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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: bottlecreek on April 21, 2015, 08:19:06 PM

Title: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: bottlecreek on April 21, 2015, 08:19:06 PM
Just wondering how other campers store and carry their solar panels when travelling in the camper trailers?
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Bunyip on April 21, 2015, 08:20:03 PM
We have a KK and the panels are stored in one of the side gullwing boxes with the hoses and tarps.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: GeoffA on April 21, 2015, 08:29:12 PM
Our 3 x 100w Mandrake panels are stored and transported in a 3 bay frame on top of the front box on the Coota.
A steel rod through the lot, with a pad lock at each end, helps them stay there until I want them somewhere else.
They're wired into the system, so when the alternator is having a little rest, the sun takes over.
Once at camp, the panels can be slid out of the frame and set-up individually, or grouped together and wheeled around as a unit.
Pretty clever, huh??.... ;D ;D
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Redcherokee on April 21, 2015, 08:43:07 PM
Ours go in their bag and on top of the bed in our soft floor, along with the table and some lights.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: topcat on April 21, 2015, 08:44:04 PM
Our 3 x 100w Mandrake panels are stored and transported in a 3 bay frame on top of the front box on the Coota.
A steel rod through the lot, with a pad lock at each end, helps them stay there until I want them somewhere else.
They're wired into the system, so when the alternator is having a little rest, the sun takes over.
Once at camp, the panels can be slid out of the frame and set-up individually, or grouped together and wheeled around as a unit.
Pretty clever, huh??.... ;D ;D
Cmon Geoff  :worthles: show us ya panel storage   :D
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: GeoffA on April 21, 2015, 09:02:05 PM
Here ya go Tony.....
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Bill on April 21, 2015, 09:20:21 PM
Ours just fold up, go into their bag and go under the bed in our hard floor.
Bill
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: jclures on April 21, 2015, 09:32:12 PM
I need to ask is it the panels or the shed  we should be looking at, >:D ;D  , back on topic is it just angle a iron  frame Geoff.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: GeoffA on April 21, 2015, 09:39:32 PM
I need to ask is it the panels or the shed  we should be looking at, >:D ;D  , back on topic is it just angle a iron  frame Geoff.

 ;D

Yes John, that's pretty much it.
It's 40x3EA down the sides and across the front, and 50x4SHS sliced in half to form a C section across the back.
The C section keeps the back of the panels in place, and the fronts are held down by small over-centre catches.
A 6mm steel rod passes through the lot at the front for a bit of security.

 :cheers:
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Bird on April 21, 2015, 11:29:05 PM
In the padded bag it came in, on top of everything else inside the trailer.... usually the pile of rubber squares I use for flooring...
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: speewa158 on April 22, 2015, 02:48:12 AM
On the cub l moved the tool box forward 100m so the panels can slide in there . 2X 80w hinged together in a padded bag Fe has made    :cup: :cheers:
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Ozsnowman on April 22, 2015, 07:35:02 AM
Back into their bags, then into the back of the ute.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: duggie on April 22, 2015, 07:49:40 AM
I store and carry mine on top of the folded up tent, under the vinyl cover,  last things to pack away, first things to unpack.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Jeepers Creepers on April 22, 2015, 07:53:47 AM
Mrs Jeepers reckons I'd need to carry mine in my shorts.

Something she reckoned about me having the attitude the sun is shining out my ......
You know what I mean.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Flighty (WA) on April 22, 2015, 01:41:49 PM
Bolted permanent to the roof of the canopy, and hard wired inside it
 :cheers:
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Beachman on April 22, 2015, 02:14:13 PM
I originally bought my 120w panel from Jetcrew which was transported around in the normal padded bag, but then when I found out he sold aluminium cases which is much better at coping with the bumps and knocks it gets in the back of the wagon.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: theins on April 22, 2015, 02:40:28 PM
The panel for the CT is located on the fridge box (Aussie Swag). A further fold-able solar panel is stored under a fake floor I build for the boot of the D4.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Redcherokee on April 22, 2015, 04:38:00 PM
A mate stores his under the roof rack on top of his Patrol. Similar framing setup to Geoffs, mounted under the existing roof rack.  Panels just slide out the back, or if there is nothing on the rack he can just plug in where they are.  Very hard to spot, and a lock stops anyone who does notice them.

And no, I don't have pics.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: oldmate on April 22, 2015, 04:43:52 PM
My 160w ones will soon live in a space below these drawers once they go in the car. And my projects 120w blanket just goes int the nose of the trailer
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: DropBearRacing on April 22, 2015, 05:11:56 PM
Got our projecta kit from jetcrew, it just folds up onto itself to a size of an A4 folder.  It can be stored anywhere but usually just sits in the toolbox.   :cheers:
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: peterdeg on April 22, 2015, 05:47:20 PM
Under the mattress in a bag I made from thick bathroom towels. They're flexible, so really thin.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: feisty on April 22, 2015, 06:42:47 PM
(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04/22/2542f540f7c7128dcbd334128e3910a8.jpg)
Thin flexible 100 Watters under the mattress as well. No bag though.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Barry G on April 22, 2015, 08:20:12 PM
My fold-up pair of panels I purchased from Mandrake come in an aluminium case.
Carry them inside the cavernous storage area inside the Heaslip, with other stuff packed on top.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: V8CRSA on April 22, 2015, 09:10:59 PM

Depending on the trip, either behind the rear seat in front on the cargo barrier in the cruiser, or on top of the bed in the KK.

Matt
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: thommo19 on April 22, 2015, 09:34:46 PM
Mine are in a padded bag stored behind the front seats in the cruiser.
Jeff
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: bobnrob on April 22, 2015, 09:52:21 PM
Thanks GeoffA...been trying to nut out something similar, and your pics made everything fall into place   :cup:
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: xcvator on April 22, 2015, 09:54:03 PM
Mrs Jeepers reckons I'd need to carry mine in my shorts.

Something she reckoned about me having the attitude the sun is shining out my ......
You know what I mean.
Wouldn't get much use then JC  :angel: :angel:
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: topcat on April 22, 2015, 10:28:43 PM
Here ya go Tony.....

Nice clean set-up Geoff  :cup:

I have a 100w on the front box and a 60w on the roof rack (both hard panels)

Tony
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: bottlecreek on April 24, 2015, 09:57:57 AM
Thanks for the input, lots of idea's to choose from here.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: muzza01 on April 24, 2015, 10:30:14 AM
I have a bifold 250W panel. It is wrapped in bubble wrap that I reuse and then covered in its canvas carry bag. The panel sits on top of our hardfloor camper and a tie down strap is used to secure. The panel is sandwiched between a couple of layers of those interlocking foam/rubber floor mats we use in the shower area.
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: JB on April 26, 2015, 10:08:48 PM
http://www.campingaustralia.org/showthread.php?t=787 (http://www.campingaustralia.org/showthread.php?t=787)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
Post by: Dueller on April 26, 2015, 11:35:09 PM
I put my fold up panel on top of the folded up tent on our soft floor, in between the ground sheet and annex walls. Once the tent cover is secured its safe and sound and does not move around. Throwing it up on top during the pack up also helps me get out the remaining air in the tent due to the extra weight it makes everything easier to pack up. Another bonus is if I want to just pull the solar panel out to top up the batteries it's not a big deal to open a few bungie cords and pull it out.

Cheers,
Matt