MK111 Rear Hatch Solar Panels 300W

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Boobook, Can you recommend a source for a 30 to 40A Solar Panel Regulator for us poor folk.
Plan is to replace the one in my Tvan.  Then run an extra external socket, for connecting other panels, into the Tvan system.
I've got some fancy yellow Anderson plug/socket thingy's that won't fit into the Grey ones.
I was planning on using them.

[davidjw14]

Interesting.  In Cooktown last year when the ambient temperature was 38 the panel temp on my roof mounted panel was 46 and and the roof temp was 43.  Can't explain the differences you are experiencing except possibly the angle to the sun.  The single panel looks to be facing directly into the sun while the Tvan panels are at a much lower angle and may be reflecting more light/ heat.  Would be very interested to know if they were at the same angle to the sun what the differences were.


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[weonatvan]

40 per strut and 22 for delivery and 8 p&h .

Delivery isn't cheap imo

Hmmmmm......... Interesting. You respond to me here but you never came back to my PM or SMS to your mobile.

Ah, such is life. [emoji85][emoji86][emoji87]


"You don't know what you don't know"

Cheers dave

[Patrol Dude]

Interesting.  In Cooktown last year when the ambient temperature was 38 the panel temp on my roof mounted panel was 46 and and the roof temp was 43.  Can't explain the differences you are experiencing except possibly the angle to the sun.  The single panel looks to be facing directly into the sun while the Tvan panels are at a much lower angle and may be reflecting more light/ heat.  Would be very interested to know if they were at the same angle to the sun what the differences were.


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Hey mate, we tried to face them on a similar angle to the sun - would not have been a lot of difference. Can't really explain the difference in heat readings [emoji848]

Over all extremely happy with the performance of the new panels - they really did work a treat. Batteries where at full capacity ever afternoon - although we did have excellent weather [emoji106] Travelled just under 2000km - in the last week - panels are excellent with no sign of wear or anything from the rear deck[emoji106] Rubber mounts seem to be perfect for the rear deck - no movement.


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[Patrol Dude]

Spoke to my dad tonight about the difference in heat between the two solar panels - he explained that the air around the single panel was the only conductor that was drawing the heat of the panel away from the surface of the panel hence making very little difference in the temperature of the panel it's self. He further explained that the polycarbonate with the 8mm gap and the cooler fibreglass beneath the polycarbonate was drawing the heat out of the solar panels and the heat was dispersing out through the polycarbonate sheets and the big air gaps in the design of the rear hatch  - hence why the panels on the hatch where cooler!!! Makes sense. Cheers


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[monktm]

Hmmmmm......... Interesting. You respond to me here but you never came back to my PM or SMS to your mobile.

Ah, such is life. [emoji85][emoji86][emoji87]


"You don't know what you don't know"

Cheers dave

Such is life . Time to move on [emoji1362]

[Patrol Dude]

. (Beer then set up or setup then Beer.)


I have about 500W, and while people sometimes laugh at me, it means I have choices to collect energy without taking the system to it's limit and compromising things
- Parking in the sun
- Moving panels all the time
- expecting the maximum out of every watt capacity.
[/quote]

Hi BooBook, just to clarify its always - Beer then set up [emoji6][emoji41]

Secondly, I totally agree with your to much is never enough strategy if you have the inclination [emoji106]

I have a few people have a go at me for the 175watts of solar on the roof of my patrol - but my 3 x 75amp/h Optimas are always in excellent condition. The two paired as a 150amp/h unit are connected to the Ctek D250S gear and are always around the 13.3v each day, and the starter batt is always around the 12.7v mark. Added bonus is the 80L Engle keeps the BEER real cold when camping, regardless of how long we are away for [emoji482][emoji482][emoji482]





Just as a side tip, if any body else is thinking of placing a panel on top of a storage box like me, place a piece of 3mm polycarbonate sheet across the top of the panel to stop tree branches damaging the panel [emoji106]
Cheers




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[boobook]

Boobook, Can you recommend a source for a 30 to 40A Solar Panel Regulator for us poor folk.
Plan is to replace the one in my Tvan.  Then run an extra external socket, for connecting other panels, into the Tvan system.
I've got some fancy yellow Anderson plug/socket thingy's that won't fit into the Grey ones.
I was planning on using them.

