Solar panel fitter near West Yorks

lotusanne

Guest
Does anyone know where I can get a Solar panel fitted in or around West Yorks? I have just bought one on ebay for £89, it arrived today and I googled for someone to fit it, and rang them - and they quoted £195 !! Don't know if thats the norm but sounds a bit steep to me, has anyone else paid to have one fitted? :wave:
 
lotusanne said:
Does anyone know where I can get a Solar panel fitted in or around West Yorks? I have just bought one on ebay for £89, it arrived today and I googled for someone to fit it, and rang them - and they quoted £195 !! Don't know if thats the norm but sounds a bit steep to me, has anyone else paid to have one fitted? :wave:
Click to expand...

Just get yourself a regulator,some cable and connectors and a tube of sika flex and bring it to doodles meet im sure one of us can put it up for you they are easy to install..!!
What have you got with your panel ie brackets cables etc????
If your drilling through your roof for the cables you will need a cable entry gland i got mine off ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roof-Cabl...20955563874?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item3371fa5762
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Pan...660783?pt=UK_Gadgets&var=&hash=item1c31fba96f
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MC4-conne...060269?pt=UK_Gadgets&var=&hash=item257d6c9ded

heres a few examples off ebay if you need them
 
Last edited:
Think again?

In view of recent comments elsewhere (MHF I think) about insurance companies needing to be informed about 'alterations' to vehicles, I'm told they also expect such modifications to be done by proper tradesmen/companies. Modifications done 'privately' can invalidate your cover.

Imagine the first question asked if a solar panel parted company with your van! "Who fitted this" would be the question asked by the boys (& girls) in blue and by the insurer! Now imagine their response to the answer "some blokes I met at a Motorhome meet".

Result? Probably a court appearance & a refusal to pay out!
 
Thanks Daisy-mini, this is what it comes with. not sure if that includes the cable entry gland (why does that name make me s******??!!)... could you see what you think?
Thankyou xx


Renytek Solar have these high quality Solar Panel Kits

manufactured with BOSCH Solar Cells for quality of output:



The Solar Kit includes:



50w 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel with Bosch Solar Cells


5 Metres of Two Core Tin Coated Cable

10 Amp 12V EP Solar Charge Controller

Controller to Battery Cable With an Inline Fuse & Battery Clips



Ideal for keeping all types of 12v batteries charged on boats, in caravans, motorhomes & campervans



Solar Panel Details







Highly transparent & anti-reflective coating

Mounting slots each side of frame

Anodized aluminium frame for corrosion resistance

Fitted with a waterproof junction box

High module conversion efficiency through superior manufacturing technology

Excellent performance under low light conditions




Electrical Specification



Maximum power watts: 50W

Maximum power current: 2.86A

Maximum power voltage: 17.50V

Open circuit voltage: 21.00V

Short circuit current: 3.09A

Maximum system voltage: DC600V


Mechanical Specification



Weight 6kg

Dimensions: 980 x 445 x 30mm



Solar Panel Warranty



Power decline within 10% in 10 years & 20% within 25 years

Workmanship 5 years


EP Solar EPHC 10 Amp 12v Solar Charge Controller

Features

Over load protection

Microcontroller digital accuracy

Internal temperature compensation

State of charge (SOC) showing battery condition
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Charge mode for an optimum charge




Benefits of using a controller


Monitors a batteries State of Charge

Avoids overcharging & over discharging

Prevents reverse current back to a Solar panel causing a battery to discharge

Controller includes a 12v outlet for connecting appliances, for example 12v lights.






Solar Controller Protection

Short circuit
Reverse current
Reverse polarity
Lightning protection
Overcharge protection
Over discharge protection

Specification

Equalization voltage: 14.8V
Boost voltage :14.4V
Low voltage disconnect: 11.1V
Low voltage Reconnect: 12.6 V
Self-consumption: 6mA maximum
Terminals: for wire sizes to 2.5mm2
Type of Charging: series PWM
Temperature: -35°C to +55°C

Dimensions: 140×90×26mm
Weight: 0.25KG

Contact details
 
Thanks NoThatsNotMe, hadnt thought about insurance side of things, wouldn't even have considered it as a van mod if they had asked me!! :)
 
lotusanne said:
Thanks Daisy-mini, this is what it comes with. not sure if that includes the cable entry gland (why does that name make me s******??!!)... could you see what you think?
Thankyou xx


Renytek Solar have these high quality Solar Panel Kits

manufactured with BOSCH Solar Cells for quality of output:



The Solar Kit includes:



50w 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel with Bosch Solar Cells


5 Metres of Two Core Tin Coated Cable

10 Amp 12V EP Solar Charge Controller

Controller to Battery Cable With an Inline Fuse & Battery Clips



Ideal for keeping all types of 12v batteries charged on boats, in caravans, motorhomes & campervans



Solar Panel Details







Highly transparent & anti-reflective coating

Mounting slots each side of frame

Anodized aluminium frame for corrosion resistance

Fitted with a waterproof junction box

High module conversion efficiency through superior manufacturing technology

Excellent performance under low light conditions




Electrical Specification



Maximum power watts: 50W

Maximum power current: 2.86A

Maximum power voltage: 17.50V

Open circuit voltage: 21.00V

Short circuit current: 3.09A

Maximum system voltage: DC600V


Mechanical Specification



Weight 6kg

Dimensions: 980 x 445 x 30mm



Solar Panel Warranty



Power decline within 10% in 10 years & 20% within 25 years

Workmanship 5 years


EP Solar EPHC 10 Amp 12v Solar Charge Controller

Features

Over load protection

Microcontroller digital accuracy

Internal temperature compensation

State of charge (SOC) showing battery condition
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Charge mode for an optimum charge




Benefits of using a controller


Monitors a batteries State of Charge

Avoids overcharging & over discharging

Prevents reverse current back to a Solar panel causing a battery to discharge

Controller includes a 12v outlet for connecting appliances, for example 12v lights.






