Solar panel in the luggage rack

[Sodo]

Here's some details regarding the Renogy 42.2 x 19.6 x 1.4 panel in the Westfalia luggage cargo area.
My goal is that it's below-grade, hidden.
Fwd blocks 1.75" high would level the panel.
The plan is to store an extension cable and campsite-leveling blocks underneath.
There's more hollow space up / under the panel.

crazyvwvanman has a similar pic, except showing 2 panels stacked in the cargo area on other thread: Solar Panel Mounting Without Drilling?
See pic---->https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1925928.jpg

I was hoping to use 24v and put 2x 50W panels in the luggage area, but the wooden dummy proved that 2x50w won't fit in there. (23.7 x 19.6 x 1.2).
You can see that the 23.7 extends one inch past the center cargo footman's loop.
With a 19.6 dimension, it's 22.7 inches to the center.

I've been looking at panel dimensions until my eyes started to bleed.
Need appx 22.7 x 19.6 x 1.2 for the 2x 50w scheme.
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Sodo]

I'm still scratchin' away at the panel mount.
It's getting better.

Have a setup now that clips into the cargo loops.
Four spring-pins hold it in place.
It works, but four pins is more than I want to fuss with.
I have a better idea but the Aluminum store is closed 'til Monday.

Gas struts are arranged for hold-down force, but if you lift it past 30° then it pops up to about 60°
I haven't figured out how to limit the angle, 30-40° is a good angle for the Northern states.

The stand works well on the ground too.
If someone tripped over it I suppose it could get pretty mangled.

I need a way to get the wire from the cargo area down to below the sink.
I'll drill a hole in the rooftop below the cargo area - into the headliner.

Does anyone know if a wire can go from the headliner down thru the "__" pillar?
I think I recall that path is very well blocked.
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[dhaavers]

[Vanagon Nut]

[Sodo]

[Vanagon Nut]

[Sodo]

I'm digging around in that area now.
Spice shelf off, headliner down.

Here's a pic of the route I'd like.
It sure looks blocked from the courtesy light. But maybe a long drill from the going rearward from courtesy light?
I don't really like that idea cuz I can't get in there to silicone the wire where it goes thru the new/sharp drilled hole.

I put a headlamp in there. No light detected from headliner area.
I’ll look again tonight when its real dark.
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[shizzon]

I'm pretty sure you can get a wire through that drivers side B pillar. I believe I did that on my old van.
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1989 Bostig Syncro Westy

[Sodo]

That’s great news.
If someone with an endoscope could take a peek at whats up there... that would be great!!
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[0cean]

Yes you can. If you get under the reinforcment for the b frame its a straight shot down.
_________________
I'm not a mechanic, I just play one on the internet

Cluster Rebuild:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569920&highlight=

Left for Dead the Resurrection Story Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613669
(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3)

[Sodo]

I made a how-to thread for the wire-route that I found today.
It's for a Westfalia.

New hopefully searchable title (?) thread called: Hidden wire to Westy fwd cargo area via driver pillar
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Sodo]

Here's a pic of the current setup.
It engages the cargo loops and gas struts hold it up like a trunk-lid.
It's held down by gravity, but probably needs a (locking?) latch.
The engagement is spring-loaded to the cargo loops, and clamped.
It's sort of a "quick-release" and the supports set on the ground, tipping it towards the sun in the same way.

I'll add some kind of 'angle adjust', maybe with webbing.

There is an "SAE connector" bulkhead terminal.

I will store a coil of extension cable there, perhaps other things too.

_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[vanis13]

like!
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace

www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make

[Sodo]

5 kits of the mounts are done, $240 See classifieds.

Fabricator put in the effort to setup for making more I suppose he'd get on it But here's the first 5.

See all details in classifieds.
Gas struts not included.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2384238
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Steve M.]

[Sodo]

I read that Renogy changed the dimension of their "compact panel" from 19.6 to 20.0 inches and is selling it under the same partnumber.
Wouldn't Renogy go ballistic if their own suppliers did that.... to THEM?

I don'tknow if it's true but here's the datasheet for the "100W compact" that lists 19.6 inches.

https://www.renogy.com/content/RNG-100D-SS/100D-SS-Datasheet.pdf

Mine is 19.6"
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Steve M.]

[Steve M.]

HQST was/is selling a panel same 100W and the same original dim for $89.00, but they are out of stock everywhere that I find.

The is another company ACOPower selling the same looking 100W Monocrystalline at the 19.6 dims and it probably is the same panel, but do I want to go with a brand name I haven't heard before. It is also 90 bucks.


HQST has a 70W panel at 16.9" wide for $70.00,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082PK6X67/ref=sspa_dk_d...NrPXRydWU=

but I'm greedy and want that 100W because I know it exists!

Screw it. Ordered the ACOpower panel. Same specs and 5 yr warranty on the solar cells.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G53TUIS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1L4RZ3C67RMV1&psc=1

The Amazon page shows it at 19.6, but the pdf download for the manual shows it at 26.5"...Hoping it is a generic manual for a few different panels.
F*ck these companies!
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[Sodo]

This $250 pair is listed as 19.6" and the decal on the item looks very similar to my RNG-100D-SS.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GKB6EAM/ref=cm_sw_em_...&psc=1
The partnumber appears to be HQST-100D-SS
If you could determine somehow that it's truly 19.6"....
And find a friend to buy the other panel.
I'm sure you can find someone if it's the only panel that fits in the Westy cargo area.

This is a total bummer for my buddy Ela who built about 20 aluminum drop-in mounts for the the 19.6" to click into the Westy cargo loops.
SAMBA Classified: Solar clip on mounts for Westy cargo loops
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Steve M.]