My portable 60W panel is also secured to the A frame with a 2m length of chain. That generally gives me enough flexibility to position the panel for maximum effect.

"could be easily dis-connected and removed by someone of ill repute? "

One of the reasons I was thinking of fitting the panels via a hinge at roof top level - see my other recent post on solar panels.

Not impossible to remove but a little more difficult

Additionally, when fitted at roof level they are out of the way and dont need aligning

One more cable for the camp ride-on-mower-operator to avoid

But, for me, if/when I go the solar panel route - this gets my vote. I would prefer not to fit panels to the roof.

Dave

Thanks for your opionion: I havent decided mine yet

Have been advised the van is pre-wired with 13 core cable - hurrah!

That means I can indeed use the spare pin 12 as a feed into the van from the solar panels

Have now got solar panels: will experiment on mounting them on a temorary basis to the roof using suction cups to see how convenient it is

I just bought a 2012 Familia 320 last week and on looking at the power unit CSV 409 I've notice that there's three wires connected to number four which the service manual states is the solar charge regulator panel. Now the chap I bought it from (second owner) said he knew nothing about solar using hook up all the time, and I've messaged him asking about it, but doubt that he can enlighten me. So I'm wondering where's the solar regulator, which could have been attached to the solar panel outside the van and was the connection made via the vans 13 pin connection. I think the only way to check would be to to disassemble the pin unit and see what's connected to 13 and 9. I was also thinking is there any need for a power regulator if the panel is being connected directly to the power unit which I would have thought would regulate the charge. Any ideas on this set up would be much appreciated.

I was going to post a photo but being a new member I don't think I've got clearance for that yet.

I wonder when they brought in the term "solar charge" in the service manual? I am very keen to run solar charging when I'm camping in a field, or, more importantly, when I have the van in storage. i have a tracker fitted to my new (to me) 2005 Triton and I worry that it will flatten the battery between uses. If I were more technically minded (less lazy) I would calculate the power drain and work it out for myself...

Also, how much solar wattage do you need to run water pumps/battery charging/phone charging/tracker whilst in a field? What else electrical will need to operate then?

By the way, the DB2 tracker I bought seems to work perfectly, though struggling to set all the available options up.

Simon

Pumps and LED lights use very little power, so a battery will last a fair time if that's all that' used. TV's will use a fair bit, if you use one. A radio can be a stand alone chargeable one that will last a while between charges. Anything that makes or produces heat generally needs 240V, think toaster, microwave, hairdryer, boiler, space heater, fridge. Though some of those, especially the latter two have gas alternatives fitted as standard.