Solar Controller Protection

Short circuit
Reverse current
Reverse polarity
Lightning protection
Overcharge protection
Over discharge protection

Specification

Equalization voltage: 14.8V
Boost voltage :14.4V
Low voltage disconnect: 11.1V
Low voltage Reconnect: 12.6 V
Self-consumption: 6mA maximum
Terminals: for wire sizes to 2.5mm2
Type of Charging: series PWM
Temperature: -35°C to +55°C

Dimensions: 140×90×26mm
Weight: 0.25KG

Contact details
Click to expand...

Sounds like the only things you might need are some brackets, sikaflex and an entry gland unless you have a spare grommet hole on the roof...!!
Are you going to have enough cable x2 to go from your panel on the roof to your leisure battery? Coz if youve only 5m of cable thats only about 7ft per cable
likewise with your van battery to regulator cable?
 
Adding a solar panel does not impact on "Construction and Use" regulations with regard to vehicle mods which generally relate to safety and performance items such as chassis, brakes, suspension, engine etc. A solar panel is equivalent to go faster stripes or a roof rack. Permission would not normally be required by most insurance companies for such items. However, by all means inform the insurance company, and state you will be fitting it yourself, and see what the situation is.
 
Firefox said:
Adding a solar panel does not impact on "Construction and Use" regulations with regard to vehicle mods which generally relate to safety and performance items such as chassis, brakes, suspension, engine etc. A solar panel is equivalent to go faster stripes or a roof rack. Permission would not normally be required by most insurance companies for such items. However, by all means inform the insurance company, and state you will be fitting it yourself, and see what the situation is.
Click to expand...

I have just checked with my insurance company they state anything added to the van from standard as delivered needs reporting they quote bike racks, towbars and solar panels must be reported as these can fall off and cause accidents to other road users failure to do so may invalidate cover, its a good job I withheld my phone number and name.

Alf
 
Depends I guess on the company. Mine is insured as a self-build, and I have stated that I have fitted myself windows, solar panels, rooflights etc all as part of the self build. All that is covered as part of the self build insurance; therefore separate permission is not required for each item. It's also a self build (by definition) so they are not required to be fitted by some "reputable" company eg One that can't do it for two months and charges well over twice the cost of the panel ;)
 
ITs amazing that they are booked up until June at that price!!! :wacko:
 
Worth a try... but I wouldn't hold out too much hope :(

They quote £445 for a 60W panel with regulator fitted for example. Assuming you can get the parts for £150 (probably less), even allowing for mark ups on parts, they are charging £200-£300 for fitting.
 
Correct Firefox! Rob - these were the very ones i rang!! That quoted £195 and cant do it until June!!:mad1:
 
Anne plenty of competent people about on the forum,just because people advertise as fitters etc doesnt mean all of them are up to the job
 
It's really easy to do yourself.

I went belt and braces and bolted and sikaflex-ed them.

I certainly wouldn't pay more than a couple of quid for the panel fitting (i'm very tight fisted though);).

As Firefox has said, if it's a self build policy they don't generally bat an eyelid. I quizzed my last couple on their definition of 'vehicle modification' and the answers back were similar - things that affect the performance/operation/reliability of the base vehicle. Now arguably fixing half a ton of fixture/fittings could be seen as affecting performance, but not here.

In terms of risk/liability - I'd suggest it's a case of being sensible. If you have absolutely no idea of how adhesive works / or how to operate a drill and install bolts (i'm not being sarcastic here by the way), then get someone else to do it. But i'd say that bolting/adhering a panel to the roof would be classed as something falling well short or requiring trained specialists/expertise.
 
The problem in my mind is that it's only a 50 watt panel. The fitting cost in time/labour will be no more or less for a larger more effective panel.
Was the choice based on price or what will fit?
 
rebbyvid said:
Anne plenty of competent people about on the forum,just because people advertise as fitters etc doesnt mean all of them are up to the job
Click to expand...

Hi Rob, I know loads of competent people on here, and agree that you don't always get what you pay for - eg my leisure battery is going back to autoelectrician next week for third time next week- still not charging up! I didnt think it would be so much, maybe 50 quid tops, but need to get it on soon as going away week after next for a fortnight
 
Techno100 said:
The problem in my mind is that it's only a 50 watt panel. The fitting cost in time/labour will be no more or less for a larger more effective panel.
Was the choice based on price or what will fit?
Click to expand...

Hi Techno 100., yes correct, was very limited as already got boiler flue and roof light on only flattish part of roof at back, front slopes in 2 directions, and is also higher, so needed to put it on back as dont want to make van any higher and the two slopes would be difficult to fit around. Hoping 50 watts will be enough to keep battery charged as currently not charging and keep ending up with no electrics, so no light and also cant pump water or use heater so its a right pain!. Its an old 1989 SWB transit, with an AutoHomes conversion, and I am in West Yorks, near Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, but would be happy to take it anywher not too far if it wasn't such an oulandish price :)
 
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