Solar panel install

Awesome thanks!

 

Lights, fan, fridge.


Can some one help me confirm which Victron controller is appropriate for my setup...

I plan on this: (220w)

https://4thdsolar.com/collections/g...ar-panels/products/fx48l-220-watt-solar-panel

And I think I need this: (Victron MPPT 75/15)

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers/smartsolar-mppt-75-10-75-15-100-15-100-20

My battery is this: X2 power group 31
https://www.batteriesplus.com/produ...MIr_OS98nj9wIVWz2tBh089g71EAAYASAAEgIJgfD_BwE

Any help/insight would be appreciated.



Mike

 

Copying this idea

if anyone knows better than my noob self, feel free to shoot holes in my plan

-Home Depot corrugated plastic sheet, cut to size. Claims to withstand high temp, rain, hail, etc.
Not sure if the hollow sections will face front for air to pass through, or sideways. At last it's something. Hopefully the air actually passes through and doesn't lift it.
Or, heat flows to cold. So if heat gets into the air gaps, it can flow out.
Idea is to create air gap under the panel, to reduce heat, and increase power
$30

-3M VHB or similar double sided tape. Hopefully good and strong, but not permanent, in that if I decide to remove it in the future. Whether it will require a rubber eraser wheel on a drill or not; point is hopefully it doesn't ruin paint underneath without vinyl wrap, that I probably won't try.
Car license plate holder bases are often double-side taped on, require rubber eraser wheel to remove, but doesn't damage paint
Will tape panel to corrugated sheet, and sheet to roof.

-panel: Renogy 100w. Cheaper than more panels or higher watts. Likely single panel running the length of shell in center.
Because if I put two side by side, the outward curve down will make them want to rise up at the edges. And it would possibly wrap over the curve so much that it'd prevent ever installing a shell roof rack down the road.
Gonna try to simply run the wiring through the rubber gasket at the back shell window.

-Charge: using as thick and short wires as I can find into a Jackery 500 for now, to power a

$760 Dometic CFX3 35 Portable Refrigerator and Freezer - 36L - Powered by AC/DC or Solar Portable Refrigerator, Smokey Gray

Dometic CFX3 35, hopefully 100w is enough.
I'm hesitant to try putting a panel on the main cab roof as it has the ridge design that likely won't play well with the panel.

-Later on/changes: fixed solid panel on a roof rack is probably more efficient and lasts longer
-Roof racks: Not currently running any. Would be cool in the future for various reasons.
I don't think it's compatible to keep using the Renogy later if getting a roof rack. Because if you have all the crossbars installed so it's usable, that'll cover up a lot of the flexible panel underneath, requiring trying to carefully remove it and maybe sell used if it still works

-Convenience: seems a lot more convenient than a briefcase. Driving around? Charging. Parked? Charging.
Briefcase means find a field and stare at the wall 7hr while it charges

-securing wiring: haven't figured that one out and need to, so it's not just loose on it's own dangling going into the shell and shaking around
*maybe* tape; and preferably body color match so this mod doesn't stick out like a sore thumb
with one panel in the center of the shell roof, it generally does look very hidden

adhesion: in the automotive industry, adhesion promoter is recommended; or when you are out, isopropyl alcohol is said to do the same thing, so I'll wipe with either after a car wash and dry

 

So I pretty much did what you proposed.

Coroplast (Corplast?) is the product I used, I think that's a brand name but used as generic for corrugated plastic, like Coke is for cola. I used black because that's what they had. 1/8" thick. I used a high grade outdoor silicone to attach the solar panel to the Coroplast as I wanted to be able to make last second adjustments between the two. I also used

$7 3M VHB 100x200mm~ (4" X8") Double Sided Foam Adhesive Sheet Tape 5952 Automotive Mounting Industrial Grade Very High Bond 5952 (1 Sheets 100x200mm)

3M VHB tape to attach the Coroplast to my cap. After laying it all down I got to thinking (overthinking?) about the times I've seen 3M VHB tape fail and didn't want this to fly off at 70mph. So I used the silicone sealant and spread that all over the edges like a bad job of cake frosting.



That's an installation pic from November 2021 and it hasn't shown any signs of coming loose. Of course it catches dust and dirt around the edges but I tell myself since it's on the roof nobody sees it anyway. Oh, if you do this get the silicone for a caulk gun, you'll use a lot more that the squeeze tube.

I have a Dometic CFX IM55. While the ice is very nice and the freeze plate is a bonus I'd guess when they are on they run 30-40% more than if I don't use that option. So I used it at first but the battery drain was way too much for me, so now I don't.

Battery station is the EcoFlow River Pro, which is 720 watt hours. I did the 400w Anytime Mod just to have some headroom while it's charging with the engine running. It's been really hard to tell how long the fridge will run just off the EcoFlow and solar panel.

Right now I wish I would have gotten a larger panel, like 170 - 200w. "Direct Sunlight" is a thing. Before I mounted this I did a test. Laying flat on the ground If I was getting 40-45 watts and then angled it up towards the sun I would get 70+ watts. That was summer in Southern CA. On a trip to WA state over winter and overcast I was getting only 10-15w. Not good for extended camping.

The solar panel definitely helps, I just wish I was getting more wattage out of it.

 

has anyone successfully removed a flexible solar panel without damaging things?

ran 100w renogy on camper shell top
panel-->3m vhb-->corrugated board for airgap-->3m vhb-->shell top
had zero issues
but looking at selling shell or trading for taller one
like a hi-rise
hopefully remove (maybe even salvage) panel for re-use, and try avoiding damaging shell

$7 3M VHB 100x200mm~ (4" X8") Double Sided Foam Adhesive Sheet Tape 5952 Automotive Mounting Industrial Grade Very High Bond 5952 (1 Sheets 100x200mm)

3M VHB is *supposed* to be removable. Not sure if that means "with the right tools" (whatever they are)

only 3M VHB I've worked with prior, is factory license plate frames on trunks. They're held on with 3M VHB.
I pretty much just pull the mount off without issue, then rubber wheel drill attachment clean off any residue left.