Wind Deflector and solar panels.
Submitted: Sunday, Oct 08, 2017 at 13:17
ThreadID:
135715
Views:
12050
Replies:
9
FollowUps:
3
This Thread has been Archived
Member - silkwood
I'm going to have some gear on the roof rack and previously had a wind deflector installed at the front. I'm planning to do the same and, after a discussion with a fellow traveller last year, I'm also planning on putting two (flexible) solar panels on the front of the deflector.
Two questions:
1. Is there really a bonus in putting a deflector on?
2. Has anyone any comments to make about having solar panels mounted here (apart from the cleanng needed and the odd stone impact)?
Thanks (in advance).
Cheers,
Mark
Reply By: pop2jocem - Sunday, Oct 08, 2017 at 16:50
Sunday, Oct 08, 2017 at 16:50
Mark,
The concerns I would have from the perspective of mounting them on a front facing angled wind deflector are as follows.
Firstly damage to them by rocks or whatever and I guess that depends on the size of
the rock and how resilient you reckon the panels are. This of course is not totally negated by having them mounted flat on the rack, but in my opinion, reduced.
Secondly the fact that flat mounted non movable panels are more likely to get sun exposure for a greater amount of daylight time than angled at any fixed orientation without moving the vehicle.
As far as how effective a wind deflector is, I would imagine the trucking industry wouldn't bother with making something the size of a small house as streamlined as possible including deflectors to prevent wind getting behind the cab and impacting the trailer if some measurable gains were not forthcoming.
How much would it cost to fabricate a simple deflector from plywood or similar, attach it to your roof rack, and do a trial run or two? If the effect is not what you desire don't bother. My feeling is that there will be some benefit. How much is up to you.
Cheers
Pop
AnswerID:
614239
Reply By: RMD - Sunday, Oct 08, 2017 at 16:55
Sunday, Oct 08, 2017 at 16:55
I used solar panels but not forward facing. Can't see the point in that. Predominantly the sun is in the sky so above is best. Unless the flexible or hard panels are definitely pointed to the sun, then most of the time, nearly always, they will produce very little.
You don''t mention the size or area of the proposed deflector but I use two hard solar panels on the roof of a Dmax and made a wind deflector/fairing out of part of a Hyundai rear bumper plastic. It DOES Reduce wind drag and noise because it is cut to the roof shape and the curve of the plastic runs the air up and over the panels. Works
well.
AnswerID:
614240
Reply By: rumpig - Sunday, Oct 08, 2017 at 19:02
Sunday, Oct 08, 2017 at 19:02
Kimberley have a forward facing solar panel on the top of the front box lid of their Kampers (faces like a wind deflector would), I've had fist size rocks spitting out the back of my 4wd up near Kingfisher
Camp in the NT, peppered the camper with stone chips out West around
Birdsville, etc etc, and still no
sign of the solar panel sustaining any damage. Solar panels aren't as flimsy as people think they are....yes they can be smashed, but I've not had a problem with my camper or the solar panel I had mounted on my 4wd as a wind deflector like you want to do either. I mounted my panel to help deflect the wind off of the storage box I had mounted on the roofrack for a 6 week trip, i'd like to think it made a differance to fuel economy, but i doubt it was huge
AnswerID:
614244
Follow Up By: Jackolux - Sunday, Oct 08, 2017 at 19:58
Sunday, Oct 08, 2017 at 19:58
Probably just a matter of luck or bad luck , we camped beside a couple with
Kimberley Karavan at Karijini last year the Solar Panel on the front of their KK had been broken by a stone /
rock .
FollowupID:
884808
Follow Up By: rumpig - Monday, Oct 09, 2017 at 07:43
Monday, Oct 09, 2017 at 07:43
I don't know where the Karavans locate their solar panels to know if it's angled / protected the same way, hopefully they were unlucky and not me lucky...lol.
FollowupID:
884813