Hi, We've got a 94 Puck and I'd like to fit a solar panel, but don't want to mess about with the pristine condition that she is in. Any advice, especially around where to mount a solar panel - the roof seems sensible but then how do you get round the pop going up and down. Also, fixed panel on roof or not ? Sorry, lots of questions !

I wonder if fitting a panel to the roof will maintain the pristine condition.

A couple of recent threads you may find usefull:

Using Solar Panel to recharge the leisure battery

Solar Panels

Just go for a portable folding panel. They are far more efficient than a roof mounted panel as they can be angled directly to the elevation of the sun.

I have a 60W folding panel that is more than sufficient to power my Triton lights, pump, usb chargers for phones and tablets, 230Vac invertor for the TV and still enough umph left in the leisure battery to use the motor mover to hook up to my car at the end of 7 days.

A 60W folding panel is also much cheaper than the equivalent 120W roof mounted panel, lighter as well.

I'd respectfully suggest it ts necessary to work out what power one plans to use before deciding on what size panel(s) to fit.

Assuming your 60W panel is pertectly perpendicular to the sun then it wll generate no more than 4A, probbaly nearer 3.5A in reality

That is if the sun is at shining at maximum radiance - ie directly overhead (minimum atmosphere to travel through), no haze, no cloud cover etc.

Furthermore, the suns radiation power (or more technically called the solar flux density) varies due to

a) time of year
b) latitude
c) time of day
d) angle of light incidemce on solar panel

So, whilst the panel theoretically may produce 4A this will be a peak figure when all conditions are perfect.

In reality, the panel output will vary from 0A to max 4A.

For this reason I would choose an average output figure of say 2A. I would also choose an average of say 8hours of useful sunlight per day This means the panel would produce 8hrs x 2A =16Ah worth of power per day

On average, if your power consumption per day is less than 16Ah then your battery will stay charged: if its more than 16Ah then your battery will eventually go flat.

On the other hand, any solar panel will extend battery power availability by some amount: that amount depends the two variables you have easy control over vis-a-vis panel size and what power yoiu actually use

Hope that helps

Rgds

I have no idea how many amps my 60W panel produces but your technical information is very interesting.

What I can say is that in over 5 years of ownership it has been sufficient to put enough in to my initially fully charged 100Ah battery to power my van with all its accessories like pump, lighting, usb charging, tv etc for 7 days and still have enough left in the battery to power the motor mover at the end of the stay.
My routine is to set the panel to face the midday sun before I go out for the day. Generally get back mid afternoon and reset the panel to get the last of the sun before the evening. Last thing before bed is to reset the panel to face the rising sun for next morning.

I must also add that I am not particularly lucky with full sunny days, quite often the whole week has been overcast and even raining such is the joy of camping in the UK

Seems like your panel is a perfect size to match your usage:)

i have been watching ( in German ) a you tube channel called 'just touring' . Its a couple and their Puck L . Havent a clue what they are saying but in one 'episode' they talk all about electrics and have a folding solar panel as they went off grid winter camping to Sweden . I know it was winter camping as it was called 'vinter kamping' . Maybe worth a look, he seemed to have rigged up an extra 9 (?) volt battery for other things like chargring phones and laptops from. Its dark in sweded in the winter so they must have needed a lot of extra poweer for lights - i assume heating and cooking were all on their gas supply

IMG_20211104_144301.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

First post, I would like to say hello and share this link of a 150watt Solar panel I've fitted to the roof of our 92 Puck.

So long as the link works as intended, you'll see that I've fitted two rails to the roof then fitted the solar panel to these, this way there is no invasive work to the roof.

I will take more pictures if this helps any member thinking of the same, and more on the parts and wiring.

Phillip.

Edit. Looks like the link I tried to share didn't work as intended, I'll try to work out how to post pictures in the thread.

Hi Philip,

you say no invasive work to the roof, but your rails appear to be screwed into the roof, or am I mistaken?

Dave

Pepe, spot on I removed the M6 bolts that secure the pop-up to the scissor plate, to be honest these were in need of a little TLC as the white plastic washers were all but gone. It was only the bolts holding onto the last remnants, these were then replaced with flanged dome head stainless Steel bolts with Allen key socket, and nyloc nuts for a secure fit once I'd lined up the new plastic spacer washers.

I was then able to drill and use the same method to bolt the panel to the roof rails. Planing ahead I'll be able now to fit the 320watt panel I have my eye on for that little extra wattage for off grid.

I'll post a little more info regarding cable routing and pictures as I go along , I really don't like drilling holes in the bodywork so this will be done on a workaround as I'm a disabled 69 year old and ease of operation is a must.

Phillip,

Thanks for the interest in my project.

I also follow the just touring channel as I have the same van. There is an option for auto captions in English on You Tube if you want to follow what they’re saying.

Hi Phillip

Do you have any issues with raising or lowering the roof with the extra 13Kg or so of the panel?

Hi JohnE.

No, I find the spring front and rear are strong enough to manage the weight, maybe the 320watt I'm thinking of could be an issue, I've thought about that, if it is an issue, I would use the vent as access to the scissor lift and place a bolt and butterfly nut in the track..

Our roof does take some effort to pull the roof down, maybe not had to much use.

Good question though, thanks.