where the small roof rack at the front usually is . Bill
Unfortunately it looks like they are out of stock but there may be other stockists if you google thin film solar panels. The 120 Watt one I have is very light - and sits almost flush on the poptop of my slide on camper, stuck on with sikaflex.
Happywanderer said
01:50 AM Jul 9, 2013
bill12 wroteI have 2 - 80 watportable panels fixed to the roof the s. lide on with noblems.Ally channel of the right size tech screwed to the roof with a dob of silastic works well, and the portable ones are cheaper. Try ebay, but remember that the charge rates are optimistic, and the regs are of the cheaper kind. I fitted a mppt type reg and it works great.Perhaps youcould fit them where the small roof rack at the front usually is . Bill
yes Bill, thats the well I,m trying to fit it into. They are saying the size I want wont fit in there.
bill12 said
02:28 AM Jul 9, 2013
Perhaps a single 160w is smaller in size and will fit.Otherwise , a custom frame can be made to fit the gutter on your van.The portable panels fold in the middle, and maybe that can help. Bill
Happywanderer said
10:07 PM Jul 9, 2013
Twelve hundred and something x five hundred and something mm. Beth Couldn't remember the exact measurement.
Sorry, The guy measured the well and wrote down the measurements. I didn't take note but I think it was about 1250 x 540, roughly. That would be millimetres. Needed a sleep to remember what he had said.
-- Edited by Happywanderer on Wednesday 10th of July 2013 10:39:57 AM
Thanks Graham. Checked it, measurements too big. Has to be 12?? X 5??.That's the problem I'm having.
Beth54 said
04:57 AM Jul 10, 2013
Happywanderer wrote:
Thanks Graham. Checked it, measurements too big. Has to be 12?? X 5??.That's the problem I'm having.
Would that be 120cm x 50cm?
Beth54 said
06:19 PM Jul 10, 2013
Know what you mean about the sleep.
This metric measuring business still gets me. It seems that blokes measure in mm and women cm.
Your measurements give us a better idea of the size you're after anyway.
Dougwe said
02:33 AM Jul 11, 2013
What about on top of the lift up section Marj? Would be good to have a little clearance under the panel as well to let air flow through.
Beth54 said
02:38 AM Jul 11, 2013
Dougwe wrote:
What about on top of the lift up section Marj? Would be good to have a little clearance under the panel as well to let air flow through.
Marj may have the same problem as me Dougwe, the added weight may be too much for we weakling females.
Dougwe said
02:42 AM Jul 11, 2013
If you two a out in the playground on your own as you are, You are no weaklings.
You could be correct though as it would add a bit of extra weight to lift so maybe you could just have one extra weetbix for breaky.
Happywanderer said
02:52 AM Jul 11, 2013
My son in law has just suggested the same thing. Would add another 15 kgs to the top of the poptop but might have to do it that way.
Beth54 said
03:12 AM Jul 11, 2013
Happywanderer wrote:
My son in law has just suggested the same thing. Would add another 15 kgs to the top of the poptop but might have to do it that way.
Are Myrtle's strut thingys working well Marj? Lulu's aren't, and to make it worse the 'bones' are gone. You know, like a corset. I don't know what they're proper name is. So sometimes the canvas wants to bow out instead of in. That gets a bit tricky when your hands are busy pulling, and can't reach to give it a tug. If you get my drift...
Happywanderer said
03:27 AM Jul 11, 2013
Yes Beth, that area is all in good condition after Ken Thomas and his son replaced all the wheels for me.
My main problem is getting the spring loaded hooks back into the thingees once down.
That problem will be solved next week when I get them replaced with straps. Also getting all the internal lights changed to LED. Booking in for next Wednesday.
Dougwe said
04:48 PM Jul 11, 2013
Are you going to Solar City Marj?
I have found a Dometic Fridge Agent here in Townsville called Sun City, very similar name so I hope they do good work as do Solar City in Shepparton, Vic?
Jack Mac said
07:34 PM Jul 11, 2013
Happywanderer wrote:
I'm getting the LED lights and the straps attached next Wednesday at a local Echuca caravan place. The Solar Panels will have to wait awhile till I can work out a better deal. Might be when I get back up to Qld and do what yeoeleven did. Buy a DIY kit and have a friend do the fitting.
Hi Marj,
If you can wait that long, wait 'til you get home and I'll have a look. No expert, but we should be able to work something out that won't break the bank.
Cheers,
John
-- Edited by Jack Mac on Thursday 11th of July 2013 07:34:43 PM
Jack Mac said
08:25 PM Jul 11, 2013
Happywanderer wrote:
I have you in mind for the solar panel fitting if you don't mind Jack mac.
Not problem Marj. Hopefully my aspirations won't exceed my capabilities lol. We got John's on ok. Well apparently so far so good anyway.
-- Edited by Jack Mac on Thursday 11th of July 2013 08:26:15 PM
bill12 said
09:13 PM Jul 11, 2013
You sure it wasn,t Sin city, Dougwe, out at Garbutt. They don,thave solar panels, but the sevice is nice............Bill
Happywanderer said
12:38 AM Jul 12, 2013
I'm getting the LED lights and the straps attached next Wednesday at a local Echuca caravan place. The Solar Panels will have to wait awhile till I can work out a better deal. Might be when I get back up to Qld and do what yeoeleven did. Buy a DIY kit and have a friend do the fitting.
