Upcoming solar install

[Steven rhodes]

Hi everyone
I,'ll be installing a 120w panel on to the van weather permitting in the next week or so,with an integrated bluetooth controller il post some pics with a short guide for anyone who may want to do the same

 

[Paul Cardiff]

Hi Steven, I would be interested in seeing a picture guide of your install. Want to install similar on mine ready for the summer. Good luck with the install.
Paul

 

[Steven rhodes]

Thanks Paul il post soon just waiting for the kit to arrive now,then il get on with it

 

[Steven rhodes]

My Solar install has been completed with victron mppt charge controller, pics will follow soon ive been busy testing it out today and im pleased to say my battery is fully charged at last

 

[Steven rhodes]

And if anyone up north wants one fitting let me know it only takes an hour

 

[Steven rhodes]

 

[Steven rhodes]

More to follow

 

[Brian Drought]

Superb work. Great having other DIYers around. I'd love to see pics of how the cables are routed internally

 

[RFT]

You'll be taking it off when your roof is replaced, no doubt???

 

[Steven rhodes]

Yes I'd like to have waited till roof work was completed but I couldn't risk the battery not receiving a good charge so I went ahead and fitted it,taking it off should take 10mins max ,I'm away this weekend but next week il be posting more pics and a bit of a guide

 

[Steven rhodes]

Superb work. Great having other DIYers around. I'd love to see pics of how the cables are routed internally

Thanks very much il be posting next week as away at moment in the van the panel has kept battery at full float,which is to be expected I suppose. Im happy with its a good fit and forget system knowing your battery is looked after with no effort thanks for your interest

 

[Steven rhodes]

Hi everyone here's a short guide on how to install the 120w panel kit it takes an hour or two it's not a detailed guide but it's all I could do as have been really busy hope it helps someone out !!
First step is to fit the panel which is easy and takes five mins notice the little silver plates they just slide under the track at the end and I have run the cable under the aluminium for a neat fit, at first I let to cable just come over the top but it looks neater this way I think

 

[Steven rhodes]

Raise the roof to full height so you can get an idea of how much cable needs to be left out of the boot in the next photo

 

[Steven rhodes]

Make a small hole for cable to run through,and cable at the end of job.when making the hole care must be observed as the idea is to make the hole seal around the cable so no water will get through the boot I used a very small screwdriver and removed the boot from the van by squeezing it and give it a gentle tug and it just comes off,you then thread the cable through the small hole you made and through plastic holder and into the van.BE SURE TO REMOVE PLASTIC BOOT HOLDER WITH THE BOOT !!Now with the boot removed you look through the hole and to the left and there's a small hole downwards where your cable is threaded thorough it's easy to get the cable through this and into the top rear cupboard no lead wire is required I just thread it through with relative ease

 

[Steven rhodes]

Pull the rubber boot off to reveal gap when you remove the rubber I inserted a screwdriver handle into the gap to widen it a make viewing the cable as it's threaded through more visable

 

[Steven rhodes]

Once you have it in van the black cable will end up here and I just squeezed it into a small gap at the back and it can barely be seen

 

[Steven rhodes]

Thread it behind the shelf and Cable fits nice in this channel I used some foam tape as it's not damaging anything and it looks ok to me

 

[Steven rhodes]

I've just used some self adhesive tape to hold in place

 

[Steven rhodes]

Next up is the victron 75/15 two wires in and two wires out with the fuse holder close to the controller ,connect the battery wires first ensuring the fuse is removed ,these wires were threaded under the bottom shelf of the main wardrobe and into the wiring on the charger I chose not to mount it on the wall as I intend to remove the kit before i sell the van down the road

 

[Steven rhodes]

These two wires go from the victron to the white plug on the built in van charger connecting using scotch Block connectors