How to secure solar panel on roof rack

Submitted: Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 19:10

ThreadID: 89255 Views:20257 Replies:8 FollowUps:10

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True Blue

How have people secured their vehicle roof top solar panels to their vehicle?

Just simply buying a roof rack basket, securing the panel within this or have you found other solutions? A photo would be wonderful.

Reading back through some threads we have read many items where people have secured them to the roof of their caravans but we have a fold out camper so the best option we feel is to put in on the roof of the vehicle.

We are looking at purchasing a single 120w panel and securing permanently for any extended trip. Is the roof rack basket thingy the best way to go?

When not travelling we will remove the panel.

My vehicle is an 03 Prado Grande.

Any help much appreciated.

Wayne

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Reply By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 19:38

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 19:38

I always have liked the look of the setup from Derek of ABR, who has secured his 80w panel to the basket as per his blog:

Solar Panel on Prado LC150

Andrew

AnswerID: 466100

Follow Up By: lancie49 - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 19:43

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 19:43

Now that is clever, but obviously the panel is only effective at camps, not while travelling between camps.
Not much value if you land in camp at 4pm...........

FollowupID: 740175

Follow Up By: Member - Michael N (QLD) - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 19:50

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 19:50

Lancie49

I think you have forgotten about the alternator that will be charging everything while driving and when you stop the solar panel will take over.

FollowupID: 740177

Follow Up By: lancie49 - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 23:45

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 23:45

Yes Michael, I'm all for the alternator doing its job, but when you pull into camp at 3or4 in the arvo chances are good you've missed the best of the sun.
Too late then for the solar.
Maybe I'm looking at it wrong.

Lance

FollowupID: 740197

Follow Up By: Echucan Bob - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 08:58

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 08:58

Lance

You are already fully charged so additional solar charging not required.

Bob

FollowupID: 740211

Reply By: Member - Michael N (QLD) - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 19:45

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 19:45

True Blue

I have a 2005 Prado and I bought a set of roof racks and a basket and orginally sat the folding 120w panels in the bottom of the basket and secured them with zip ties. All worked well until I noticed that early morning and afternoon sun put a hugh shadow from the rim across the panels. I have since raised the panels and secured them by threaded rod through the top rim of the basket and the aluminium lip of the solar panel. Also a wind diverter will be needed at the front of the basket or the drumming noise from the air passing through the basket, while driving,will send you deaf.

I have tried to up load a photo but I can't work out how to down size it. Sorry.

Mick N

AnswerID: 466103

Follow Up By: Member - Michael N (QLD) - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 20:05

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 20:05

True Blue

I have added a photo of the roof top solar setup into my profile. Have a look at it and I hope it helps you.

Mick N

FollowupID: 740184

Reply By: Member - John and Val - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 20:24

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 20:24

True Blue,

Our approach is shown in our blog Our Troopy Setup.

We fitted C section channel to the custom roofrack, fitted HDPE runners to the solar panel and simply slide the panel into the rack. Since the original we've added a second panel on top of the first, again sliding in from the side of the vehicle. Works well, allows the top panel to be charging whenever the vehicle is in the sun, and both panels to be easily removed and set up when stationary. See the pictures in the blog.

Cheers

John

J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein

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AnswerID: 466106

Reply By: Life Member Dick B - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 20:31

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 20:31

Hi True Blue

I have 2 x 80 watt panels on the forward part of my Troopy roof rack. They work fine and I have never had any problems. They are charging 2 x AGM battery's. The solar does a much better job of charging the AGM battery's than the vehicle alternator can ever do, due to the higher voltage delivered. If there is no sun I switch back to the alternator but it only brings the battery's up to about 80pct.

Cheers
Dick

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AnswerID: 466107

Reply By: Member - Ups and Downs - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 21:40

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 21:40

Wayne

I have an aluminium roof rack and had 2 aluminium C section's welded underneath. The panels are shaded when travelling but as someone stated the alternator is charging at that time.

My 2 panels slide into the channel with a small padlock through the channel at the end to stop them falling out. A thief could get them without too much trouble.

Paul

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AnswerID: 466109

Reply By: True Blue - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 23:06

Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 23:06

Thank you all very much for your replies and suggestions. Great set ups, that's for sure.

I liked the look of Michael's basket arrangement. That is very much what I had in mind.

Plenty of food for thought from you all, thanks again,

Wayne

AnswerID: 466120

Reply By: Member - Niss42 - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 10:28

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 10:28

G'day True Blue.
I fitted two panels to the ARB rack on the Patrol using aluminum T section fixed to the rack mesh floor, and secured the panels to the T section with keyed alike window locks.
Barry.
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Image Could Not Be Found

AnswerID: 466143

Follow Up By: True Blue - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 19:13

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 19:13

Thank you for the response Niss42. Very clever and a great set up.

cheers,
Wayne

FollowupID: 740264

Follow Up By: Member - michael H (NSW) - Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 07:33

Wednesday, Sep 28, 2011 at 07:33

Hi Barry/Niss42

I pinched your idea with the window locks and came up with four way tilting for my four solar panels I'll post it up when Its completed.
I'm waiting on 16 of the critters to be keyed alike
It will also be on a track so you can slide them up and down the van and remove all or one at a time, been a slow process but I got there in the end.

Cheers Michael

FollowupID: 740294

Reply By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 14:29

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 14:29

Got a special made partially flexible 60watt monocrystalline item and just stuck it on the roof with silicon.

Its requires no brackets or special mounting bits and is only about 5mm thick so you would never know its even there.

Image Could Not Be Found

Robin Miller

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AnswerID: 466157

Follow Up By: Member - John - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 16:05

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 16:05

Robin, from whom and what cost please? Thanks in advance. John

John and Jan

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Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 18:35

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 18:35

All I have is the ebay data as below john approx $300

15/1/10

Seller
maggie_electronics
xiaoqinkevin2002@163.com

Description
sunflex 60W monocrystal Flexible Solar Panel,12V Charge
Item Number 250562868321

Robin Miller

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FollowupID: 740260