Beth54 said
01:46 AM Jul 12, 2013
I'll eventually change to LED too. Number 2 son is a lighting technician, so he's my expert lighting person.
What I also need him to do, when he stays put in Brissie long enough, is to go through the wiring for me. There are switches everywhere, which bil hasn't been able to work out. The previous owner told me, but silly me, I didn't write it down.
Happywanderer said
02:05 AM Jul 12, 2013
My s.in.l is a top notch electrician. I'm paying to get mine done as easier than asking him to help when he doesn't offer.
Beth54 said
02:27 AM Jul 12, 2013
Happywanderer wrote:
My s.in.l is a top notch electrician. I'm paying to get mine done as easier than asking him to help when he doesn't offer.
It's hard when it's not your son but your sil. I'm a bit that way with my dil. We get along really well, but there are things I can't ask her, or discuss with her.
Happywanderer said
03:04 AM Jul 12, 2013
I have you in mind for the solar panel fitting if you don't mind Jack mac.
Marj..Look on Google, type in motorhome solar panels ..This site is quite comprehensive .Have a look at CMCA Panels and accessories...Hope this helps Marj .Not a lot of pricing but did not go into the fine details..Good luck hope this helps.... May point you in the right direction..Alan
-- Edited by mongrel on Monday 8th of July 2013 04:41:32 PM
I went to the caravan place today to get prices for getting a solar panel fixed to the well on the top of cabin of Myrtle.
Wanted at least 120w, and maybe up to 200, but after measuring he said only just get 100w and that's right to the outside measurements. All up will be close to $1000, with just the bits and panel coming to $522.
There has to be a better deal than that, so where would I get a panel to fit with the sizing I want.
John (yeoeleven) I was wondering what size you had up in the well in the old van?
I already have the mobile type of solar panel, so I was wondering if that could be mounted on the roof. Anyone have any idea?
Yours is a flat roof isn't it Beth? No reason why it couldn't be fitted there as long as doesn't make it too heavy to push up.
That's why I sold mine and intend to get a single panel that will fit, but now they tell me I can't get the size to fit for the watts I want.
I'm sure some other place might have something different, will check over in Shepp during the week.
Thanks Alan, will start googling after tea.
yes flat roof Marj, but you could be right about the lifting.
Sometimes it's easy to push up and other times it's a real chore.
Back to the drawing board. Have you looked at Ebay? That would probably be a cheaper way to go. I got mine from there, as did bil.
Unfortunately it looks like they are out of stock but there may be other stockists if you google thin film solar panels. The 120 Watt one I have is very light - and sits almost flush on the poptop of my slide on camper, stuck on with sikaflex.
yes Bill, thats the well I,m trying to fit it into. They are saying the size I want wont fit in there.
Twelve hundred and something x five hundred and something mm. Beth Couldn't remember the exact measurement.
Sorry, The guy measured the well and wrote down the measurements. I didn't take note but I think it was about 1250 x 540, roughly. That would be millimetres. Needed a sleep to remember what he had said.
-- Edited by Happywanderer on Wednesday 10th of July 2013 10:39:57 AM
www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-200-Watt-12v-Monocrystalline-Solar-Panel-200W-/330950898459
dibs
Would that be 120cm x 50cm?
Know what you mean about the sleep.
This metric measuring business still gets me. It seems that blokes measure in mm and women cm.
Your measurements give us a better idea of the size you're after anyway.
Marj may have the same problem as me Dougwe, the added weight may be too much for we weakling females.
You could be correct though as it would add a bit of extra weight to lift so maybe you could just have one extra weetbix for breaky.
Are Myrtle's strut thingys working well Marj? Lulu's aren't, and to make it worse the 'bones' are gone. You know, like a corset.
I don't know what they're proper name is. 
So sometimes the canvas wants to bow out instead of in. That gets a bit tricky when your hands are busy pulling, and can't reach to give it a tug. If you get my drift...
My main problem is getting the spring loaded hooks back into the thingees once down.
That problem will be solved next week when I get them replaced with straps. Also getting all the internal lights changed to LED. Booking in for next Wednesday.
I have found a Dometic Fridge Agent here in Townsville called Sun City, very similar name so I hope they do good work as do Solar City in Shepparton, Vic?
Hi Marj,
If you can wait that long, wait 'til you get home and I'll have a look. No expert, but we should be able to work something out that won't break the bank.
Cheers,
John
-- Edited by Jack Mac on Thursday 11th of July 2013 07:34:43 PM
Not problem Marj. Hopefully my aspirations won't exceed my capabilities lol. We got John's on ok. Well apparently so far so good anyway.
-- Edited by Jack Mac on Thursday 11th of July 2013 08:26:15 PM
I'll eventually change to LED too. Number 2 son is a lighting technician, so he's my expert lighting person.
What I also need him to do, when he stays put in Brissie long enough, is to go through the wiring for me. There are switches everywhere, which bil hasn't been able to work out. The previous owner told me, but silly me, I didn't write it down.