Roll Up/Foldable Solar Panel Set-Up Ideas

[UNI]

I've been laying the panels on the ground next to the trailer, but if a big wind comes up they will flip over. Just curious, if your using Roll Up or Foldable Solar Panels how are you setting them up? (Laying them on the ground, hanging from your trailer or hanging from vehicle)

Looking for ideas, I'd like to see how you set up the panels at your campsite. If you have pics that would be great!

 

[Poorboyota26]

if you have the space on the pannel mat put a hole in each corner with a gromet like a tarp then you can stake it down or even tie it up in the trees so that you could use it as an awning or the like.

 

[just eric]

I know Corey has installed a rollup solar panel-

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/camping-equipment/89450-solar-power-camping-overlanding-trips-installed-6-27-2009-a.html

 

[UNI]

I wonder how he has the solar panel attached?

 

[nebep]

I'm not doing a lot of expedition style stuff YET - but, for an RV DIY conversion we're working on, I selected the PowerFilm 60W unit he did that post on. It's QUITE a unit!!

It already has grommets on the corners so you can hang it/attach it. They're smaller grommets. A Bungee cord, or, set of 'em would work find to anchor it just about anyway you want.

I'm looking at building up a foldable frame using Http://www.8020.net materials.

I'll probably have the second panel on its way some time this week. The tests with it have been MOST impressive - I've been seeing 17V+ in shady conditions with this panel.

I did order a MPPT charge controller to match with these panels. My basic understanding is that a MPPT controller is "set" so that when the panel is generating more voltage than the battery can handle, it "stores" that and sends it to the battery as it can, so, you get a more efficient panel.

On standard controllers, extra voltage just becomes heat - and, heat = wasted energy, that doesn't make it to the battery.

I'll post more as I know more!!

(From the looks of it, MPPT controllers are a reasonable amount more for the gains in charging efficiency from what I can see - again, will know a LOT more soon!!)

 

[UNI]

Nebep Posted: I'm not doing a lot of expedition style stuff YET - but, for an RV DIY conversion we're working on, I selected the PowerFilm 60W unit he did that post on.

The Bungee cords are a good idea. I'm hoping to come up with some type of clips to attach it to either the Jeep rack, hood or to the trailer. Please keep me in the loop with your progress and post some pics, I'd like to see how it turns out.

 

[nebep]

What I have so far isn't any more telling than what anyone else has posted so far, but, here goes..

the tester, reading 18.47V in the conditions you see - sun not even hitting it straight on anywhere. Rather shady conditions really..

the tester is hooked up with the panel laying exactly as you see it there, on a balcony, with no sun directly on it. I was pretty impressed by this!

I put some cup hangers on the ceiling so I could hang the panel during early morning straight sun - didn't take any pics of that, BUT, I did get 21V readings when the sun was directly to the panel, and, really, I probably would've gotten higher readings if it were earlier in the day. When I got the 21V readings, it was more mid-morning with sun almost coming straight down over the position of the panel vs. straight AT the panel, so, with sun straight on, I dunno what this would do!! Needless to say, I'm VERY impressed so far.

I did hook up some LEDs.

IN our RV, we have VERY basic electrical needs. LED lights, a MAXXAIR vent fan, and a 110V fridge running off an inverter.

Here's some more info on our conversion:

http://autolox.smugmug.com/Cars/Sprinter-Conversion/8765456_UWbXE#580180270_uP4Mm

 

[UNI]

Your conversion is turning out very nice. I'm looking forward to seeing your solar panel frame.

 

[nebep]

Your conversion is turning out very nice. I'm looking forward to seeing your solar panel frame.

Thanks kindly!

Sorry it's not a Land Cruiser being set up to take on the desert!!!

Hopefully some of the things we're doing with this can spawn some great ideas for you overlanders out there!!!

I've read TONS of posts from all different sorts of forums on electrical system designs that just seem over done. Our simple system has been VERY dependable. The system in this truck has been in place for about 6 years now with absolutely NO faults at all.

I'm in love with the LEDs we're using - they're VERY bright!!! I keep seeing these fold up tents everyone here uses. These LEDs could SO easily be put under the tent sides to provide light for work/kitchen areas - heck, even used in the tents for GREAT night lights.

I powered nine of them directly off the panel earlier today.

