Solar on the roof gets HOT!!!!

[MikeRuth]

Well today in SoCal it's warm, actually getting HOT! at noon I went out and put my hand right on top of the Mono Panels. It's pretty warm but I could leave my hand there for a bit, now for the under side, NO WAY JOSE!!!! I didn't have my temp gun handy but I could not touch the under side of the panels period, I;d guess at least 120 125f. air temp is close to 100.

On a side note, I checked the charge current at 11.5 amps, then decided to cool the panels down. I got them down to wear I could leave my hand on the under side as long as I wanted to. Wiped off the water and then rechecked. Picked up 1 amp. So that's not scientific for sure but goes to show a little how temp is robbing us of power.
Kind of a vicious circle so to speak, you need that sun burning down to make juice and yet that sun burning down is also robbing us of making juice.

Which means there is only one solution, HEAD TO THE BEACH!

Mike R

 

[highdesertranger]

so where I go there is very little shade. I have no ac. I have the plywood above on my rack. makes a world of difference, however you need plenty of air circulation. I would say 4" minimum. don't do the plywood and mount your panels right on top of the plywood, you need air circulation under your panels. highdesertranger

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I wonder what heating is seen with the new bendable panels that folks are gluing directly to the roof?  Anyone have any experience?

-- Spiff

 

[SoulRaven]

so where I go there is very little shade.  I have no ac.  I have the plywood above on my rack.  makes a world of difference,  however you need plenty of air circulation.  I would say 4" minimum.  don't do the plywood and mount your panels right on top of the plywood,  you need air circulation under your panels. highdesertranger

Wel l l l l l l l l l .... I started to say "Why aren't you creating your own shade?" but then it dawned on me that with solar panels that would kind of defeat their purpose....

 

[highdesertranger]

right know I only have my battery maintainer(15 watt) mounted permanently. my 2-80 watt and 1-50 watt are portable. my truck is always in the shade with the plywood on the rack. the I run tarps off the rack. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

right know I only have my battery maintainer(15 watt) mounted permanently.  my 2-80 watt and 1-50 watt are portable.  my truck is always in the shade with the plywood on the rack.  the I run tarps off the rack.  highdesertranger

Now that's a whole lot better idea than parking in the sun IMHO.

It wouldn't work well for me since I'm mainly a city camper or deep enough in the woods that there is very little sun.

If I am boondocking where there's no shade, I create my own.

Cheers!

 

[MikeRuth]

If I don't get a high top, this seems like a great idea. Now to think on it and figure out a way to access the whole space that is created.


I think you should get right on this...lol. If you do, I would really appreciate how it went and all that.

Whilst thinking on this today I'm not so sure building box is going to be all that doable. 
the cons to this are....
The box it's self needs to be well built and finished in a manner to be very weather resistant and water tight!
In my case the two solar panels tied together weigh in at 66 lbs. 
At 66 lbs plus the weight of the top box panel you would need to have a couple of very strong gas assist struts to assist in getting the top open! and I'm not sure if that would be doable. 
A small ladder is no longer an option, a 6 foot would be needed to access the box etc. I have no inclination of resting a collapsible ladder against my van. 

So for now back to the think tank. 

anyone else? 

Mike R