My Versatile Solar setup

[Matty Van Halen]

after many weeks of trying to decide what system to get, iv settled on the one that would be the most versatile.  i wanted to keep the height of the van low so i can still go into parking garages.  i also wanted to have a system that could be removed easily and set out in the sun while i am parked in the shade and still charge the batteries at a high rate while keeping the van in the shade and much cooler.  I also can quickly attach  to the van roof while driving in the sun.  

also my power needs are minimal...fan, led light, laptop. i have a 55ah deep cycle battery and i can run the fan for 24 hours! and then recharge the battery on about 5 hrs of good sunlight. 


I went with the 200 watt folding panels.  it folds up like a large suitcase but remains very thin for storage.  I attach it to the roof of the van with magnets that i have put on the panels with small nuts and bolts. the panels already had holes drilled around the edges where the snaps were.  i just used 2 magnets in the front, 2 in the middle and 2 at the end.  

the magnets are strong so i have to be careful when putting it on the roof so it doesnt slam into it.  i have running boards on my van plus im tall so i have no problem reaching up there. iv driven at highway speeds with no hint of them trying to fly off.  the roof if ridged and the magnets fit nicely down in the valley of the ridge, i just got lucky with that part, lol

it does a good job at charging the battery.  iv had no problems so far.

 

[RVTravel]

Thanks for sharing. It's always nice to see how others setup their solar/batteries.

 

[DannyB1954]

Many like the portable panels because they can park in the shade and aim the panels at the sun.

 

[QinReno]

MVH, that is very cool with the magnets. I have a regular GMC Savana van, and have been thinking of how I could attache solar in a very low-profile (and somewhat stealthy) manner. I had been thinking of making a special steel frame to go around the panels, and which would be screwed into and spot-welded to the gutter rails, rather than a regular rack that sticks up 6-8". With the frame holding the panels about 1" above the roof.

Your temporary on-again/off-again magnet scheme is especially nice. Does there appear to be any damage to the paint on the roof due to vibrations during driving?

If I were too use your scheme, I think I would still add a safety wire to the front of the panels that would be attached to gutter rails on the 2 sides. In the old days, we would put 4 full-size canoes on top of a van rack and drive at highway speeds, but we always had safety ropes coming down to the bumpers.

 

[Matty Van Halen]

Your temporary on-again/off-again magnet scheme is especially nice. Does there appear to be any damage to the paint on the roof due to vibrations during driving?

If I were too use your scheme, I think I would still add a safety wire to the front of the panels that would be attached to gutter rails on the 2 sides. In the old days, we would put 4 full-size canoes on top of a van rack and drive at highway speeds, but we always had safety ropes coming down to the bumpers.

i am concerned that it may scratch the paint over time. ill just have to be careful when removing it and putting it on.

i did use a tether wire when i 1st tested it going down the highway just in case it blew off. but these magnets are very strong. im no longer worried about that.

ill add pics tomorrow

 

[QinReno]

i am concerned that it may scratch the paint over time.  ill just have to be careful when removing it and putting it on.  

i did use a tether wire when i 1st tested it going down the highway just in case it blew off.  but these magnets are very strong. im no longer worried about that.

ill add pics tomorrow

The magnets sound good, but there are places where the winds are really really bad. And there are always semis with a huge sidewash. Especially on I-10 in parts of AZ and southern NM. There are signs every mile warning about the huge cross-winds and dust. I was down there doing my usual 80 MPH (while even so, the semis were passing me), but I finally slowed down because the van was flying back and forth all over the road. 
- https://tucson.com/news/local/state...cle_e9ebe93b-7919-5780-ab51-2448c0c824f4.html

In my van, I just have a single 100W solar panel, and just put it out in the daytime to charge the battery. Minimalism.

Many years ago, I lived in Nashville on Fairfax Ave near the university. We would load the canoes on the van (a different one from today), and drive to the rivers east of Chattanooga, . Nashville is probably a total zoo these days. I would also drive the 750 on the backroads all around.

 

[Matty Van Halen]

Attempting to upload pics

 

[QinReno]

Aha, so those are flexible panels, and not the typical rigid ones. May make a difference when holding down with magnets, although I have no idea how it would compare. If a rigid panel ever flew off, it would make a ton more damage, especially to a car driving behind.

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

Matty, got a link for those panels ?.....Thanks

 

[RVTravel]

Ken, there were two links in her original post, but they have somehow disappeared.
https://www.amazon.com/Diameter-Industrial-Strength-Neodymium-Countersunk/dp/B07FL7NCYN/
https://www.amazon.com/DOKIO-Monocrystalline-Foldable-Inverter-Controller/dp/B075SZMFP2

 

[QinReno]

Ken, there were two links in her original post, but they have somehow disappeared.

Is Matty a "her"?

 

[Tom_M]

The magnets are a great idea. I use magnets like that to keep some of my drawers and cabinet doors closed. To prevent paint damage, stick a piece of clear packaging tape at the spot where the magnets will be.

 

[highdesertranger]

the links disappeared because he was not allowed to post links yet. he had not met the minimum requirements. he is good to go now. highdesertranger

 

[Matty Van Halen]

The magnets are a great idea. I use magnets like that to keep some of my drawers and cabinet doors closed. To prevent paint damage, stick a piece of clear packaging tape at the spot where the magnets will be.

that sounds like the solution! i will do that. thanks

 

[dextours]

I have those same panels. Your use of magnets is a good idea. 

Originally hung mine off the vans rain gutters using S hooks between the gutter and the panels D rings. While a nice way to deploy, the fabric case the panels are mounted in isn't durable enough to hold the weight long term.

Right now the panels are leaned up against something or just deployed on the ground.

 

[Matty Van Halen]

I finally got around to taking some better pictures and I also added a few more magnets in strategic places and I put the clear packing tape under them like Tom said To prevent scratching the paint. I am very satisfied with the way this works now! So easy to install and remove in just a few seconds!