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scruffyboy Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2004 Posts: 170 Location: San Francisco, Ca
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:51 pm Post subject: So far so good |
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I've had the unit set up in the window of my apartment and it's been charging up an SLA battery. Not ideal conditions but I'm surprised and the output given the orientation of the panel, sitting behind double-paned windows, etc. I don't have an ammeter hooked up, just a voltmeter reading battery voltage. I've been checking where the charge controller cuts off the charge and when it disconnects the load. |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10379 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:23 am Post subject: |
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I just checked a local supplier with a similar product. Though his web page shows only the 100/120 Watt folding panels as sold out, all his 80 Watt folding panels are gone too.
(though 80 Watts may be too little even if used only with only a TF49 and 100 AH battery)
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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BetaVan Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2011 Posts: 209 Location: Redwood City, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 10:52 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
ADJUSTABLE ANGLE STEEL FRAME SOLAR PANEL MOUNTING KIT WALL ROOF OR GROUND MOUNT |
Will look into that. Thanks! _________________ 84 Westfalia
Vanistan 2.2 Powerplant
WBXhaust + External Oilcooler |
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joseph928 Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2011 Posts: 2114 Location: flagstaff az.
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 10:37 am Post subject: |
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BetaVan wrote: |
Looks great. Since I am lucky enough (or sometimes not) to live in the SF Bay area, we've got tons of solar suppliers around. Just picked up a 100 watt panel yesterday for $120. I already had a charge controller and wire, so I am set. I'll keep it in the back, as it fits perfectly on top of the cushion. I was hoping to roof mount it, but with having a Yakima Skybox and some sort of canoe,kayak, or surfboard combo on top, there's just too much shadowing going on.
The last thing I need to construct is a mount to angle to the sun and I'll be good to go. Solar rocks! |
ADJUSTABLE ANGLE STEEL FRAME SOLAR PANEL MOUNTING KIT WALL ROOF OR GROUND MOUNT
price: US $12.99 for a pair
Shipping: US $8.98
Quantity: 4 Available
Item number: 400299768998 Ebay- this is all you need, I have two of these on 85 watt panels on my vans. Great price. Works good for mobile mounting. _________________ 1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug.
Last edited by joseph928 on Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6247 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 10:04 am Post subject: |
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Here's the response I got from Solarblvd after an inquiry:
They sold out in one week - we should have more next month. Sorry about the inconvinience. =(
Prashant Shewa
http://www.solarblvd.com _________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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BetaVan Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2011 Posts: 209 Location: Redwood City, CA
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Looks great. Since I am lucky enough (or sometimes not) to live in the SF Bay area, we've got tons of solar suppliers around. Just picked up a 100 watt panel yesterday for $120. I already had a charge controller and wire, so I am set. I'll keep it in the back, as it fits perfectly on top of the cushion. I was hoping to roof mount it, but with having a Yakima Skybox and some sort of canoe,kayak, or surfboard combo on top, there's just too much shadowing going on.
The last thing I need to construct is a mount to angle to the sun and I'll be good to go. Solar rocks! _________________ 84 Westfalia
Vanistan 2.2 Powerplant
WBXhaust + External Oilcooler |
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WestiCoast Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2012 Posts: 194 Location: Oceanside Ca
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Photos Posted |
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scruffy wrote: |
I'm not all that computer savvy when it comes to uploading pics to a particular forum, haven't got that much practice yet but I did manage to get photos of the Folding Solar Panel Kit uploaded to my gallery |
FTFY
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adv rider Samba Member
Joined: September 09, 2012 Posts: 288 Location: Everett,wa
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:35 pm Post subject: Solar kit |
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Looking forward to hearing about the kit's performance! This is on my short list of future upgrades _________________ 86' Wolfsburg weekender 2.1, 4spd, , merian brown |
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scruffyboy Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2004 Posts: 170 Location: San Francisco, Ca
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 11:00 pm Post subject: Oh Well... |
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Hopefully they're just out of them for now and dropped them from the site temporarily. Oh yeah that's right... That Thing In The Desert What's it called? Flaming Humanoid? Burning Body? It's coming up when? THAT'S where they all went! |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6247 Location: Portland OR
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scruffyboy Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2004 Posts: 170 Location: San Francisco, Ca
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:48 pm Post subject: Photos Posted |
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I'm not all that computer savvy when it comes to uploading pics to a particular forum, haven't got that much practice yet but I did manage to get photos of the Folding Solar Panel Kit uploaded to my gallery. Hopefully someone can make out this particular bit of gear and find it again |
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NC Dude Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2012 Posts: 127 Location: Cary
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10379 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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scruffyboy Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2004 Posts: 170 Location: San Francisco, Ca
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:10 pm Post subject: Sorry about that... |
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Hey Guys,
Looked at the site I ordered from, I couldn't find it again either! Sent them a message asking about the unit and I'm awaiting a reply. It's really odd... I just got it yesterday. I'll re-post when I have more info.
Again, Sorry guys |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12006 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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pix are worth 1000 posts. |
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thatvwbusguy Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2007 Posts: 1712 Location: Newmarket, New Hampshire
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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I can't find any mention of a folding 100W panel kit anywhere on the site. Can you post a link to what you got? _________________ Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion. |
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purplepeopleeater Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005 Posts: 3117 Location: E. Washington
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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I don't see it, cheap ! |
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scruffyboy Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2004 Posts: 170 Location: San Francisco, Ca
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:01 pm Post subject: WSOLAR 100 watt foldable kit from SolarBlvd |
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Just received my WSOLAR 100watt foldable solar panel kit from SolarBlvd (www.solarblvd.com)
The unit arrived within 3 days of ordering in good shape with more than adequate packing. The unit folds nicely and latches securely. The carry handle seems beefy enough. The legs appear kind of spindly but just have to wait and see. They do seem to aim the panel at the correct angle. The whole thing comes with a pretty decent carry bag. It *should* fit up in the upper berth, haven't stuffed it up there yet. Also haven't had a chance to really give the thing a work-out yet but early evaluation looks promising.
Some interesting features;
10 AMP charge controller included and mounted to the back of unit
Hook up wiring including 15' of lead-in wire, 1 set battery clamps, 1 cigarette lighter (or power port for the non smokers) adapter
Charge controller shows battery voltage with 3 LED's, charge indicator, load indicator LED's
Controller will cut power to load if battery voltage drops below a certain point.
At just under $200 including shipping it's a pretty impressive set-up IMHO
*NOTE* be SURE and check the polarity on the battery output pigtail coming off the charge controller, mine was color-coded and hooked up improperly. No big deal, I just slipped some heat-shrink tubing of the PROPER color over the existing leads and re-attached. |
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