Sorry for not replying earlier Robert, I have been doing some consulting work which has been hectic.

It will have changed since I last looked at it a few years ago, but you need to know that there are true MPPT ones and a lot sold in caravan shops and online which are not. Forget the MPPT ones on ebay for under $100

I like the Epsolar MPPT ones because they have a neat display and are true MPPT, I got mine from the manufacturer but there are tons on ebay now. Mine is only 20A. I put it where the charger was on the rear panel ( in my Mk3 anyway). i would get 30A now, or 40A if I found space. Redarc used to rebadge Epsolar as a Redarc one, they have a product now so that probably isn't the case now, but it is a vote of confidence.

The Redarc DC to DC might be the best option. It is 40A, compact and can also act as a DC to DC charger.  Unlike the Epsolar it doesn't have a remote display. I like the display because I have 115w of rooftop panels ( apart from the hatch ones) and I can see that all is ok when I pull up for a pee stop etc.

Dunno how much that helps.

[Patrol Dude]

Heading over to Fraser Island for 19 sleeps over Xmas, will let you guys know how the panels perform once I get back [emoji851]


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[Patrol Dude]

Been on Fraser Island for around 10 sleeps now. Absolutely stoked with the solar panels. Battery banks are fully charged by lunch each day, and by 2ish if the day is real cloudy [emoji106].
Made up a shade cover to go over the Tvan and side of the annex and shower to stop the morning sun heating up the inside, works real well. Tvan cover is a Oztrail Ultramesh Outdoor Shield.
You can use it as a floor mat, or as a shade cover. Because it's porous it does not flap like a tarp.

I bought two, the big one over the Tvan is 360 x 360cm. If you look at the pic, you will see a spreader bar between the two poles to help hold it up and keep it taunt.
The smaller one is 244 x 366cm. I'm placing this one over the shower room and the sides of the annex.

Just happened to have some S/Steel fish plates and eye bolt to affix to the cover to the hatch with a S/Steel shackle.










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Patrol Dude
4.2TD

[tudor]

Been on Fraser Island for around 10 sleeps now. Absolutely stoked with the solar panels. Battery banks are fully charged by lunch each day, and by 2ish if the day is real cloudy [emoji106].
Made up a shade cover to go over the Tvan and side of the annex and shower to stop the morning sun heating up the inside, works real well. Tvan cover is a Oztrail Ultramesh Outdoor Shield.
You can use it as a floor mat, or as a shade cover. Because it's porous it does not flap like a tarp.

I bought two, the big one over the Tvan is 360 x 360cm. If you look at the pic, you will see a spreader bar between the two poles to help hold it up and keep it taunt.
The smaller one is 244 x 366cm. I'm placing this one over the shower room and the sides of the annex.

Just happened to have some S/Steel fish plates and eye bolt to affix to the cover to the hatch with a S/Steel shackle.










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Patrol Dude
4.2TD

Great set up mate , we just got back from Fraser too
Loved it ! Wished we stayed at the top on the beach next time !
Our solar same as your set up worked great too


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[Patrol Dude]

Hey mate, to bad I missed you.
We are still on Fraser till the end of this week [emoji41]

Had a real rainy heavy cloud day on Saturday - solar only charged back up to 174Amp/H. Sunday was also fairly cloudy and was a stay at camp day watching movies and just chilling [emoji6]
Bride stayed in the Tvan pretty much all day and just rested. Batteries where down to 134Amp/H this morning the lowest for the whole trip. We are out and about today so I'll check them when we get back to camp this arvo. It was raining when we left camp, but I know that would have changed in a few minutes.
Cheers


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Patrol Dude
4.2TD

[Patrol Dude]

Ok back to 174Amp/H yesterday arvo, and back down to 134Amp/H this morning. Nice sunny day today, first in a while.  Will how charged it is this arvo [emoji41]
Any way a Beer beckons [emoji6]


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Patrol Dude
4.2TD

[Patrol Dude]

First sunny day back to fully charged [emoji106]


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Patrol Dude
4.2TD