Using Solar Panel is a Massive Sunroof Vent

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brahmon

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Hi all!   I was shopping for a ventilation hatch for my van roof when a lightbulb went off in my pea brain!   Instead of spending $100 for a hatch, just buy another 100 watt solar panel, install a couple of hinges im the front, some
weatherstripping to seal it off from rain and bingo!   A massive dual-purpose solar hatch-vent!

Anyone else do this?
 
Its a novel idea but I do see a couple of issues. Nothing that cant be worked around.

Unless you double-hinge it to open either way, it might end up angled the wrong way in some parking scenarios especially in the winter with low sun angles.

And during sunlight hours, the bottom of a panel can get pretty warm, acting like a heater panel into the interior. And you shouldn't insulate the bottom of one, so that also compromises thermal efficiency of your vehicle on cold winter nights. 

But you could velcro a piece of foam onto the underside during cold winter nights, and then remove it during the warmer days.

The dimensions of a 100 watt panel mean that you would probably have to cut several roof spars, weakening the metal roof, unless you left them in place. A fiberglass high-top could be made and framed to accomodate that size cut-out. A 50 watt rigid panel might work out better, as far as the size of the opening.

Thinking outside the box, I like it...overall, I think it is a 'cool' idea!
 
Novel idea. Also to stop water ingress, a lip on the van top that the panel comes down over sounds like a good idea to me.
 
Thx guys!   Tx2, I live in the tropics so it never gets below 65 degrees and need plenty of ventilation.   Got a former church shuttle
bus so it's all fiberglass.    I plan on cutting a huge opening of about 20" X 40" with the solar panel as a lid.  Maybe a couple of gas struts to open one end 5-10inches.   Enough to create some serious air flow in the front.    I plan on sticking a 20" box fan in there.   Sort of like a gigantic version of the Maxxair fan I have in the back.  

Brian, great idea.  Yes, Ill add weather stripping to both the panel and top of roof for double waterproofing.  

MrNoodly, 
I already have a Maxxair in back and wanted a massive open top
to try out.  The larger hatches on
Amazon are over $100.   Most are around $500!  My shuttle
bus is fairly flat on top.
 
boy you must be one hell of a fabricator. we are going to need pictures of all this. highdesertranger
 
Sorry guys.   Some refer to it as a van and some as a bus.   To me it's a TSU.  Tactical Surf Unit.
 
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