Winter Angle Solar Panels - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-19-2014, 07:09 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Night Sailor's Avatar
 
Name: Conrad
Trailer: Bigfoot 3000 & Barth "slide-in" truck camper
Connecticut
Posts: 958
Winter Angle Solar Panels

At my latitude 41°, the sun rises (90-41)= 49° at equinoxes. Subtract 23.5° for the Earth tilt and the maximum the sun rises at the winter equinox is 25.5°. That is about the angle of the front of my cabover fiberglass nose piece.

I was not getting adequate charging from my other solar panels so I decided to add two more to that face. I'll get better winter charging. While it won't contribute as much in the summer, I have more than I need that time of year.

I used 3M VHB double sided tape. (Thanks for the tip Dave) I washed the whole camper once and the front face three times, followed by washing it with a. 50/50 solution of isopropanol and water.

The wiring was easy , just end added combines and crimped a few connectors.

I plan to tape the outside edges and wires with shrink wrap tape.

Pattern used for the tape, ready to apply

Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByFiberglass RV1419037621.741429.jpg
Views:	41
Size:	133.9 KB
ID:	79282

Nearly done, the shrink wrap tape has not been applied which will protect the edges and prevent the wires from catching on branches.

Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByFiberglass RV1419037641.306131.jpg
Views:	45
Size:	133.4 KB
ID:	79283


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV
Night Sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2014, 07:10 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Night Sailor's Avatar
 
Name: Conrad
Trailer: Bigfoot 3000 & Barth "slide-in" truck camper
Connecticut
Posts: 958
Need to order a new clearance lens.

You can also admire my new jacks and swing out dually brackets.


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV
Night Sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2014, 09:02 PM   #3
Member
 
sparky1's Avatar
 
Name: richie
Trailer: Casita patriot deluxe (sold)
Virginia
Posts: 98
nice job appreciate the pictures.
sparky1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2014, 09:50 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
hotfishtacos's Avatar
 
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19' /2010 Honda Pilot 4WD TV
Escondido, California
Posts: 143
Nice! That will definitely help!
__________________
"No Generators"
hotfishtacos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2014, 06:53 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Name: Bob
Trailer: Escape 5.0 TA
W. Mass
Posts: 440
Can you remove VHB tape? Just thinking about road stones cruising down the highway.
__________________
Bob & Deb
padlin00 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2014, 11:44 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Night Sailor's Avatar
 
Name: Conrad
Trailer: Bigfoot 3000 & Barth "slide-in" truck camper
Connecticut
Posts: 958
I have no idea about removing the tape. I suppose a heat gun and goof off with a thin putty knife would do it--with the time.

It sits high enough it doesn't worry me that it will be damaged. I checked the front before I started and didn't find any chips in the nose above the horizontal bevel. Below the bevel I found a few tiny ones. If I was planning to drive the AlCan I might rig up some protection. I have four foam pad from the shipping. I suppose I could rig something up but I don't see the need.

One set back. they sold me the wrong type of shrink wrap tape to seal the outer edges. It is a type designed to leave no residue and has weak holding properties.

I will find out soon enough, how it holds up. I'm driving to Key West in a few weeks and staying at the Naval Air Station for a month or more.
Night Sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2014, 12:19 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Borrego Dave's Avatar
 
Name: Dave
Trailer: Casita SD17 2006 "Missing Link"
California
Posts: 3,738
Looks good Conrad. From reading 3Ms site on VHB tape, removing it can be a job as they made it to stick and not come off easily. I think your angle of the dangle will work out just fine.
Borrego Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2014, 12:32 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Byron Kinnaman's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Night Sailor View Post
I have no idea about removing the tape. I suppose a heat gun and goof off with a thin putty knife would do it--with the time.

It sits high enough it doesn't worry me that it will be damaged. I checked the front before I started and didn't find any chips in the nose above the horizontal bevel. Below the bevel I found a few tiny ones. If I was planning to drive the AlCan I might rig up some protection. I have four foam pad from the shipping. I suppose I could rig something up but I don't see the need.

One set back. they sold me the wrong type of shrink wrap tape to seal the outer edges. It is a type designed to leave no residue and has weak holding properties.

