Solar panel

What size solar panel can be fitted to a 2014 nuevo EK as the roof space is limited , I know the controller is limited to 120 w ,has anyone managed to fit a single 120 w panel ,or 2, 60c w .

Hi Molly, I've just fitted a 100w 12v to my 2009 Nuevo EK, I just managed to get it in behind the main roof window.

Was it a ridged or a flexible , not an easy job  on such a high roof  ,did you work from ladders or did the roof support  your weight OK .Bazz

It was a rigid solar panel and I used a ladder on the outside but in hindsight I should have used a step ladder inside and accessed through the big roof window, it would have been much easier I had to extend the reinforced roof area and used an old plastic chopping board which I cut up.

We have a 140W panel transferred from our old van, but it has its own controller.
Does the aerial in the picture above produce a shadow and reduce the output of the panel?

safariboy wrote:We have a 140W panel transferred from our old van, but it has its own controller.
Does the aerial in the picture above produce a shadow and reduce the output of the panel?

Not noticeably, although we have only been using it during the summer, it may have more effect when the sun is lower.

grahamandjenny wrote:It was a rigid solar panel and I used a ladder on the outside but in hindsight I should have used a step ladder inside and accessed through the big roof window, it would have been much easier I had to extend the reinforced roof area and used an old plastic chopping board which I cut up.

Thanks for pics ,very different roof to 2014

Yes, and I have an aircon unit where that solar panel is.  It only just fits!

grahamandjenny wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I speak from experience here: the extended Status aerial set for vertical polarisation can put the whole of the panel in shade in many conditions.

Perhaps if was set vertical  it would be better.

Peter Brown wrote:

grahamandjenny wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I speak from experience here: the extended Status aerial set for vertical polarisation can put the whole of the panel in shade in many conditions.

Best not mention the cell shunt overheat problem as well then.

Oh no, not the cell shunt overheat problem! You should know better than to mention the cell shunt overheat problem!

Didn't they solve that one - no, come to think of it they only managed to handle it on panels that were square. Rectangular ones were too difficult to fix.

Shading problems ....... Turn the van round

Excuse my ignorance but what is the shunt overheat problem.  Our panel is rectangular and seems to work.

safariboy wrote:Excuse my ignorance but what is the shunt overheat problem.  Our panel is rectangular and seems to work.

Its a wind up...……...

Peter Brown wrote:
Its a wind up...……...

Not entirely, but nearly - it is a recorded phenomenon and it got discussed at some length in a previous thread here, which maybe got a little overheated too.  But... yes, in practical terms it's probably not worth even thinking about.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

(The above is just an example from a 30-second Google - there are other papers on the subject that explain it better).