Custom solar panels

[ranmar850]

I know I contributed to a thread on this last year, but just cannot find it. Someone was looking to get the max amount of solar on a boat roof mounted around fittings, and I provided a link to a company in Perth called Vehicle Solar Solutions ( VSS), who sell kits for specific vehicle bonnets, as a well as ready made and custom marine. My almost 6 YO boat roof panel died this year. It was an Allspark, output dropped to 10.4Voc, which indicated either a diode or internal panel fault. Diodes tested OK, so the panel, which still looks perfect, is gone.
Of course, I did not realise the panel was shot until we got to our destination for the month, which meant I just couldn't leave the fridge running and the anchor light on , on the mooring, for 3 or 4 days if the weather was crap. Annoying. had forgotten how much I relied on it.
So I get home, and get around to chasing up options. I have contacted VSS re a custom panel, provided a size, and should have a design , and a price, soon. I kept the shape simple--there is more to be had, but the shape would be more complex. I should be able to get , perhaps, 200w out of the area, which is just under 1.3sq m.




And the the output projected is disappointing, or the price is eye-watering, I'll just go for their 150 w panel , which will nicely fit lengthwise.
I'll keep you posted.

EDIT--Found the original thread, it was Corry who found these blokes https://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sh...r-roof-of-Boat m? Did you follow that up, Corry? Do business with them?

[chris69]

Have you thought about customizing a solar blanket.

[ranmar850]

No. I had something similar to a solar blanket mounted originally, didn't last the first trip, which involved 350k there, including dirt and corrugations. I suspect the fact that i didn't have it firmly and permanently attached to the hardtop meant it may have got a flutter up in the highway wind, and fractured something internally. I'd prefer to mount a permanent solution, without the weight and sharp edges of a glass panel. And I don't want to be putting something/putting it down. Stick a semi-flexible down with UHB tape , do the corners with sikaflex, done for 5 years or more.
I've gone from zero solar blanket ownership earlier this year to now owning two. the first one was planned, a 200w iTechWorld foldout, sized to sit across the van toolbox facing the morning sun, to get some charge first thing . Typically 10.9a battery charge. But the 435w Sunman panel I'd mounted on the rear fold-out wasn't playing the game, so I ended up with a 300w Wildtrak, all I could get in the vicinity at the time. It worked fine, albeit with the usual flippy flappy panel annoyances. Delivered 14.5 amps charge.
I'll start a separate thread on the 435w Sunman panel if anyone wants--I noticed , in my recent thread searches, that they had come up on here as a boat alternative.

[chris69]

Have you thought about removeing those top vents then you could fit another 2 panels like what you have there now and fill that space up on your roof.

[ranmar850]

Those Bomar hatches certainly limit your options in that regard, but are an absolute must-have on a hardtop for ventilation in hot weather. They are standard on the Caribbean 2300, I had to have them fitted on the Reefrunner. So they certainly are staying. I should have a price on the proposed custom panel by end of next week. I've been mostly getting by with the existing panel, which I believe is 100w, maybe 120 w at most. If I can get 200w out of the custom, it will be plenty, only feeding a 100ah LFP House battery. Or, if the proposal is not satisfactory in any way, I'll go with their 150w, which just slots straight in.
I've spoken with him direct, and having the ability to extend that area a bit lengthwise and sideways can make quite a difference, as it might mean an extra row of cells, at the cost of more complexity of shape. I'm visiting their showroom next week when I'm down in Perth, should be interesting.

[Corry]

Nah, I contacted them, but didn't get to the point of sending them a photo of the roof, and sketching out sizing, always meant to do it, was going to use the drone, but I've procrastinated as I haven't really come across a need to put power in yet.
I'm running a 36v Lithium, which means extra stuff to mount to be able to charge, and the battery is lasting so long without charging I've just been charging it at home. I had to run it flat the other day to do a reset on the BMS, I put the electric motor in a wheely bin full of water, had it running on speed 7 for 5 days (daytime only was I was in the shed with it) to get the battery flat.

[ranmar850]

I had an email back from him after my last post, and he recommended the use of their stock 150w panel vs a custom panel, on the grounds that I would likely only get maybe 175w out of the basic shape I had submitted. And the manufacture of a custom panel is actually done overseas, which obviously means some delay. So I dropped in, and bought a stock 150w panel from them. Quite good to deal with.
I'll get it mounted in a few days, and running when the Victron 75/15 arrives.

[disorderly]

Its a bit late now but those hatchs sure do mess with that space.

You could have gone close to fitting a 300-400 watt panel on there ...

Did you consider customising your windscreen instead with sliding or push out panels rather then hatchs in the top...?..

A fella I know has just bought himself a Stabi ...its his first boat and he has no idea how he is going to roast in the glassed in cab over the FNQ summer....

[ranmar850]

Not a believer in those push-out front windows, they always end up leaking in harsh conditions. Hate forward-facing clears--if there is enough chop to need them closed, you are almost flying blind. Only advantage with them is at night, if the conditions allow you to have them open. Utterly blind if you have to have them up. I like windscreen wipers, especially now I have fitted a washer setup. Sliding side-openers would be great, vs the roll-up clears I have there, but would add a lot of weight, and let no more breeze through. I was at home with overhead hatches--that's all we had on the big boats before I finally got one with a flybridge, and would drive it standing on the seat steering with my foot when the need arose. Which was every single morning leaving the river in the dark.
When I came to fit the new panel, I was confronted with something I should have taken into account--the hardtop is cambered off each side, but also slopes forward from just aft of those hatches.You effectively end up with compound curves, it's almost like a dome where all those points intersect. So I couldnt mount the panel lengthways without ending up with a big bulge along each edge. So it ended up fitted crossways, and with a slight curve down towards the front, along the line that runs behind those hatches. Due to all those considerations, couldn't even use the VHB tape, had to go with sikaflex. I'll post a photo tomorrow.

Your mate with the Stabi will certainly need some ventilation. What size is it? The bigger hardtops have a lot of headroom, he'll need hatches or at least one opening front. I think those things are built for Victoria/Tasmania