I will find out soon enough, how it holds up. I'm driving to Key West in a few weeks and staying at the Naval Air Station for a month or more.
The only way I know of to remove an item attached with 3M VHB is either dental floss or piano wire (guitar strings work) that you work between through the VHB. Then you'll need something clean the residue. We always used isopropyl alcohol and lots of elbow grease.
Good luck.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
Byron Kinnaman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2014, 09:30 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Night Sailor's Avatar
 
Name: Conrad
Trailer: Bigfoot 3000 & Barth "slide-in" truck camper
Connecticut
Posts: 958
I still want to cover up the wires with better tape. I am considering removing two connectors in the series connection between the two panels and crimp them directly together for a lower profile.


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV
Night Sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2014, 09:31 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Night Sailor's Avatar
 
Name: Conrad
Trailer: Bigfoot 3000 & Barth "slide-in" truck camper
Connecticut
Posts: 958
I don't entirely trust the VHB tape.


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV
Night Sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2014, 10:20 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
hotfishtacos's Avatar
 
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19' /2010 Honda Pilot 4WD TV
Escondido, California
Posts: 143
Quote:
Originally Posted by Night Sailor View Post
I still want to cover up the wires with better tape. I am considering removing two connectors in the series connection between the two panels and crimp them directly together for a lower profile.


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV
Don't take the factory connectors off. They are waterproof and have heavy terminals to reduce voltage loss. They look fine!
__________________
"No Generators"
hotfishtacos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2014, 11:19 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Borrego Dave's Avatar
 
Name: Dave
Trailer: Casita SD17 2006 "Missing Link"
California
Posts: 3,738
Quote:
Originally Posted by Night Sailor View Post
I don't entirely trust the VHB tape.


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV
Conrad, have you ever looked at 3Ms video site for VHB tape ? Jets, truck boxes and the windows in Dubai's skyscrapers for just for a few examples. Don't think 65MPH is really much of a problem as jets are doing 600 . Removing it.....well, a bit more trouble than puting it on.
Borrego Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2014, 11:34 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
David B.'s Avatar
 
Name: David
Trailer: Former 13’Scamp, now Snoozy
Arizona
Posts: 2,316
Registry
[QUOTE=Night Sailor;497076]I still want to cover up the wires with better tape. I am considering removing two connectors in the series connection between the two panels and crimp them directly together for a lower profile.


Conrad, have you looked into using the plastic wire covers used for home theater systems or computers like I used. Small one along the top of the belly band houses 4 wires, and a large one below the belly band behind the propane tank house the 4 wires into 2 wire connecters. Best of luck, and Merry Christmas!
Dave & Paula
Attached Thumbnails
DSC01451.jpg  
David B. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2015, 03:07 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Night Sailor's Avatar
 
Name: Conrad
Trailer: Bigfoot 3000 & Barth "slide-in" truck camper
Connecticut
Posts: 958
[QUOTE=David B.;497106]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Night Sailor View Post
I still want to cover up the wires with better tape. I am considering removing two connectors in the series connection between the two panels and crimp them directly together for a lower profile.


Conrad, have you looked into using the plastic wire covers used for home theater systems or computers like I used. Small one along the top of the belly band houses 4 wires, and a large one below the belly band behind the propane tank house the 4 wires into 2 wire connecters. Best of luck, and Merry Christmas!
Dave & Paula
I'll look into it. How are they attached? I don't want to drill holes in the front.
Night Sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2015, 08:11 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Tammie's Avatar
 
Name: Tammie
Trailer: ParkLiner
Alabama
Posts: 169
Hi Conrad,
Check your private messages regarding a possible sighting!
Tammie
Tammie is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
solar, solar panel


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Tilt Angle Calculator for Solar panels Kevin K Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 4 06-12-2012 03:36 PM
Making portable solar panels less annoying Gina D. Modifications, Alterations and Updates 26 05-31-2009 11:06 PM
Chinese Solar Panels Lisa H. Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 10 05-31-2009 12:05 AM
Initial testing of solar panels on the boler kevin61 Modifications, Alterations and Updates 11 02-24-2009 02:34 PM
Solar panels on eBay peterh Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 8 08-07-2008 07:43 PM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.