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Thread: Solar panel roof mounted to D3. My take.

  1. 29th July 2017, 12:27 PM #1
    Tinman
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    Solar panel roof mounted to D3. My take.

    Hi Guys, Though I would show my take on a roof mounted solar panel. The panel I mounted is a 220watt with a max output of 12.53 amps. I purchased the roof crossbar section from Bunnings which is 50 x 30 x2mm cut to fit. Used rhino roof fittings that had to be modified from 6mm to 8mm as I was not happy with that size bolt holding the panel to the roof rails. I used security screws to hold the panel on. 25amp twin core cable was used from the panel to the insde of the vehicle. The cable was pushed through existing rubber grommet and resealed with self sealing rubber tape. The cable was then fed into the side storage section. The PWM charge regulator was then fitted to the outside of the cover with enought cable so that if the jack was to be retrieved it could be placed out of harm's way. I have an 80amp Remco AGM auxiliary mounted in the spare battery box which has 50amp twin core cable running to the rear section where the charge controller is situated. This runs my 40ltr Engel in the car. The Agm battery is charged with the alternator and now the solar panel. The 2 switches that you can see above the charge controller, one cuts the battery supply to the charge controller so that the solar energy can then be deverted to a merit plug that is situated where the trailer plugs are which then feeds to my other MPPT charge controller in my caravan which then gives me extra power if needed. This then gives me a total solar wattage of 560 watts. I run an upright 90 litre upright Engel compressor fridge in the van plus my wifes resmed machine off 2 x 120amp fulriver AGM s . This system works very well for my needs.20170729_110539_resized.jpg20170729_110003_resized.jpg20170729_105352_resized.jpg20170729_105326_resized.jpg20170729_105317_resized.jpg20170729_105114_resized.jpg20170729_110249_resized.jpg20170729_110423_resized.jpg
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  2. 29th July 2017, 12:33 PM #2
    DiscoMick Guest
    Thanks for sharing that. I have an 80 watt on my Defender's roof, charging the starting battery, which is linked by a Traxide DBC to a second AGM battery running a fridge.
    Can I ask why you connected your panel to the second rather than starting battery?
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  3. 29th July 2017, 12:37 PM #3
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    Pedro_The_Swift
    Pedro_The_Swift is offline The MOD Father
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    Very well thought out,,
    any ideas on draw of the resmed machine? I have a pure sinewave inverter to plug it into but no real idea on overnight load,,
    Dont you just love upright Engals
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  4. 29th July 2017, 12:37 PM #4
    Tinman
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    I dont use a Traxide system so the batteries are not linked. So the fridge only runs off the auxiliary battery
    Cheers
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  5. 29th July 2017, 12:40 PM #5
    Tinman
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    The resmed machine draws 2.5 amps
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  6. 29th July 2017, 07:38 PM #6
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    Milton477
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    Excellent job, food for thought. I have been caught short a couple of times where D4 was in the sun & the van in the shade with battery power fading. Where did you source the solar panel?
    + 2016 D4 TDV6
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  7. 29th July 2017, 08:34 PM #7
    Tinman
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    Hi Milton447 Got the panel on Ebay. You have to do your homework as there are plenty of dodgy panels out there. They all state that they give a warranty that says after 25 years the panel will still supply above 80% output current that it is rated for but the output current is never displayed so you never know what the panel is rated for. Also you need to look out for the efficiency of the panel 18% or better is good over 20% is great. Some panels for sale after reading all the hype only have an efficiency of 16%. They are only developing solar panels at the moment that are reaching 33% efficiency. But wont be available for some time yet.
    Cheers
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  8. 30th July 2017, 10:03 AM #8
    greg-g
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    Some of the larger rooftop panels have an open circuit output voltage that's greater than 50 volts. I'm not sure they would be legal in this situation?
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  9. 30th July 2017, 06:42 PM #9
    Tinman
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    Hi Greg most 12volt solar panels have an open circuit voltage of between 16 and 23volts so no problems there. House roof top panel a different story
    Cheers
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  10. 1st August 2017, 04:40 PM #10
    Lukeis
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    How's the wind noise?
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