Solar Installation

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Sweet! Are there three panels? How much wattage?

Hi Ross ! Yes 3 60 watts wired in parallel, total 180 watts . Pat

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Finally did my solar install......

Nice looking install.

I am still very much liking the performance of my panels, but it has only been a year. I like that they are not seen from ground level very well.

I squeezed 4 of these on my 5.0TA, and have yet to have a day where the batteries were not fully charged by early afternoon, so you should be fine.

Do you have a portable panel too? I do, but have yet to use it.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Nice looking install.

I am still very much liking the performance of my panels, but it has only been a year. I like that they are not seen from ground level very well.

Thankyou Jim ! You were the first ! I wanted the Solar now for 4 years plus . Really like this idea better ! Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Nice looking install.

I am still very much liking the performance of my panels, but it has only been a year. I like that they are not seen from ground level very well.

I squeezed 4 of these on my 5.0TA, and have yet to have a day where the batteries were not fully charged by early afternoon, so you should be fine.

Do you have a portable panel too? I do, but have yet to use it.

Yes a 80 watt go power folding panel and a small 1000watt Honda gen . Pat

[Kent]

Jim, I'm interested in how the Eternabond is holding up and well it is holding the panels in place? I've used it before for covering old sealant over seams and would imagine it is doing well.

Without going back and reading all did you install any kind of foam backer or something similiar?

Any visible issues with heat buildup between panel and roof?

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Kent

Any visible issues with heat buildup between panel and roof?

I'm not Jim, but...

I was worried about heat buildup as well so I used this on the back of the Lensun panels:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Two rolls was enough to do four 50w panels.

Applied in rows on the panels about every two inches, it does a good job of transferring the heat of the panel to the roof of the trailer. It's also a fairly strong adhesive - you really have to get the panel where you want it before letting the tape adhere. Along with the Eternabond tape, the panels are firmly attached. I hope none of them go bad any time soon!

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Kent

Jim, I'm interested in how the Eternabond is holding up and well it is holding the panels in place? I've used it before for covering old sealant over seams and would imagine it is doing well.

Without going back and reading all did you install any kind of foam backer or something similiar?

Any visible issues with heat buildup between panel and roof?

Kent I talked to them at Lensun and my concerns .... I was told the panels are engineered to experience at least 235 degrees of heat . I can tell you we have had since 1993 a fiberglass cooler on our roof . In California with our sun and heat , if I happen to be on the roof and touch the fiberglass top in the summer ,the top of the cooler ,very cool to the touch . Not so with any metal or the shingles on the roof . Boat owners install these all over where they can on their boats . Having the fiberglass back sitting on the trailer I think makes the difference . Also the panels really don't sit right down on the shell due to their stiffness . They really aren't very flexible as you would think . I think with their backing the heat doesn't transfer back to the shell very much . I know time will tell . But these really are the nicest thin panels I have ever seen . With many thin fiberglass spots I have seen on our shell , really didn't want to make holes and was afraid to tape, attach the glass panels to our roof . If you look closely we even have on the rear in the middle a little sinking of our roof . Hopefully we get long life . Not even worried about getting these off and having any pull up of gel gloss . We can always get the roof fixed with line Ex or similar . Pat

[float5]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

More pictures . I put 3 60 watt panels on roof . We have a Victron battery monitor . I purchased a Victron MPPT controller . My shunt is in the battery box in the grey box I installed . What is very cool is I can sit in house and get my readings on my I-pad . Do not need wifi , it works off Victron's dongle using Bluetooth . So far very happy . Pat

Oh, Pat, too much! Great going and the read-out in the house. What a good deal. Can't wait to hear how those panels work.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by float5

Oh, Pat, too much! Great going and the read-out in the house. What a good deal. Can't wait to hear how those panels work.

Thankyou Cathy ! Hope these work out . Not willing to install the glass , aluminum panels for many reasons . Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Thankyou Cathy ! Hope these work out . Not willing to install the glass , aluminum panels for many reasons . Pat

Cathy I replied to you in e-mail . Pat

[Greg A]

Good job, Pat. You’re definitely ready for Quartzsite next year.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Good job, Pat. You’re definitely ready for Quartzsite next year.

Thankyou Greg , now if I only can stay on my two feet ! Pat

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Kent

Jim, I'm interested in how the Eternabond is holding up and well it is holding the panels in place? I've used it before for covering old sealant over seams and would imagine it is doing well.

Without going back and reading all did you install any kind of foam backer or something similiar?

Any visible issues with heat buildup between panel and roof?

The Eternabond is holding up great,looks as good as the day it was put on.

No backer. I did put my hands on the panels in bright sun but not a hot day, and they barely felt warm. I do want to check on a hot summers day, but really not worried.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

The Eternabond is holding up great,looks as good as the day it was put on.

No backer. I did put my hands on the panels in bright sun but not a hot day, and they barely felt warm. I do want to check on a hot summers day, but really not worried.

Good to know Jim You said you were checking . I bet I get the hot sun before you . We are in the 70's now . Pat

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Good to know Jim You said you were checking . I bet I get the hot sun before you . We are in the 70's now . Pat

We aren't looking to get above freezing until next week. Snowing and blowing today.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

We aren't looking to get above freezing until next week. Snowing and blowing today.

Brrrrrrr! Pat

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Finally did my solar install with the patience and guidance of David Walters .I could not have done this without his help. I know very little about electrical. Thank you again David . I also used Lensun semi- flexible fiberglass panels . First pictures , Pat

You did a great job Pat. I am glad that I was able to provide you with a small amount of assistance.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Dave Walter

You did a great job Pat. I am glad that I was able to provide you with a small amount of assistance.

David it was a lot of assistance and I really appreciate it ! It's up David ! Pat

[Kent]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

The Eternabond is holding up great,looks as good as the day it was put on.

No backer. I did put my hands on the panels in bright sun but not a hot day, and they barely felt warm. I do want to check on a hot summers day, but really not worried.

Thank you all for posting your installs and info. I'm thinking the flex panels are the way to go.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Kent

Thank you all for posting your installs and info. I'm thinking the flex panels are the way to go.

I think you will be really happy . Don't wait to long with possible trade wars with China though . Pat