Alan de Enfield Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 19 minutes ago, pig said: Just out of interest, why did you fit the mounting brackets on the fore/aft edges of the panels? If they were on the other sides, your ropes wouldn't get caught under the panels? When I tried that, the camber on the roof meant that the brackets were not 'high enough, so I would have had to have had special brackets made. I eventually went for the 'tilting' A brackets anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pig Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 11 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: When I tried that, the camber on the roof meant that the brackets were not 'high enough, so I would have had to have had special brackets made. I eventually went for the 'tilting' A brackets anyway. Ah, OK, I must have a shallow camber on my roof Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 (edited) CIGS Type 120 w each. Self fitted. See gland in pigeon box. Aluminum box section conduit, sikaflex and red hammerite. Enough room to walk on roof/stow centrelines. And yes, it is a Lancaster. Edited January 4, 2020 by mark99 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 12 minutes ago, mark99 said: And yes, it is a Lancaster. Tidy job, but looks nothing like the Lancaster (picture) on my wall : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scholar Gypsy Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 (edited) Sorry if i am repeating points. I think its largely a matter of how you want to trade off efficiency, aesthetics, air draft, rope snagging etc. I went for minimal visual impact, after deciding against stick on. The lashing system has been improved a bit. There are 1" battens along the long sides of the panel with rubber feet. Removeable in about 5 minutes, and I do have a switch between panel and controller. Full details here https://scholargypsy.org.uk/2018/04/23/fitting-the-solar/ Edited January 4, 2020 by Scholar Gypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 5 hours ago, mark99 said: CIGS Type 120 w each. Self fitted. See gland in pigeon box. Aluminum box section conduit, sikaflex and red hammerite. Enough room to walk on roof/stow centrelines. And yes, it is a Lancaster. Where did you get those panels from?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 7 hours ago, Boater Sam said: Alde flue is now your high point, shame that they never made them demountable. I too use 2 centre lines though my panel is forward of the cleat as I found it more convenient than for ever flicking it across the roof and hatches. It always was the fixed high point, and I did not want to impact on that. The stove flue cover is the highest point, but that can be removed of course, and same with the tiller pin. It would be nice if the Alde flue was not so tall or could be removed, that would give another couple of inches clearance for sure. 7 hours ago, pig said: Just out of interest, why did you fit the mounting brackets on the fore/aft edges of the panels? If they were on the other sides, your ropes wouldn't get caught under the panels? I did not do the fitting, but I would say for clearance due to curvature of the roof, plus I wanted the junction box under the rear panel (you can see it at the left hand side) for neatness and not adding a trip hazard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 8 minutes ago, frangar said: Where did you get those panels from?? Midsummer energy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 Just now, mark99 said: Midsummer energy. Ta! How are you finding them? Did you do any special prep to the roof finish before fitting them? Do they output a decent amount...I’m aware real world figures can be very different from paper specs. Sorry for all the questions! They look like just the thing for me...still tempted to fix using magnetic tape rather than fixing down using the self adhesive backing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, frangar said: Ta! How are you finding them? Did you do any special prep to the roof finish before fitting them? Do they output a decent amount...I’m aware real world figures can be very different from paper specs. Sorry for all the questions! They look like just the thing for me...still tempted to fix using magnetic tape rather than fixing down using the self adhesive backing. I'm not enough of an expert to say if they are good as they are my first. They are meant to be super efficient but that's prob a bit of hype. As regards the roof, marked out lightly in pencil on the roof the panel footprint outline to concentrate on any paint defects. I had a few small rust bubbles/scratches/delaminations (about 100) so circled those in pencil and rubbed them down and put a rust eater paint on. Then degreased/wiped when dry. Remarked out in pencil on the roof the footprint outline and used that as a guide to peel away the sticky backing and lay carefully. It was very easy (easier than I thought to position without aggro). There is about a 3-4mm layers of robust but soft sticky gum on the back - like industrial adhesive. So you peel off and prerss down lay against the pencil lines. Here you can see one side painted (black) the other just rubbed flat before painting (with a mouse sander). I did check with a multimeter both panels before I stuck them down to ensure they were working! Edited January 4, 2020 by mark99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 (edited) Quote Delete double post. Edited January 4, 2020 by mark99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 These type of panels used to be made by a company called Unisolar in the USA and are the only type of flexible panel I would recommend. Now there is a new manufacturer, I do intend to install these on Old Friends within a couple of years as they dont make any visual impact on the boats lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 Just now, matty40s said: they dont make any visual impact on the boats lines. What panels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 Eggsaktly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 They arrive in a box in a circle. You can just about see the white peel back film. They are very light too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 22 minutes ago, mark99 said: I'm not enough of an expert to say if they are good as they are my first. They are meant to be super efficient but that's prob a bit of hype. As regards the roof, marked out lightly in pencil on the roof the panel footprint outline to concentrate on any paint defects. I had a few small rust bubbles/scratches/delaminations (about 100) so circled those in pencil and rubbed them down and put a rust eater paint on. Then degreased/wiped when dry. Remarked out in pencil on the roof the footprint outline and used that as a guide to peel away the sticky backing and lay carefully. It was very easy (easier than I thought to position without aggro). There is about a 3-4mm layers of robust but soft sticky gum on the back - like industrial adhesive. So you peel off and prerss down lay against the pencil lines. Here you can see one side painted (black) the other just rubbed flat before painting (with a mouse sander). I did check with a multimeter both panels before I stuck them down to ensure they were working! I’m liking them more and more! Do you have any idea of the amps they are putting into your batteries on a sunny day if the batteries are down a bit? Just wondering how the heat from the roof affects them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 Unfortunately I do not have records to hand but the MPPT controller (Victron) has a piece of software which links to your phone (if in range - Bluetooth) that gives you all the graphs/figures etc and appeared to be better slightly than an adjacent conventional 240 W single panel in bote next door (in cloudy conditions). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 4 minutes ago, mark99 said: Unfortunately I do not have records to hand but the MPPT controller (Victron) has a piece of software which links to your phone (if in range - Bluetooth) that gives you all the graphs/figures etc and appeared to be better slightly than an adjacent conventional 240 W single panel in bote next door (in cloudy conditions). That’s good. I just want a set up which means I can moor up for a few days in the summer and not have to run the engine. As long as it supports the Usual led lighting/pumps/fridge and a bit of inverter power for the tv & laptops I’d be happy. I was thinking about 300w of solar but I think 240w might be close enough....might just need to run the engine if there’s a lot of cloud I guess. I don’t need to worry about winter as I’m always on a hook up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 Anyone remember the member who mounted his panels on a large inflated ball so that the could be tipped to almost any angle and direction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 50 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said: Anyone remember the member who mounted his panels on a large inflated ball so that the could be tipped to almost any angle and direction See post 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 On 02/01/2020 at 14:12, matty40s said: I believe this plan was used a few years ago by a member who then became an a member with a wide beam on the K&A. The problem with swivelling and tilting panels is you spend all day going back and moving them to track the sun Yes but is there any info on this site now about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 4 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said: Yes but is there any info on this site now about it Search for "ex-member"...probably about 2011-13 and you should find him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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