Setting up Solar

dlncooke · Member

Setting up Solar

Olley46 · Guru

dlncooke wrote:
Hi, I'm looking @ setting up a solar system in our van.
We have a 2006 Jayco Destiny.
Looking to see where people mount their battery/s.
I was thing in the front compartment but my concern was adding a lot of extra weight to the towball weight.
We have room under the beds and in the cupboards (on the floor) Good idea or not.
I'm trying to find a good safe place for it.
The battery is a 130ah AGM

Thanks for any advice.
Cheers
Dave

Hi Dave

I have just shifted my battery due to to much ball weight,mine was under the club lounge seat I shifted it to under the bed with the battery charger as well,I run 6BS Cable from original position to under the bed and works just as well, plus it is 30KG lighter in the ball weight, mine is a 130ah AGM as well , just make shore under the bed has breathing space between the bed frame and the bed base so the battery can breath,hope this helps, solar panel I can't help with mine is a portable one.

Lance C

-- Edited by Olley46 on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 08:24:43 PM

vanman · Senior Member

Ditto as Lance says regarding the battery.

Re the solar panel you can either go for a portable version or fixed.

I have 500w of panels on my van roof all secured with Sikaflex 11c and no screws or rivets.

Whatever way you go remember that you can never have too much solar.

Regards Chris

-- Edited by vanman on Monday 23rd of February 2015 09:09:19 PM

tempestv8 · Veteran Member

My van has a large solar panel on the roof, but the installers secured it to the rooftop with Sikaflex all around the frame, leaving no air gap.

This is not ideal because the solar panel loses efficiency when it gets hot, and therefore the air gap is important to help cool it down. I will have to cut the panel off, find some mounting feet to relocate the panel proud of the roof so that there is some ventilation on the underside of the panel.

The batteries are mounted inside battery boxes secured to the storage area underneath the bed. The batteries are 95 AH ACDelco AGM Marine batteries.

-- Edited by tempestv8 on Thursday 26th of February 2015 09:29:37 PM

JustJim · Senior Member

Dave..
I'd suggest finding a spot, low down, as close to the centre of the van, over the caravan's axle if possible to mount battery, or batteries.

We are lucky in our van as there's a seat box over the guard arch and opposite the kitchen, so it balances out nicely - without adversely front or rear loading - and side to side loading as well.

Use fully sealed batteries of course and make sure they are well secured.

Tempestv8

Don't you hate it when someone installs something wrong and it has an ongoing detrimental effect.
And they charge you for the privilege of doing it wrong.

You should be able to have them fix it at no cost, but if you're like me, if you find you're dealing with improper workmanship you'd rather not have any more to do with them.

These mounting blocks may be what you're looking for. You can glue and screw panels onto the roof adequately with good ventilation.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-Solar-Panel-Mounting-Bracket-Kit-with-Double-Cable-Block-for-Caravan-RV-Boat/261536966870?_trksid=p2141725.c100338.m3726&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20141212152715%26meid%3D6ca72c2820e148c7a13796b06c18a506%26pid%3D100338%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D30%26sd%3D171390294197

Also available are straight blocks for side support on longer panels.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Solar-panel-short-side-mounting-brackets-mounts-for-motorhome-caravan-boat-/261526082998?pt=AU_Solar&hash=item3ce42b55b6

Jim

-- Edited by JustJim on Saturday 28th of February 2015 12:45:56 PM