I'm having a kind of shakedown - am in Perth at a CP for a couple of days before dropping the caravan in for a new poptop skirt after finally getting her back from the autoelectrician who had her for 5 weeks in total. He did a good job of the electrics but did not leave a gap underneath the solar panels.... it kinda doesn't matter because I have a total of 390w so a little inefficiency does not matter. The panels can't be moved because they are stuck down with sikafix.
When I take the ute in to him for the solar panel and fit out I will make sure he leaves the gap. Anyway the van is lovely as ever and unfortunately I did not have time to pack all the ebay bargains.
Will save that for when I go camping with Yeoeleven provided he is not at the bottom of the Denmark River.
Nice unit there Elle, but I would look into the fact that the panels are stuck on the roof, I think I have heard that there should be a gap under the panels, not being an electriction I do not know for sure, perhaps put a question on the techie page, I'm sure you will get the correct advice there.
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Sunday 15th of January 2012 01:19:28 PM
Elle on Wheels said
04:17 PM Jan 15, 2012
According to the autoelectrician it would take a bomb to move the panels - he used marine grade sikafix - and he said it would be impossible to detach them. He's just had the van for 5 weeks. Anyway I guess I will ask him what can be done. I'm hoping the only consequence will be some minor inefficiency
Cruising Granny said
11:14 PM Jan 15, 2012
It is removable with a blade and turps, but it will take time. Serves him right for doing it wrong in the first place. A bloke with his credentials should know how to fix solar panels to a caravan roof. Nag him until it's done right. It's your money honey, and your van, and your solar panels, and you trusted him to do the job right, and he didn't. So nag until it's done right.
_wombat_ said
08:45 AM Jan 16, 2012
Phone the ACCC 1300 302 502 and they will advise you how to go about getting them fixed, the panels may not work as well as they should and as CG said "It's your money honey, and your van, and your solar panels, and you trusted him to do the job right, and he didn't. So nag until it's done right."
Evie n Rhys said
11:40 AM Jan 16, 2012
Looks great Elle, how exciting. I know how it feels. So much you want to do but where to start???? Have fun. Tess
DeBe said
12:40 PM Jan 17, 2012
Something glued on with Sikaflex is relatively easy to remove. This is an old bone handle knife modified & very sharp & quite flexible. I use this for removing stuf glued on with sikaflex. The point is ground flat & sharp so it can be pushed in then its just a matter of sliding knife along to cut the sikaflex.
Cruising Granny said
09:57 PM Jan 17, 2012
Your photos Elle remind me of the definition of a holiday: "Driving 3000kms to take a photo of yourself with the car".
Persist with the nagging to remove the solar panels.
Elle on Wheels said
11:08 PM Jan 17, 2012
But Granny I only drove 400km and that's because I'm putting the van in for a new poptop skirt, the last of the major work. Also I bought a new camera and have only just worked out how to make it compatible with the laptop.... couldn't do anything with the desktop at home for some reason. So this is a big occasion for me, 1st photos and a week in the van.
And as soon as I get back to Denmark I will get the autoelectrician to mount the panels properly. He did everything else correctly. I just don't want it sitting in his shop for another 5 weeks while priority goes to fire trucks and rural emergency jobs.
_wombat_ said
08:24 AM Jan 18, 2012
does anybody know what will happen if the panel's are left as they are, stuck flat on the roof, perhaps you could put the question on the thechie section, or maybe ask why do you need to have a gap under the panel's
I your electriction does emergency vechile's in a country area like Denmark then you may have to wait in line for your job to get done, as you have in the past.
blaze said
10:34 AM Jan 18, 2012
_wombat_ wrote:
does anybody know what will happen if the panel's are left as they are, stuck flat on the roof, perhaps you could put the question on the thechie section, or maybe ask why do you need to have a gap under the panel's
I your electriction does emergency vechile's in a country area like Denmark then you may have to wait in line for your job to get done, as you have in the past.
I was told by my solar panel supplier that they need a minimun of 10mm gap so they cool, appently gets quite warm under them. Not sure wether the heat only affects the charge rate or wether it has other effects.
cheers
blaze
_wombat_ said
10:57 AM Jan 18, 2012
thanks blaze, I knew somebody here would be able to explain it.
DeBe said
03:50 PM Jan 18, 2012
Not only will the panels get hot, but if there is ever a problem with the conections underneath due to traped condensation how will you get to them?
beiffe said
05:21 PM Jan 20, 2012
Also there is a possibility of the heat effecting the top of the van.
I would assume it is a fabric cover or similar top and the heat that can be quite hot would degrade it in a short time. Then if any water gets under the panels it will seep into the wood and then the van.
