Installing Solar panel

barina · Guru

Installing Solar panel

oldbobsbus · Guru

If ya want to come for a drive to Heaven.. (Grafton NSW) I'll put them on for you smile

barina · Guru

oldbobsbus wrote:
If ya want to come for a drive to Heaven.. (Grafton NSW) I'll put them on for you

Now that could be a offer too good to refuse, I like Grafton and will be heading up that way next year. Thanks for the offer smile smile smile

Wirroff · Senior Member

And I can assure you, Bob will not only do a fantastic job, he'll also make you feel very welcome (as he did with ourselves!).

Happywanderer · The Master

Any of the caravan sales places will do it for you Judy. They all have workshops. . Mind you they will charge an arm and a leg.

barina · Guru

Thanks all. Still a work in progress, it is not a priority at the moment....

Herb · Veteran Member

Hi new this this but from our experience BEWARE of who you get to install. We found some places happy to do it but were going to use cables to small and mountings were dodgy disbelief . It is important that the correct cable size is used or you could end up with big problems. We had one installed and the first heavy rain we got we had leaks where they entered the body.

I would recommend going to a caravan repair specialist like the one in Croydon. They store vans and repair any campers.

beiffe · Guru

Don't get any holes in the body.

I suggest you get aluminum angles ( I used 75 x 25) glued with Sikaflex of good quality. I use 11fc.

Affix the aluminum angles to the sides of the panels with suitable fixings on the 75mm side to allow a gap between the panels and the roof and then glue the angles to the roof after getting a mark to enable you to centre the panels. If possible prepare the roof where the angles will fit by scuffing and perhaps use a primer.

I sit the angles on a small piece of 3 ply at each end or if a big a string at intervals. This allows a good build, as Sikaflex needs a build so don't just use enough to cover as it needs at least 3 mm
or more for a good bond.

If the panels are fixed (mine with rivet nuts or at least use nuts and bolts if you can't get them) at each end to the angles then the panels can be easily lifted for cleaning underneath or for repairs if needed. My panels are large and can be lifted and I can slide underneath if needed. Leave one end attached and lift the other LOL.
get the larges cables you can get to run from the panels to the regulator and if necessary and installing more than one panel consider a separate cable for each panel and then join just before the regulator. This gives you the option for checking panel performance as you can isolate each panel and check what is coming in.

This is a rivet nut for those who are wondering http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BLIND-RIVET-NUTS-M8-STEEL-15-PC-RIVNUTS-RIV-NUT-NUTSERT-NUTSERTS-INSERTS-/120879282111?pt=AU_Fasteners&hash=item1c24f777bf. It is best if you can get a tool to compress but have seen it done with a bolt and nut. You screw the bolt into the rivet nut and then tighten the nut down to the rivet and it compresses the rear up to the angle but the special tool is better and quicker. A very handy tool for anyone doing a build as it is worth the money to have. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/564-PC-BLIND-RIVET-NUT-RIV-NUT-NUTSERT-INSERT-NUT-SERT-TOOL-KIT-M3-TO-M10-/170999560240?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27d05e3830.

Solar Panel Pivot Joint 0379.jpg solar panels lifted for painting 2.jpg