Solar panels - quantity discount?

berniesbargreece said:
Hiya Guys... I have just paid £395 for a 120w kit (inc postage)... did I pay too much? Can anyone recomend where to get a heavy duty leisure battery from? I think i read Ebay was good. Maybe a second hand one from UPS of any national delivery companies. Any help is appreciated.
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i saw on ebay, good cheap batts, with a FOUR year warrenty. sorry cant remember the name, manchester area iirc
 
I have wired in a switch to turn my solar panels off if needed.

4 reasons

1. I have read that on a hot day some regulators can produce a pulsing which inverter inputs don't like. It hasn't been hot enough for me to see if that is a problem though.

2. Regulators can get quite warm even when sensing but not charging. No sense in having it on getting hot, if I am on a hook up.

3. I can see how effective my panels actually are ie What the difference in performance is with panels on or off.

4. Regulator instructions recommend fitting a switch and a fuse on the panels side.
 
I just fused one side on mine (10A inline). I've two panels max output 5A each and the cables are 20 A capacity.
 
I'm not sure that I see any virtue in putting a fuse or switch in the supply from the solar panel.

Under what circumstances might the fuse blow? I can't think of one.

And the presence of a switch, or indeed a fuse holder, offers the potential to increase the resistance in the supply circuit. This is not a good idea when you want to maximise the charging current.

Clearly you must have a fuse in the circuit to the leisure battery, because a short could occur there with potentially disastrous result ...
 
Have read one or two posts suggesting sticking the ali brackets to the roof with just an adhesive sealant eg Sikaflex. It's not generally considered best practice by some to rely solely on an adhesive.You can't be sure that the surface you're bonding to be it gelcoat, paint etc is in turn adhering well to the substrate.
Mechanical fixing is required in addition.... in the case of an average size panel say one s/s screw per bracket.
 
Provided you fix to firm paint or gelcoat, screws are not needed.
The paint is very, very firm on mine. It takes a lot to bring it off. Vauxhaull did a good job on my paint.... If it was a Fiat I wouldn't be so sure :lol-049:

I tried pulling mine up when the sika was set, it started warping the whole roof upwards. It is held down like sh*t to a blanket!! Additional screws are not to be recommended on a sound substrate they are simply a source of potential leaks.
 
The strength offered by a screw is completely insignificant compared to the strength of the adhesive bond. This assumes instructions have been followed and bonding surfaces have been correctly cleaned with Sika cleaner aktivator 205.

The set screws on my installations are used only to ensure the minimum 2mm thickness of adhesive required and do not penetrate the roof
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Techno100 said:
The strength offered by a screw is completely insignificant compared to the strength of the adhesive bond. This assumes instructions have been followed and bonding surfaces have been correctly cleaned with Sika cleaner aktivator 205.

The set screws on my installations are used only to ensure the minimum 2mm thickness of adhesive required and do not penetrate the roof
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You havn't understood what I'm advising.

When the surface is prepared it is quite possible that this surface, lets say paint on steel isn't itself adhering to the steel substrate ie the body panel.

For instance there was a thread on here just recently concerning complaints about flaking roof paint on Fiat PVCs.

Presumably the reason Firefox made his comments about Fiat vans?

Decent sized s/s screws into solid backing would give significant security in fact as many as you think necessary stick 50 in if you're not confident!

Of course it can be difficult to find a really secure post production position to mechanically fix a panel, or to fit backing blocks, so most just stick down and most will be ok. But if you do have the option, then it's belts and braces for pence.

I note your van looks a late model but some older vans can get significant areas of delaminating gelcoats not always easy to identify.
 
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Well I would suggest glueing first and testing it once cured before piercing the roof. I can't imagine any modern van having paint adhesion problems given the cleanliness of conditions and electrostatic spraying. Removing the roof lining to fit blocks to screw into is a bit OTT when nuts and bolts might be a better option.

Using brackets that don't have a big enough footprint will put more strain on any surface and could possibly be a cause of failure.

I'd like to know of anyone with first hand experience of their panel dismounting without permission and to examine exactly why. I've seen very small brackets used and very thin adhesive and they still cling on (but for how long lol)
 
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No Mack and not likely to especially since the GOV are cutting the incentive by more than half. I have colleagues who trained up for accreditation to install and they are fuming at this nail in their future prospects.
 
You might not expect a modern van having paint probs. but they do. Don't take my word for it tho' look at the thread I mentioned, re. some FIAT vans.

Fitting blocks can be difficult as I've said, and exposed nuts or bolts wouldn't be an aesthetic plus either, that's why I said "where you have the option" perhaps I should have said the "practical" option, PVCs come to mind where the inner lining can sometimes be removed.
 
Techno100 said:
No Mack and not likely to especially since the GOV are cutting the incentive by more than half. I have colleagues who trained up for accreditation to install and they are fuming at this nail in their future prospects.
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Yes... spotted that news over the net
 
Techno100 said:
No Mack and not likely to especially since the GOV are cutting the incentive by more than half. I have colleagues who trained up for accreditation to install and they are fuming at this nail in their future prospects.
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BTW Techno... I think we both may have visited the same place in France... Mers Le Bains... near Treport - I was there a few times over the last few years. Beautiful Area.

On the way home I visited Thiepval The CAF Thiepval Project

and the nearby HUGE crater at Lochnagar Lochnagar Crater - The Official Site
 
Hi Techno... Geest Guy has 90w on eBay for £127 + £8 delivery... Will these be the same as the ones you have been purchasing?

I think I'll try one... the leads look a little short though?
 
If you're going to any of the motorroamers meets? I can extend the cables for you at cost price only.
 
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