The heat of the panels would be transmitted into the interior of the van. Not sure if you were looking for a heater to add to the interior temperature in the summer.
I prefer the pannels to be mounted on a ali frame with bolts securing the panel to the frame so it can be lifted to allow work on connections etc as well as to clean underneath every now and again.
These two photos show some of my panels and even though more than you would have the idea is the same.
The first photos shows the mounting frame and the panels that are built into another frame that is bolted along the length when mobile but can be pivoted from each end when needed. Also the leg for safety can be seen folded back.
The second photo show one of the legs that when mobile are bolted alongside and hidden with the panels but when needed can hold up either end of the panels and I can crawl under the length of the panels. The bolts are held by blind nuts that your service man should have. The angle is 75 x 25 and held with a bead of sikaflex the thickness of a three ply (about 3 mm)
Hi All
I'm having a kind of shakedown - am in Perth at a CP for a couple of days before dropping the caravan in for a new poptop skirt after finally getting her back from the autoelectrician who had her for 5 weeks in total. He did a good job of the electrics but did not leave a gap underneath the solar panels.... it kinda doesn't matter because I have a total of 390w so a little inefficiency does not matter. The panels can't be moved because they are stuck down with sikafix.
When I take the ute in to him for the solar panel and fit out I will make sure he leaves the gap. Anyway the van is lovely as ever and unfortunately I did not have time to pack all the ebay bargains.
Will save that for when I go camping with Yeoeleven provided he is not at the bottom of the Denmark River.
Nice unit there Elle, but I would look into the fact that the panels are stuck on the roof, I think I have heard that there should be a gap under the panels, not being an electriction I do not know for sure, perhaps put a question on the techie page, I'm sure you will get the correct advice there.
Elle I'm back, just found this
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t42577057/solar-panel-fault/
Have a look at the last two comments about sticking the panel on the roof
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Sunday 15th of January 2012 09:14:52 AM
why can't you take it back to the place that fitted them and ask that they be fixed, after all they have installed them the wrong way
here's some pics of mollie for you
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=mollie+sugden&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=O1v&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=bTYST8-CH8KziQeo1LQw&ved=0CEAQsAQ&biw=1673&bih=730&sei=7TYST9DPCKeSiAe39YBD
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Sunday 15th of January 2012 01:19:28 PM
A bloke with his credentials should know how to fix solar panels to a caravan roof. Nag him until it's done right. It's your money honey, and your van, and your solar panels, and you trusted him to do the job right, and he didn't. So nag until it's done right.
Phone the ACCC 1300 302 502 and they will advise you how to go about getting them fixed, the panels may not work as well as they should and as CG said "It's your money honey, and your van, and your solar panels, and you trusted him to do the job right, and he didn't. So nag until it's done right."
Have fun.
Tess
Persist with the nagging to remove the solar panels.
And as soon as I get back to Denmark I will get the autoelectrician to mount the panels properly. He did everything else correctly. I just don't want it sitting in his shop for another 5 weeks while priority goes to fire trucks and rural emergency jobs.
does anybody know what will happen if the panel's are left as they are, stuck flat on the roof, perhaps you could put the question on the thechie section, or maybe ask why do you need to have a gap under the panel's
I your electriction does emergency vechile's in a country area like Denmark then you may have to wait in line for your job to get done, as you have in the past.
I was told by my solar panel supplier that they need a minimun of 10mm gap so they cool, appently gets quite warm under them. Not sure wether the heat only affects the charge rate or wether it has other effects.
cheers
blaze
thanks blaze, I knew somebody here would be able to explain it.
Not only will the panels get hot, but if there is ever a problem with the conections underneath due to traped condensation how will you get to them?
Also there is a possibility of the heat effecting the top of the van.
I would assume it is a fabric cover or similar top and the heat that can be quite hot would degrade it in a short time. Then if any water gets under the panels it will seep into the wood and then the van.
The heat of the panels would be transmitted into the interior of the van. Not sure if you were looking for a heater to add to the interior temperature in the summer.
I prefer the pannels to be mounted on a ali frame with bolts securing the panel to the frame so it can be lifted to allow work on connections etc as well as to clean underneath every now and again.
These two photos show some of my panels and even though more than you would have the idea is the same.
The first photos shows the mounting frame and the panels that are built into another frame that is bolted along the length when mobile but can be pivoted from each end when needed. Also the leg for safety can be seen folded back.
The second photo show one of the legs that when mobile are bolted alongside and hidden with the panels but when needed can hold up either end of the panels and I can crawl under the length of the panels. The bolts are held by blind nuts that your service man should have. The angle is 75 x 25 and held with a bead of sikaflex the thickness of a three ply (about 3 mm)
Hope this helps
Brian