The next stage of the test will be mounting the panel a little more permanently on the back porch, putting it into a charge controller and battery, I have a 2000W Tripp-Lite inverter "laying around" that works fine, just hasn't been used, it's a "backup" in case my primary one I use for work decides to not work.

So, the plan is to set this system up on the back porch and see how well the panel charges a battery. I found the battery I'm going to use to test - IT's at Costco - it's Kirkland's 110Ah deep cycle marine battery - It's $59, and I feel like that'll be a very reasonably priced test subject!!

 

[Corey]

I just put my solar panel on the windshield and hood last summer.
It staid put and did not move the entire trip.

For this coming season I picked up some shower curtain rod hooks to hang the panel from the horizontal pole for the Campinglabs awning.

If it gets windy, I can stake it down from the bottom.

These foldable panels are pretty amazing, and when packed away take up hardly any space.

 

[nebep]

Corey,

That pic pushed me over the edge!!

I've been looking at solar to help extend our "sit stillability" for quite a while - when I saw your pic of the panel on the hood, and if I"m not mistook, a pic of the volt meter - It was like a switch - I knew that would be "the one"!!

We travel in different vehicles, so, I was looking to be able to use whatever panel I got in many instances - here at the house to keep some deep cycle batteries charged, in our other vehicle that we camp out of some with a 12V cooler....and then for our "big rides" where sometimes the truck is sitting still for a few days at a time while we're out havin' fun....

My only drawback is the size of the grommets on these panels. I wish they just a little bigger, but, like you've pointed out - curtain rod hooks!!!

 

[Corey]

Yeah, I just put up a new shower curtain about a month back, and I had bought new clear hooks for it.

The idea came to me a few days later on how to move the solar panel around some more when camping, and the shower ordeal sparked an idea.

Like the solar panel, the shower curtain has small holes in it which the curtain holders I bought work just fine.

A few tent stakes in the ground with some small bungies should secure it good, or tent guy lines.

Not my action, but these would be cool, as they glow in the dark, one less thing to trip over if I have to go down the ladder at night to water the bushes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MLH-Micro-Guy-Line-Guyline-Tent-Tarp-Tensioners/250573888025

 

[fisher205]

I have been going to do a foldable for my rig also. But an idea I saw on a flat plate a guy had just laying on the ground was a bicycle cable and lock on it. I think this would help prevent it from growing legs while you were gone.

 

[UNI]

Corey Posted: For this coming season I picked up some shower curtain rod hooks to hang the panel from the horizontal pole for the Campinglabs awning.

The curtain rod clips are a good idea. I want to be able to clip the soft panel to the Jeep rack, horizontal rod on the Jeep awning and the rack on the trailer (Opposite side of the trailer rainfly). This would give us the option to clip on the panel facing the southern sky, no matter what direction I park.

Fisher205 Posted: I have been going to do a foldable for my rig also. But an idea I saw on a flat plate a guy had just laying on the ground was a bicycle cable and lock on it.

Thats a good idea too, I have a few of these cables that would work great for that! Click Here: Cable

 

[nebep]

I wonder how long those laptop security cables are...hmm....I think I just came up with the killer solution...

PVC pipe - cut a slot in it on one side with a dado blade - make a little longer than the width of the panel. Drill holes in line with the grommets, using security hardware, fasten the panel to the PVC pipe.

here's the catalyst. It just occurred to me that cutting the area where the grommet is would still leave the panel useful if someone liked it more than I.

So, by covering the grommets and the area that could be destroyed and keep the panel useful, you make it less attractive for the smart thief because he'll probably recognize he's gonna damage it and make it useless.

with the PVC pipe longer, you can also put eye-bolts or something like that out at the ends.

Do this on both ends and you can keep the panel flat and attach it anywhere you want.

Also, on Corey's pic - he's lined up with that tree where there's a fair bit of sun shining on it - I wonder how you might attach the bottom of the panel to the top of the tent, and get the top of the panel up to th tree where there's even more sun to "work with"...

Ahhh...imagine a hammock - this is what I'm thinking you'd end up with for fastening the panel.. so, you'd have triangles on each end. With a telescoping pole of some sort, you could reach the top of it fairly high I'd think..??

So, youandi - put the PVC poles on each end, and fasten those to your rack, then fasten the panel to the PVC pole..

In my mind, if the PVC pole even covers the actual solar part a little, that would be even better, maybe take a file or something and round off the edge that's close to that to prevent premature wear..