Hank the Tanks Dodgy battery and solar system

Who was it that bought a new van, sold his old one in 24 hours, got Gaslow and a top of the range scooter rack fitted and all kitted out in the space of about two weeks and then buggered off for four months to test it? As I said at the start the only thing I was concerned about that I hadn't fettled was the battery and solar system.

Anyway looking at a closer inspection of my roof today I'm not sure Off grid solutions could fit 2 x 140w Victron panels on the spare space up there. I think there is room for one or two thin but long panels either side of the rear skylight but for a big van space is limited. I still think that panel is much bigger than the old one.

roof.jpg
 
barryd said:
Who was it that bought a new van, sold his old one in 24 hours, got Gaslow and a top of the range scooter rack fitted and all kitted out in the space of about two weeks and then buggered off for four months to test it? As I said at the start the only thing I was concerned about that I hadn't fettled was the battery and solar system.

Anyway looking at a closer inspection of my roof today I'm not sure Off grid solutions could fit 2 x 140w Victron panels on the spare space up there. I think there is room for one or two thin but long panels either side of the rear skylight but for a big van space is limited. I still think that panel is much bigger than the old one.

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You might have to be careful where you put them though Barry, shadows from your other fittings on top might come into play.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Replace the one you have with a 250=300w new one.
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What beggars belief is why they never filled that one big space with a larger panel in the first place! Its not like they are expensive. I gather though that removing them is way too tricky to bother with and that roof cable entry gland is now in the way of putting anything bigger in.
 
barryd said:
What beggars belief is why they never filled that one big space with a larger panel in the first place! Its not like they are expensive. I gather though that removing them is way too tricky to bother with and that roof cable entry gland is now in the way of putting anything bigger in.
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My flexible panel was a mare to remove Barry, but that one shouldn't be too much trouble.

You can always move the roof gland, I presume the cables go into an overhead locker? If that is the case you can always move the gland further along, feed the cables through and connect to the old cables inside the locker.
 
Robmac said:
My flexible panel was a mare to remove Barry, but that one shouldn't be too much trouble.

You can always move the roof gland, I presume the cables go into an overhead locker? If that is the case you can always move the gland further along, feed the cables through and connect to the old cables inside the locker.
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That bracket looks well stuck on though and it would presumably need a bigger bracket for a bigger panel. I might be able to squeeze a 120 down the side behind the Satellite dish and TV aerial. The TV aerial is redundant really. Its just in the way. Or maybe a tiny 80 or something on the other side. Dunno. Will have to measure it properly.

If I am sticking another panel on a single 120 would be enough to match the extra 120 battery.
 
barryd said:
That bracket looks well stuck on though and it would presumably need a bigger bracket for a bigger panel. I might be able to squeeze a 120 down the side behind the Satellite dish and TV aerial. The TV aerial is redundant really. Its just in the way. Or maybe a tiny 80 or something on the other side. Dunno. Will have to measure it properly.

If I am sticking another panel on a single 120 would be enough to match the extra 120 battery.
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I tried a makeshift cheese wire to cut through the old sealant but was getting nowhere with it. In the end I used an old (well it's old now! 😁) carving knife laid flat on the roof and that was much easier.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
diysolarforum.com

Cycling Degradation VS Calendar Aging w/ LiFePO4 Batteries Used for Solar Application

Have spent the last night reading everything I can about this topic. I have been saying for a few years that calendar aging will degrade our lifepo4 batteries before degradation caused by cycling ever would. I have also found some issues with how manufacturers do their cycle life testing. Would...
diysolarforum.com diysolarforum.com
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Our lead Acid batteries and the one AGM we had seem to last yonks. I am surprised at that as over the years we have been motorhoming (coming up 17) we have spent a lot of time away in the van. Sometimes up to nine months in a year and most of that off grid. Typically six to seven years they seem to have lasted. When they cost the same as a full tank of diesel for me they are consumables, throw away items, especially as we have only ever had one. Hank had three batteries in sixteen years of ownership and the last one an AGM 120 was still going strong after just a couple of years of use.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
diysolarforum.com

Cycling Degradation VS Calendar Aging w/ LiFePO4 Batteries Used for Solar Application

Have spent the last night reading everything I can about this topic. I have been saying for a few years that calendar aging will degrade our lifepo4 batteries before degradation caused by cycling ever would. I have also found some issues with how manufacturers do their cycle life testing. Would...
diysolarforum.com diysolarforum.com
Click to expand...
Will has said about this in videos before now. I came to the conclusion a few years ago that the only way my Lifepo4 would need replacing was if I wanted more. People with huge chargers may get to see degradation but I think the majority won't keep or use their vans enough to cause problems. This comment is meant in context to ALL vans with Lifepo4, not just this forum.
 
i used a reciprocating saw with a blade i’d sharpened on the grinder quite scary how easily it went through the mastic ! under the brackets
 
rugbyken said:
i used a reciprocating saw with a blade i’d sharpened on the grinder quite scary how easily it went through the mastic ! under the brackets
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they go through the steel on a panel van quickly as well Ken lol
 
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