Campervanners with solar
Discussion
I'm actually putting together a 130W flexi solar setup for our VW California right now. Cheapest I could find online was over 700€ and I have gotten everything together for just less than 400€.
I think there is a lot of scaremongering about flexi panels. Fixed rigid ones are probably more reliable but flexi ones are fine. I went flexi to avoid additional height on our van but if that isn't a concern go fixed rigid, they are generally cheaper.
I think there is a lot of scaremongering about flexi panels. Fixed rigid ones are probably more reliable but flexi ones are fine. I went flexi to avoid additional height on our van but if that isn't a concern go fixed rigid, they are generally cheaper.
Flexi panels overheat and die.
I had replaced the flexi panels on our T5 twice (so that's 3 dead panels, good quality ones) before replacing with a rigid panel.
Flexi panels are more slimline (if you want that look) but in my experience die within 24 months.
On the positive side, it's fairly easy to remove a flexi panel with a cheese-wire, or you can glue a new one on top of the dead one.
I had replaced the flexi panels on our T5 twice (so that's 3 dead panels, good quality ones) before replacing with a rigid panel.
Flexi panels are more slimline (if you want that look) but in my experience die within 24 months.
On the positive side, it's fairly easy to remove a flexi panel with a cheese-wire, or you can glue a new one on top of the dead one.
biggiles said:
Flexi panels overheat and die.
I had replaced the flexi panels on our T5 twice (so that's 3 dead panels, good quality ones) before replacing with a rigid panel.
Flexi panels are more slimline (if you want that look) but in my experience die within 24 months.
On the positive side, it's fairly easy to remove a flexi panel with a cheese-wire, or you can glue a new one on top of the dead one.
Noted, I think the problem is when they are glued directly onto a van with no air flow to allow cooling, solar panels by their very nature get hot. The OP doesn't say their circumstances but my flexi panel is on a frame attached the van roof rails. It is still lower than the top of the roll out awning but there is a gap between the solar panel and the roof that allows air flow.I had replaced the flexi panels on our T5 twice (so that's 3 dead panels, good quality ones) before replacing with a rigid panel.
Flexi panels are more slimline (if you want that look) but in my experience die within 24 months.
On the positive side, it's fairly easy to remove a flexi panel with a cheese-wire, or you can glue a new one on top of the dead one.
RedWhiteMonkey said:
biggiles said:
Flexi panels overheat and die.
I had replaced the flexi panels on our T5 twice (so that's 3 dead panels, good quality ones) before replacing with a rigid panel.
Flexi panels are more slimline (if you want that look) but in my experience die within 24 months.
On the positive side, it's fairly easy to remove a flexi panel with a cheese-wire, or you can glue a new one on top of the dead one.
Noted, I think the problem is when they are glued directly onto a van with no air flow to allow cooling, solar panels by their very nature get hot. The OP doesn't say their circumstances but my flexi panel is on a frame attached the van roof rails. It is still lower than the top of the roll out awning but there is a gap between the solar panel and the roof that allows air flow.I had replaced the flexi panels on our T5 twice (so that's 3 dead panels, good quality ones) before replacing with a rigid panel.
Flexi panels are more slimline (if you want that look) but in my experience die within 24 months.
On the positive side, it's fairly easy to remove a flexi panel with a cheese-wire, or you can glue a new one on top of the dead one.
ruwokeenuff said:
RedWhiteMonkey said:
biggiles said:
Flexi panels overheat and die.
I had replaced the flexi panels on our T5 twice (so that's 3 dead panels, good quality ones) before replacing with a rigid panel.
Flexi panels are more slimline (if you want that look) but in my experience die within 24 months.
On the positive side, it's fairly easy to remove a flexi panel with a cheese-wire, or you can glue a new one on top of the dead one.
Noted, I think the problem is when they are glued directly onto a van with no air flow to allow cooling, solar panels by their very nature get hot. The OP doesn't say their circumstances but my flexi panel is on a frame attached the van roof rails. It is still lower than the top of the roll out awning but there is a gap between the solar panel and the roof that allows air flow.I had replaced the flexi panels on our T5 twice (so that's 3 dead panels, good quality ones) before replacing with a rigid panel.
Flexi panels are more slimline (if you want that look) but in my experience die within 24 months.
On the positive side, it's fairly easy to remove a flexi panel with a cheese-wire, or you can glue a new one on top of the dead one.
Had my flexi panel for 5 years now and it’s still going. There were ridges to to roof which i sikaflexed the panel over which might account for the better airflow and longer life. Mounting a flexi panel with an air gap will still be much lower than a rigid panel if the height is a factor.
I have 360 watts of rigid on my camper which charges a 220ah battery bank. We have a 95 litre fridge freezer which is surprisingly efficient and the only other bigger draws are the glow plug for the diesel heater and the inverter which we rarely use, the lighting is LED so it's overkill really. I did have a flexi panel on a previous van and that failed after 3 years and was far also less efficient than the rigid, I think both the inefficiency and failure were because of the flexi's inability to disperse heat.
Flexis are great if you need their flexibility to fit them to an awkward shape but I'd think twice about using them just for for aesthetics unless you're comfortable with their compromises. I've never considered taking my van under anything which it wouldn't fit unless I lost a few mm from the panels on the roof.
Flexis are great if you need their flexibility to fit them to an awkward shape but I'd think twice about using them just for for aesthetics unless you're comfortable with their compromises. I've never considered taking my van under anything which it wouldn't fit unless I lost a few mm from the panels on the roof.
To echo others I’ve had expensive flex, cheap flex, expensive rigid and cheap rigid on my VW T3. Suffice to say I settled on branded (Renogy) rigid with branded (Victron) controller and branded (Renogy) batteries. Cost more than the previous set ups put together. But has already outlasted them in total and is more efficient and provides more output in poor conditions. And don’t skimp on the quality of wiring, connectors, fuses etc.
All of my flexi panels lasted about a year then overheated. The tracks melt and the connection breaks.
All of my flexi panels lasted about a year then overheated. The tracks melt and the connection breaks.
Red9zero said:
A mate is fitting a rigid solar panel to his T5 this afternoon. Only issue is it looks a bit obvious from the ground, but some roof rails should hide it ok.
It’s blindingly obvious either way generally. And if it was less obvious, it’d be blindingly obvious when he parks it somewhere miles away from any civilisation to sleep in it anyway. Good quality flexi panels last and work efficiently, its the cheap ones that only work for 5 minutes. Proper installation is the key mastic needs to be applied correctly to help stop over heating and don't flex the panel before fitting as that will damage most flexi panels. I've had my NDS one fitted for 4 years now and the performance numbers are still spot on.
As I adapt my Elgrand for camping I don't want to fit a fixed Solar Panel, so I'm considering having one of those fold out 100W panels to partner a Jackery Portable Power Station. My thinking is that it will charge off a 12V power socket in the rear of the Ellie whilst on the move and if I set up the fold out panel when parked it should top up the Jackery when we are camping? Has anyone tried a set up like this? Also can I use a few neodymium magnets to fix it to the body work or might that affect the performance of the solar panel?
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