Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 17:00:30 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Mounting Solar Panel on a Westy
In-Reply-To: <0BFC317D-C54D-4AC4-BBD6-738EC07D62B1@EricWunrow.com>
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For another application (travel trailer)..I have a 150w panel that has
it's own 'case' for transport. I made a 'box' from 1/4" plywood with a
piano hinge. I'll try to explain it, simple in reality but a bit tough
to describe. Handy as heck to carry around.
You cut the plywood into two pieces, each slightly larger than the
panel's overall dimension.. You mount a border around one of the pieces
of ply...the border is 1X pine in my application and it is sized to the
thickness of the solar panel. Ok, so you could just drop the panel into
the box shape and then fasten the second sheet on and you would have it
enclosed like in a box...but here's the trick..
You mount one end of the 'box' right to an edge of the panel with a piano
hinge or whatever...Screw it onto the aluminum extrusion that surrounds the
glass/plastic. Then, opposite that hinge you add the second part (the
other edge) of the Box...with another set of hinges....Think of a Book
Jacket for a sort of idea....
To deploy the panel, you open the 'box', then scoot the panel itself
across one of the 'lids' until you have an equilateral triangle. You fix
the solar panel to the lid, forming a triangle holding it open at a 120
degree angle at all three edges.....The front is the panel, the back is the
plywood edged-with-pine box and the base is the plywood lid...
.I put a rock or two 'inside" on the leg of the plywood/panel triangle that
is on the ground, to keep it stable in the frequent gale force winds I
often encounter in MY camping...When ready to travel you just 'close up the
book" and you have the whole works contained in a flat box just slightly
thicker than the panel, but no worries about something poking or breaking
the glass/plastic. I put a handy webbing handle on the box to carry it
around like an art portfolio or something.... I don't have any pictures
anywhere, sorry
Fixed panel mounting on the van?...as mentioned, you don't want to limit
yourself to always parking in the sun. if you are moving, the alternator
does a pretty good job with the charge... I see urban campers with their
panels on the roof...I guess if you just do short drives to move around a
city and park on the streets where ever you can, that roof mount would be
great for a lot of electrical draw with short driving time...But if you are
doing an hour or two to get to a camping spot or traveling on vacation,
your alternator will have you charged up ....
Solar is THE way to go...generators are selfish in that they impose your
charging noise on everyone within ear shot...and who wants to listen to a
generator...except the guy/gal who's running it and tells himself..."I'm
not +really+ making any noise...you can barely hear this one, it's really
quiet"....BS! Generators all make noise. Solar panels make no noise. No
noise when you are in a quiet spot is better and your neighbors will
appreciate it.
On Tue, Oct 8, 2013 at 11:44 AM, Eric Wunrow <VW@ericwunrow.com> wrote:
> I'm new to Westys, but considered the best solar route to go for some time.
>
> I went with a portable, a 120 watt panel from Zamp Solar in Bend, Oregon.
> Fabulous knowledge base there in addition to great craftsmanship. Pricier
> than the imports of questionable quality, and comes with a 25 year
> warranty. It folds into a ballistic case at about 20x40 inches and fits
> perfectly behind the passenger seat and in front of our cooler.
>
> Why do a portable?
> 1). You don't need a panel on the roof for charging your house battery on
> the road, the alternator does that for you;
> 2). Solid-mount panels cannot be adjusted to be square to the sun (except
> for at Noon on the Equator), severely limiting power gather;
> 3). Takes up space for other things you might want on the roof, whether
> now or later — like cargo boxes — while adding extra weight and a slightly
> higher center of gravity;
> 4). Out of constant sun, rain, dust, hail, slippery fingers, etc. —
> factors which are hard on anything, as we all know;
> 5). Here's the Big One... does anyone want to park in the sun in the
> summer?
>
> I believe that GoWesty now carries the Zamp panels, and they do their
> homework.
>
> EW
> Eric Wunrow Pictures
> 85 S Union Blvd, #Q123
> Lakewood, CO 80228
>
> 303. 988. 8717
> EricWunrow.com (soon!)
>
> 
>
>
> On Oct 8, 2013, at 7:30 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) wrote:
>
> I have been restoring a very nice 91 Westy for a customer and I am getting
> ready to set up his secondary battery system. I don't know why but the
> other morning I woke up with the thought of why not add a solar panel to
> the roof of the Westy and then that could charge the secondary battery no
> matter what? I looked in Harbor Freight paper and they are having a sale
> on a 45 watt panel setup with accessories for $149. I remember when these
> were $300 so they have really come down in price. The Westy already has a
> beefy rack mounted to the pop top which was going to have a basket style
> safari rack installed on it, but I could mount the solar panels there
> instead there is plenty of room and the rack is plenty strong to support
> the panels.
>
> I plan on installing three 22 amp hour wheel chair batteries in parallel
> and then I could also install an inverter if the customer wanted to charge
> his laptop or power a tv.
>
> I guess what I want from the list is to see if anyone else has done this
> and if so, if you have any advice for me. I am a solar newb but I am very
> good with electric.
>
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>
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