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Howesight
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008
Posts: 3274
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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 Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, IMDBui.
If you want a panel that is hard mounted to your pop-top to deliver its rated output, you have to park the vehicle very precisely. Panels not oriented at 90 degrees to the sun will not deliver their rated output.
The whole purpose of a solar panel(s) is to charge your auxiliary battery to replace battery power you have used, without running your engine. Solar panels on a moving vehicle do not charge well. The reason is that the constant changes in panel output that occur due to being in motion (unless you are driving in only one direction in constant sun at the right angle) lead to constant changes in charge controller output and deep cycle batteries do not charge well in those circumstances. An auxiliary battery system should be configured so that any time one is operating the engine, the auxiliary battery is being charged.
I store my folding panel in my garage in one place together with all the stuff I usually load up for a camping trip. This way, my van is not a break-in target when I use it when not camping. Note that without the suitcase, the folding panel sits well below the plane level of the Westy pop-top.
In actual use, I think you might well find that a portable panel is very useful, especially if you camp anywhere featuring trees. We have a few trees up here in BC. So, a quick-release mount for your panel might be a good idea.
_________________
'86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Howesight wrote: |
This one from Renogy fits nicely:
...
It's a 100W folding unit that comes with a charge controller attached. |
Odd. Mine doesn't:
It fits, but it won't lay flat.
I've also got the controller near the battery and use the city water for solar connection: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7413296#7413296 .
_________________
~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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ThankYouJerry
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2012
Posts: 2271
Location: Shakedown Street
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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^^^ Does it fit without the case? Also, what kind of controller? MPPT or PWM? Jay Brown says MPPT provides about 20% more current to the battery. I think Renogy will provide that panel with MPPT if you ask them.
_________________
1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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| ThankYouJerry wrote: |
| ^^^ Does it fit without the case? |
Don't know; haven't tried (because I won't be traveling without the case). If I get a chance, I'll try this week for the sake of you all considering one.
| ThankYouJerry wrote: |
| Also, what kind of controller? MPPT or PWM? Jay Brown says MPPT provides about 20% more current to the battery. I think Renogy will provide that panel with MPPT if you ask them. |
PWM. I don't have a system that requires the more costly MPPT. The 100W is actually overkill for my setup, but I planned for potential expansion. Perhaps in the future I'll need to upgrade to MPPT, but for now the PWM is working well.
_________________
~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5076
Location: denver
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 6:42 am Post subject: |
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| Howesight wrote: |
Thanks, IMDBui.
If you want a panel that is hard mounted to your pop-top to deliver its rated output, you have to park the vehicle very precisely. Panels not oriented at 90 degrees to the sun will not deliver their rated output.
The whole purpose of a solar panel(s) is to charge your auxiliary battery to replace battery power you have used, without running your engine. Solar panels on a moving vehicle do not charge well. The reason is that the constant changes in panel output that occur due to being in motion (unless you are driving in only one direction in constant sun at the right angle) lead to constant changes in charge controller output and deep cycle batteries do not charge well in those circumstances. An auxiliary battery system should be configured so that any time one is operating the engine, the auxiliary battery is being charged. |
This is valuable info, thank you. I keep going back and forth between a more permanent mount vs. going portable which, for anyone following along, is discussed at length in this thread :
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=609971&highlight=solar+portable
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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imdbui
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2014
Posts: 87
Location: Aloha, OR
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 11:15 am Post subject: |
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| joetiger wrote: |
| Howesight wrote: |
Thanks, IMDBui.
If you want a panel that is hard mounted to your pop-top to deliver its rated output, you have to park the vehicle very precisely. Panels not oriented at 90 degrees to the sun will not deliver their rated output.
