Just got Solar Panels Fitted :)

BuzzLand · May 25, 2012

I'm finally there lads, got my solar flexi-panels mounted and wired up.
All my own work too (as it shows).

This blazing sunshine helps charge up the battery no problem. I was getting over 40 volts from 120 Watts (2 x 60 watt panels in series).

Here's the video I buzzed up on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItJoIBCI1Zo

Anyone else got solar panels on their landy or am I the only one mad enough to try it??!

ricc · May 25, 2012

40 volts into yer 12 volt battery aint going to do it much good.....

id suggest you wire your two panels in parrallel to reduce yer voltage to a sensible level and double the current.

jesus ... just watched the video.... unbeleivable

hes got the panels in series to double the voltage... then a voltage regulater to drop it again.... the flexi panels are sort of held on the roof with a couple of bungi cords.....roof bars over the top to carry stuff?.

question is will it catch fire in the yard or fly off the roof a few yards down the road?

baggyjim · May 25, 2012

" I done this all on my own " statement of the century , at least theres not two ferking idiots around his area

bargain only cost about a thousand dollars bargain me thinks

sirwingalot · May 25, 2012

I got 2 thrown away solar trickle chargers, the dash board type that just plug into your cigarette lighter. I mounted them on some brackets I made, and fitted them into my alpine windows. Looked the wiring up on the web (easy stuff) and wired it into the battery. Simple 12v system, safe inside the cab, and my batteries never go flat. I had to buy a resister and in line fuse holder of ebay for less than £5. It wont blow away the next time I go down the road either!

DiscoPol · May 25, 2012

I have to say that it looks fecking awful in its design, how the hell would you drive with those daft panels flapping about? as has been said earlier thank god there is only one man stupid enough to think this is a good idea, what a waste of time, could have done something much simpler and probably cheaper too using the split charge system or simply some smaller panels, it all seems to me to be a case of too much time and money on his hands and not enough skill or knowledge.

just my honest opinion.

discomark10 · May 25, 2012

sirwingalot said:
I got 2 thrown away solar trickle chargers, the dash board type that just plug into your cigarette lighter. I mounted them on some brackets I made, and fitted them into my alpine windows. Looked the wiring up on the web (easy stuff) and wired it into the battery. Simple 12v system, safe inside the cab, and my batteries never go flat. I had to buy a resister and in line fuse holder of ebay for less than £5. It wont blow away the next time I go down the road either!

where did u get the solor chargers from??

skint-as-usual · May 25, 2012

discomark10 said:
where did u get the solor chargers from??

Over the last winter I got one of these and when parked up just left it plugged into the fag lighter (panel propped in the windscreen):

Solar Powered 12V 2.4W Battery Trickle Charger : Solar Trickle Chargers : Maplin Electronics

Previously my 19J was a little sluggish to start, but this was good, keeping the battery nicely topped up.

Wait for special offers though, I only paid about £15.00 for mine.

BEFORE YOU SHOUT - NO I DO NOT WORK FOR ANYONE

discomark10 · May 25, 2012

hmm very intersting!!

JohnnyCrash · May 25, 2012

DiscoPol said:
I have to say that it looks fecking awful in its design, how the hell would you drive with those daft panels flapping about? as has been said earlier thank god there is only one man stupid enough to think this is a good idea, what a waste of time, could have done something much simpler and probably cheaper too using the split charge system or simply some smaller panels, it all seems to me to be a case of too much time and money on his hands and not enough skill or knowledge.

just my honest opinion.

Don't slate the guy - I'm not impressed with the roof fitting either, but he's come up with an idea utilising what parts he clearly has available and I think he's done well!! Not saying it's perfect or he will have people following his method, but he is thinking different - and isn't that really why we all have a Landy? because we could all just have a normal car and be normal and use normal roads - but we choose to say No, I'm an idiot I want to go anywhere and everywhere when I choose - and that's what this guy has done!!

I salute you!!

DiscoPol · May 25, 2012

JohnnyCrash said:
Don't slate the guy - I'm not impressed with the roof fitting either, but he's come up with an idea utilising what parts he clearly has available and I think he's done well!! Not saying it's perfect or he will have people following his method, but he is thinking different - and isn't that really why we all have a Landy? because we could all just have a normal car and be normal and use normal roads - but we choose to say No, I'm an idiot I want to go anywhere and everywhere when I choose - and that's what this guy has done!!

