Solar Panel Savvy

With global warming being topical at the moment, and wanting to do the “right thing” for the environment we are looking at alternate energy and what better source than from the sun. I’ve quoted a few posts from the MSN Caravanners forum so that I can reflect on them when we eventally consider solar power for our caravan.

These posts were written by Brian from Cabooluture Caravan Repairs in Queensland.

Hi.

The on-going solar panel question!!  So many answers with so little substance from so many ‘experts’!!

Before you do anything at all you must work out what your average daily use will be.  Don’t forget to count the things you don’t see such as range hood fans, pumps, inverters, and other toys that run off the house batteries. Work out your total amps used per day.

The safest formula to use when working out possible power availability from the sun for a lay flat array is to divide the total watts of the array by 19 and multiply the result by 5.2.  This will give a reasonably accurate indication of the expected amperage produced over each 24 hour period from the solar array.  This may not be kosher as far as the pundits are concerned but it is more relevent for the Australian condition.

Two 130 watt Kyoceras will give good service and look after two batteries if you are not using more than you can put in from the sun. Make sure you fit a suitable regulator, and it is usually a good idea to put a regulator into the system that will carry at least one additional panel if you need to up-grade later. [saves replacing the regulator with the up-grade.]  Make sure you choose quality panels and stay clear of cheap and second grade panels, plenty of them out there and they are not discounted according to their quality. Kyocera is top of the  quality pile at the moment.

It is very good advice not to screw any panels to the roof of your van.  Make up the support frames and attach the panels.  Fit the assembled rig to the roof and use Seal and Flex polyurethane to attach the feet of the mount rails to the roof.  Leave for two or three days before you move the van or dissasemble the panels for completion.

Why?  Because glass and aluminium expand at a different rate and the fixings will eventually become loose.  Fix the panel to the roof with screws or rivets at each end of the panel and you will have a free leak in the van within a fairly short period of time. If you don’t trust the polyurethane it is O.K to put one stainless screw or a peel rivet at the forward end of the frames for security but leave it at that.  We love installers who rigidly fix the panels, leak repairs are profitable and very necessary. 

If you decide to make portable panels please make sure you fit a closed eye bolt firmly to the frame and chain the array to something solid.  They are a very negotiable commodity and a little too portable. 

If you are anywhere near us you are welcome to call in and I will assist to work out your real power needs.

Best regards

BarryD

Barry followed this up with the following post

Roof mounted panel systems are as portable as you want them to be.  When the van is sold you will leave the mounting brackets and the wiring in place and remove the hardware.  We often see vans come in for service or repair with the legacy of a removed system still in place, it is not really of any concern to anyone.  It leaves the option open for a buyer to fit panels again later should they wish to.

My question is why the hell you would trade a van in and depreciate the value you will get for it in real terms.  It may be more sensible to leave a solar installation on a van, sell the van yourself and charge the value of the system into the sale.  That gives you the option of buying new, more developed panels and regulatior for your new van for which you will be able to negotiate the price, being a cash buyer.  These technical things change generationally and are soon out of date, so it makes good sense to start afresh with a new van.

Regards

BarryD