The whole purpose of a solar panel(s) is to charge your auxiliary battery to replace battery power you have used, without running your engine. Solar panels on a moving vehicle do not charge well. The reason is that the constant changes in panel output that occur due to being in motion (unless you are driving in only one direction in constant sun at the right angle) lead to constant changes in charge controller output and deep cycle batteries do not charge well in those circumstances. An auxiliary battery system should be configured so that any time one is operating the engine, the auxiliary battery is being charged. |
This is valuable info, thank you. I keep going back and forth between a more permanent mount vs. going portable which, for anyone following along, is discussed at length in this thread :
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=609971&highlight=solar+portable |
Good points. I hadn't considered all those benefits of a portable panel. I think the best of both worlds would be to have a semi-permanent install that can be removed and positioned. Guess it all depends on how you'd use it though. |
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Howesight
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008
Posts: 3274
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 11:54 am Post subject: |
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| kamzcab86 wrote: |
| Howesight wrote: |
This one from Renogy fits nicely:
...
It's a 100W folding unit that comes with a charge controller attached. |
Odd. Mine doesn't:
It fits, but it won't lay flat.
I've also got the controller near the battery and use the city water for solar connection: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7413296#7413296 . |
Hey Kamz:
I agree that the Renogy 100W folding unit is a tight fit in the luggage rack. I had to press firmly on the "suitcase" to get mine to sit flat. I think there is some variance in the suitcase size. In my case, I was not too worried because I do plan to make a luggage rack cover and then not use the suitcase at all. Did you find the 100 watts was enough for your rig? I have not had much opportunity yet to test mine.
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Howesight wrote: |
| I agree that the Renogy 100W folding unit is a tight fit in the luggage rack. I had to press firmly on the "suitcase" to get mine to sit flat. I think there is some variance in the suitcase size. |
That must be it. When I was in Bullhead/Laughlin in February, I put it up in the bin to make the short trip to Lake Mohave. I tried forcing it down (unlike in that garage pic), but it wouldn't go. The case is rather thick, plus the zipper and handle; so all three are the issue. It's not a big deal; just makes attaching hooks behind it a little more difficult.
| Howesight wrote: |
| Did you find the 100 watts was enough for your rig? I have not had much opportunity yet to test mine. |
Like I said above, 100W is overkill for my van, but I wanted to be prepared for potential future expansion. It keeps my little aux battery topped up quite easily. All that runs off my aux is the ARB, Dometic fan, Westy kitchen stuff, and LED lights.
_________________
~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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| kamzcab86 wrote: |
| ThankYouJerry wrote: |
| ^^^ Does it fit without the case? |
Don't know; haven't tried (because I won't be traveling without the case). If I get a chance, I'll try this week for the sake of you all considering one. |
Update:
It fits without the case. I might have to reconsider my not-without-the-case travel requirement, and simply make a thinner protective cover for it. 
Edit: This all was posted in the folding panel topic, but decided to post it here too:
100W Renogy folding panel:
Removed charge controller from panel and wired in 45 amp Anderson power poles (50 amp that comes with the panel wouldn't fit in the GoWesty city water hook-up box without major modification):
Stuck the charge controller behind the rear seat:
(see page 13 for more charge controller info)
_________________
~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子
Last edited by kamzcab86 on Sun Apr 26, 2015 2:39 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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ThankYouJerry
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2012
Posts: 2271
Location: Shakedown Street
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| Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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^^^ Thanks. That helps seal the deal for me  .
Only thing better would be if Renogy made "the perfect folding Westy solar panel" designed specifically for the Westy luggage rack... say 18"x44" plus a case and say... 200W  ???
_________________
1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD |
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outwesty
Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2006
Posts: 1074
Location: Tahoe City
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| Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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| kamzcab86 wrote: |
It fits without the case. I might have to reconsider my not-without-the-case travel requirement, and simply make a thinner protective cover for it. |
Not sure if this has been mentioned but the renogy 100w folding panel fits perfectly in the upper rear bed area with the top closed...with the protective case. I've been very happy with mine. |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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| outwesty wrote: |
| Not sure if this has been mentioned but the renogy 100w folding panel fits perfectly in the upper rear bed area with the top closed...with the protective case. |
True, but I've already got enough rearward weight when traveling.  Plus, for me, the panel is only used when parked for more than just a night; being in the luggage bin gets it out of the way until it's needed.
