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Post by daisymini on Jan 3, 2013 17:31:00 GMT
Ive found these on ebay and think i can make some myself or similar, the only problem being i cannot get on to the roof to adjust them. So i wondered if it would be possible to rig up a system where i can wind a long threaded bolt from inside in the overhead locker over the cab. my only problem is keeping the hole waterproof where i would thread the bolt through the roof to the solar panel. any ideas would be welcome? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170931869552?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
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Post by n brown on Jan 3, 2013 18:19:47 GMT
so does the panel sit between these and rock on the centre bolts?could be a bit nickable .making the bolt watertight wouldn't be too hard.a bit of tube welded to a bit of plate,like a little chimney,and stuck to the roof ,then drilled,if its under the panel it'll stay dry.i seem to be getting worse at explaining simple things!
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Post by daisymini on Jan 3, 2013 21:06:08 GMT
Yes nbrown they do but those particular brackets have a hole drilled where you can attach a padlock if needed, i worried about the security aspect too..!
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Jan 3, 2013 21:42:30 GMT
I made my brackets will ally angle from B&Q.
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Post by Firefox on Jan 3, 2013 22:24:55 GMT
Same with mine. Alli angle from Wickes
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Post by daisymini on Jan 3, 2013 22:29:14 GMT
The whole point of these particular brackets is the ability to tilt to get the greatest benefit, I was trying to think of an idea where i could tilt my panel without climbing on the roof. I have brackets that i can use if i want to keep the panel flat.
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Post by n brown on Jan 3, 2013 23:14:32 GMT
I understand mate and stick to what i suggested,a simple push pull bit of threaded rod[studding]going through a hole in the roof.it doesn't even have to be threaded as long as the rod can be clamped in position
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Post by Firefox on Jan 3, 2013 23:22:23 GMT
Although the idea of adjustable panels is all very fine in theory, I'd rather go for fixed flat ones with the alli angles. I know you only get half the sun but I'd just have twice as many panels. They are cheap now. Personally I just couldn't be arsed messing around every day trying to adjust the panels towards the sun. If I forget to follow the sun I'll end up getting nothing, whereas if they are flat they will always get something. I may leave them up by mistake and drive off with them like that too Plus most of the time I'm working and away from the van anyway . Life just seems to be too short to spend ones days following the sun with manually adjustable panels even If I was retired and had nothing better to do, I'd rather spend my day drinking beer and playing the guitar than adjusting panels Just my take though - I'm probably far too lazy! But panels are cheap now - £80. Buy another panel and you'll get the same amount of sun with two mounted flat and save yourself a lifetime of adjustment plus have cheaper mounting brackets. It's a case of fit and forget.
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Post by daisymini on Jan 4, 2013 7:22:25 GMT
The only problem with my van Vern is that the whole top of the roof is a sky light with a large middle opening, the only place i can mount a panel is near the cab and even then i shall be covering part of the skylight so i can only really have 1 panel. Attachments:
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Jan 4, 2013 8:33:19 GMT
but do you need both skylights as long as you leave center clear use the rear one as you have light from rear doors and dont expect you will cover it all
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Post by tommy on Jan 4, 2013 9:59:21 GMT
I cant help with being able to adjust the panel from inside despite having found a couple of ways to do it - expense and workload prohibitive.( motorised jack £70 )
However if you fit a window tilting hinge and buy a 1200 mm length 80w panel you can then buy a 1050 mm more efficient 80 w panel and hinge it to the other so flat it folds below the 1200mm panel thus it only takes up the footprint of an 80w panel. When parked up you simply tilt the lot and fold the second panel out to have 160w that can be tilted or lay flat and only cover a roof light when in use. 160 w tilted to an 80 angle will give an output of 70w or 6a in uk december sun for 3 hours and up to 14a in better months.
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Post by Firefox on Jan 4, 2013 13:30:54 GMT
Maingate on WC4MH has one free standing panel as I remember which he manually adjusts on the ground outside his van as I remember. It's a cheap way of sun following and you are less likely to forget to move it or drive off with it in the up position.
I would still go for what OH says though. Fit two panels and perhaps partially cover a skylight if needs be. But if you were doing that, you may want a hinge capability anyway so you could clean the skylight from the outside.
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Post by robmac on Jan 4, 2013 15:55:27 GMT
Maingate on WC4MH has one free standing panel as I remember which he manually adjusts on the ground outside his van as I remember. It's a cheap way of sun following and you are less likely to forget to move it or drive off with it in the up position. I would still go for what OH says though. Fit two panels and perhaps partially cover a skylight if needs be. But if you were doing that, you may want a hinge capability anyway so you could clean the skylight from the outside. Jim's system was great, just point it at the sun, plug it in and forget. As long as you have room inside the van to store a panel.
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Post by coolasluck on Oct 20, 2013 18:56:53 GMT
:DBut Jim has no room,as i recall,it was over-run with dogs
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Post by robmac on Oct 21, 2013 6:40:09 GMT
Yeah but they're only ickle.
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