Pop Tops & Solar Panels: To Permanently Roof Mount or not to Mount

[cruiser 91]

There's no correct answer, just interested in what works best for you.
I myself find it more useful to have a free standing solar panel connection to the Jayco so I can set up under shade or cover and have the solar panel facing sun through the day.

Years ago I bumped into someone who charges via wind turbine.

   

[Colmano]

What panels are you running and where do you plug into ??

We have a Swan OB and I'm considering adding solar to our setup before outback trip in July...

[MDS69]

I have seen this discussion before. My panel is fixed to the roof because that is how it come from the factory. The argument is do you want to spend your day chasing the sun with folding panels. I get the bit about setting up the camper in the shade but I guess there is no perfect set up.

[Spada]

It's really a case of what suits you. My current hybrid camper came with a panel already mounted on the roof, and I have a folding panel that was used with previous hard floor camper. It's quite rare that I find a spot where you are in the shade all day, so the panel on the roof is generally all I need. Last trip out was 5 day's beside a creek and I was under the trees in dappled light. Come pack-up time my battery capacity was at 87% (although I do have 3 batteries totalling 320AH). I haven't used the folding panel in the 3 years since we got the hybrid, mostly because we have a good storage capacity, and a very efficient fridge.

You probably need to know what sort of daily draw you have, from what sort of capacity, supplemented by what size panel that gets how much sun to be able to decide which way to go.

I'm a sit down and drink beer while watching the solar panel samba around the campground as the sun moves kinda guy 

[Homer_Jay]

I have 2 X 250 watt panels permanent mounted on the roof. Nothing to set up, nothing to worry about being stolen. Everything just works. Anderson plug stays connected to car to charge it also.

On a recent 5 week trip we only had one time that was a bit of an issue and that was at Adels grove where all the good spots are shady all day. The batteries were losing a bit of charge each day. We had 4 days there and I probably wouldn't have wanted to run the batteries any lower. A portable panel here would have helped.

I now have a solar blanket to carry for the odd time we need it. I figure best of both worlds.
The blanket is small and lightweight enough to carry for occasional use.

[lochgilphead]

It's really a case of what suits you. My current hybrid camper came with a panel already mounted on the roof, and I have a folding panel that was used with previous hard floor camper. It's quite rare that I find a spot where you are in the shade all day, so the panel on the roof is generally all I need. Last trip out was 5 day's beside a creek and I was under the trees in dappled light. Come pack-up time my battery capacity was at 87% (although I do have 3 batteries totalling 320AH). I haven't used the folding panel in the 3 years since we got the hybrid, mostly because we have a good storage capacity, and a very efficient fridge.

You probably need to know what sort of daily draw you have, from what sort of capacity, supplemented by what size panel that gets how much sun to be able to decide which way to go.

I'm a sit down and drink beer while watching the solar panel samba around the campground as the sun moves kinda guy 

Geez Spada, I thought I was the only one that paranoid about battery capacity to have 320 ah of batteries...    Our new Rhinomax Discovery will have 300 watts of solar on the roof and 320 ah of batteries.  I will still carry the 120 watt folder we got from Jetcrew so that I can park some way into the shadows as well.  Mac

[glenm64]

Ive got 300W of solar on the van roof with 200AH lifepo4.
I dont charge the van via car anderson plug while driving. We did 2 1/2 months on the road free camping most of the time, without any problems. We stayed anywhere from 2 -  6 days in spots and had no power problems. The weather wasnt hot and we set up in mostly open and semi shaded.
Camping back home here in WA in summer is hot so I always look for shade and struggle after 3 - 4 days, mainly cause I run 2 compressor fridges and the usual electrics.
Ive now got one of Jetcrews 120W folding solar panels wired bypass to feed into the vans regulator that I can use to feed into the vans solar charge system if needed.
Jets panel by itself is putting 7+ amps through the Victron reg, which is current limiting to prevent overload.



Cheers Glen

[JB]

On our old Jayco we had a bit of everything. This included a 100w panel mounted in a frame attached to the roof rack, that could be removed if parked in the shade, a 180w folding panel and a 50w maintenance panel that was connected to the batteries at home.   

All of these could be daisy chained together, giving us over 300w to charge 210ah of batteries. 

We would have plenty of power to indefinitely run our 40lt Engel, lights and water pump.

We camp for 2 weeks in one spot in January each year, and never had any power issues, other than having to keep moving panels to point them at the sun.



Cheers

JB

[Trrrumping Beast]

Sounds like a familiar pattern - combination of fixed and portable.
I have a 255w Bosch panel fixed to my Goldstream roof and a 150w folding portable which i have rarely used since adding the fixed panel. This will change after next week as i am swapping the 90l 3 way fridge for the waeco 110l compressor model.
But up til now the roof panel has been more than sufficient for 47l compressor fridge, lights and water pump.
It is really efficient and its amazing how little light it needs to start pumping power back into the batteries ( 2×120ah).
The comment about rarely being in full shade all day is spot on.
I would say the fridge is the deal clincher - if using a 3 way in the trailer then a decent sized fixed panel  (s) is the way to go in my opinion. The portable is heavy and bulky. Of course if u have some of those new flexible light weight panels then so much the better.
Good luck,
Nigel

[firefox]

Best trick is to over power your panels a smidge.. and then permanently mount them to the roof.
Being on the road 3+ years i have 6 panels on the roof with a 60A regulator. Works a treat.

This means i don't have to worry about moving them, plus getting stolen.. 

So if you need say 2 panels, put a 3rd on and just hard mount them.. I've never had a problem with solar or power.. (and i use over 200ah a day!)

[Trrrumping Beast]

Best trick is to over power your panels a smidge.. and then permanently mount them to the roof.
Being on the road 3+ years i have 6 panels on the roof with a 60A regulator. Works a treat.

This means i don't have to worry about moving them, plus getting stolen.. 

So if you need say 2 panels, put a 3rd on and just hard mount them.. I've never had a problem with solar or power.. (and i use over 200ah a day!)

I believe the issue may be the weight on pop tops and wind up trailers, unless you use the new slimline semi flexible panels but the cost goes up lots in that case.

[Homer_Jay]

I believe the issue may be the weight on pop tops and wind up trailers, unless you use the new slimline semi flexible panels but the cost gors up lots in that case.

Yeah, they do add to the weight. I had to upgrade the gas struts on mine to allow for the extra weight.
If I done it again I would use lightweight flexible panels if funds allowed.

After adding the panels,extra water tank, extra batteries,etc we were 450kgs over GVM so the more you can save on weight the better.
Just had the GVM increased by 500kgs to keep it legal.

[cruiser 91]

Both worlds seem to be very convenient. Those who have them, when running both at the same time, are they feeding as 2 charges or as one?
Keeping in mind the shadow effect on panels.

 

[Trrrumping Beast]

Both worlds seem to be very convenient. Those who have them, when running both at the same time, are they feeding as 2 charges or as one?
Keeping in mind the shadow effect on panels.

 

single feed with a diode to stop any reverse flow effects.

[glenm64]

One

Cheers Glen