I salute you!!

not been on here long have you buddy

,
its the way we roll, if i or you or anybody else has an opinion on something generally we will voice it, and in my opinion its sh1t, if he had fixed it in a fashion that made sense then ok i can see the use for those extra large panels if he is using it as a Bug Out Vehicle

and therefore intends to live in it for a while or if he fitted the split charge system adn made arrangements to rig in the flexi panels when the vehicle is stopped then again i could see a use but basically it looks to me like he has a temporary install that he is classing as a permanat one, as i said a waste of time, he is never going to do much milage with those silly banner streamers attached on bungies= pointless in MY OPINION

Sean · May 25, 2012

ricc said:
40 volts into yer 12 volt battery aint going to do it much good.....

question is will it catch fire in the yard or fly off the roof a few yards down the road?

it won't catch fire, and he could have 1000v feeding the charge controller - the voltage across the CC output is clamped by the current sink (the battery) - as the sun shines the panel output rises putting current into the battery via the CC - over time the terminal voltage of the battery will rise, once the terminal voltage has reached a preset level (dependent on battery type) the CC will either turn off the current, or modulate it (pulse width modulation) such that the battery only receives enough current to keep it fully charged

I'm fairly sure that setup is for stationary use only

Sean · May 25, 2012

if anyone else is thinking of doing the same this is a similar type of controller used - always check what the max input voltage is, these are max circa 100v

30 AMP SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER REGULATOR 12/24V PWM 30A | eBay

JohnnyCrash · May 25, 2012

DiscoPol said:
not been on here long have you buddy,
its the way we roll, if i or you or anybody else has an opinion on something generally we will voice it, and in my opinion its sh1t, if he had fixed it in a fashion that made sense then ok i can see the use for those extra large panels if he is using it as a Bug Out Vehicle and therefore intends to live in it for a while or if he fitted the split charge system adn made arrangements to rig in the flexi panels when the vehicle is stopped then again i could see a use but basically it looks to me like he has a temporary install that he is classing as a permanat one, as i said a waste of time, he is never going to do much milage with those silly banner streamers attached on bungies= pointless in MY OPINION

No, you're right I am new and wasn't fully up to speed with how blunt some of you are.

Ok so.....
Initial Idea - Good
Quality of kit - Intermediate
Execution of project FAIL

Chance anyone will copy - NO

that better??
:crazy_driver:

DiscoPol · May 25, 2012

JohnnyCrash said:
No, you're right I am new and wasn't fully up to speed with how blunt some of you are.

Ok so.....
Initial Idea - Good
Quality of kit - Intermediate
Execution of project FAIL

Chance anyone will copy - NO

that better??
:crazy_driver:

much better

now have you ventured into anything goes yet? you want blunt, in there we can be really blunt

sirwingalot · May 25, 2012

discomark10 said:
where did u get the solor chargers from??

The first on came off Freecycle website, the second I got from work, but they are only peanuts to buy.

sirwingalot · May 25, 2012

DiscoPol said:
much better

now have you ventured into anything goes yet? you want blunt, in there we can be really blunt

I thing its pronounced with a c instead of the "bl" on blunt.

We're all "blunt" on here!

ricc · May 25, 2012

Sean said:
it won't catch fire, and he could have 1000v feeding the charge controller - the voltage across the CC output is clamped by the current sink (the battery) - as the sun shines the panel output rises putting current into the battery via the CC - over time the terminal voltage of the battery will rise, once the terminal voltage has reached a preset level (dependent on battery type) the CC will either turn off the current, or modulate it (pulse width modulation) such that the battery only receives enough current to keep it fully charged

I'm fairly sure that setup is for stationary use only

have you actually watched the video before pontificating.... hes intending driving with luggage on the roof bars above the panels.

you will also see hes wired his charge controler backwards with the panels connescted to the load terminals....imho the guy is a complete fruitcake with little practical electrical knowledge.... how the controler is supposed to keep things safe is irrelevent if you just connect wires to random terminals.

Sean · May 25, 2012

ricc said:
have you actually watched the video before pontificating.... hes intending driving with luggage on the roof bars above the panels.

you will also see hes wired his charge controler backwards with the panels connescted to the load terminals....imho the guy is a complete fruitcake with little practical electrical knowledge.... how the controler is supposed to keep things safe is irrelevent if you just connect wires to random terminals.

it's a free world - I can pontificate where and when I want

I assume there is sound with the video, I watched without so missed any verbal narrative

I have an identical controller running an electrical fence, It shows all red rather than single green LEDs in fault mode - he's clearly done something correct

there's nothing wrong with running with luggage on top of the panels, they aren't tradition glass front and are more than robust enough - it's unconventional for sure, perhaps some helpful comments might be more constructive ?

ricc · May 25, 2012

Sean said:
it's a free world - I can pontificate where and when I want

I assume there is sound with the video, I watched without so missed any verbal narrative

I have an identical controller running an electrical fence, It shows all red rather than single green LEDs in fault mode - he's clearly done something correct

there's nothing wrong with running with luggage on top of the panels, they aren't tradition glass front and are more than robust enough - it's unconventional for sure, perhaps some helpful comments might be more constructive ?

well if you had listened to the sound you would have the full story and perhaps wouldnt have been so quick to pour scorn on my comment that it might even catch fire.

Ianski · May 25, 2012

just watched the vid "NICE" the guy mentioned other vids so im going to check out his other brain storms. perhaps hes fitted a flux capacitr

Just got Solar Panels Fitted :)

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