_________________
~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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davevickery
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005
Posts: 2887
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 8:44 am Post subject: |
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Here is my ideal scenario. A luggage rack hard cover with a flexible panel mounted to it. It would attach using the luggage cleats in the front and some sort of latch in the rear. So it could be unlatched and moved away from the van, or just left in place. The space below the cover will provide a small amount of storage. Too many projects now to work on it.
The Renogy 100W panel looks great, but just need to measure to make sure it can fit onto a cover. It looks close. I imagine trimming the solar panel is out of the question.
The cover would be something like this, maybe rigid PVC with steel tabs that slide into the cleats rather than bungees.
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Howesight
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008
Posts: 3274
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Dave:
The panel that Kamz and I are both talking about is the Renogy 100watt folding panel. I found that it will fit in the luggage rack with its suitcase, but it is a tight fit, requiring you to squeeze the suitcase down a bit. Without the suitcase, it is not even proud above the top plane of the luggage rack and would fit under a luggage rack cover. That is my plan, and as such, my cover will be shaped to ensure the Renogy will fit. In that case, there will be no need for the suitcase.
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davevickery
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005
Posts: 2887
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Howesight wrote: |
Hi Dave:
The panel that Kamz and I are both talking about is the Renogy 100watt folding panel. I found that it will fit in the luggage rack with its suitcase, but it is a tight fit, requiring you to squeeze the suitcase down a bit. Without the suitcase, it is not even proud above the top plane of the luggage rack and would fit under a luggage rack cover. That is my plan, and as such, my cover will be shaped to ensure the Renogy will fit. In that case, there will be no need for the suitcase. |
It's Joe's fault  , he revived an old thread and I was looking at Dubnuts post of the Renology 100 Watt flexible panel. BTW, I measured the distance between the luggage rack cleats and it is over 21", so I think my plan will work. Now back to your regularly scheduled thread. |
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5076
Location: denver
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:44 am Post subject: |
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| davevickery wrote: |
It's Joe's fault |
Guilty as charged. I finally finished my battery project so now I'm pondering solar power in earnest. Much to consider!
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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rotaecho
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2012
Posts: 513
Location: Nomadic Vanlifer
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| Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2015 11:17 am Post subject: |
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I'm finally searching for a luggage rack solution for my solar setup too.
I rarely use the luggage-rack so a permanent setup is best for me. I have a portable 270w panel I can attach to the van when I'm parked in the shade.
The luggage rack would be awesome for just keeping the batteries topped off for the fridge or when parked in close quarters of others (festivals).
Looks like the 25w & 35w mounted panel setup which would have been ideal inside the luggage rack is no longer available at Solarblvd. I'd like to get to at least 60w up there 100w ideal but likely a dream without crazy modifications to the luggage rack itself.
Anyone find any recent panels that fit in the luggage rack?
Thanks!
_________________
-Will
1982 Westfalia mTDI (50deg) aka Betsy Bertha
http://www.tdivanagons.com |
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Westified
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Posts: 402
Location: Miami, FL
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rotaecho
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2012
Posts: 513
Location: Nomadic Vanlifer
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 7:28 am Post subject: |
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Looks nice, but the measurements are 20" deep not 18" not sure it would conceal in the luggage rack without popping up.
Have you installed this panel on your rig?
_________________
-Will
1982 Westfalia mTDI (50deg) aka Betsy Bertha
http://www.tdivanagons.com |
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Westified
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2012
Posts: 402
Location: Miami, FL
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| Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 8:34 am Post subject: |
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I have not installed it. I went and carefully measured my luggage rack. At the bottom it is 19.5" wide. Up about 1.5 inches it is 20 inches wide. So if you use the included brackets screwed to the bottom of the rack it should fit and be either flush or slightly lower than the top of the rack. Measure your rack. I think they are all the same size.
Here are Timwhy measurements:
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1984 Westy Wolfsburg, owned since 1987. FAS 2.0 NA engine conversion in 2022. |
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