Dizzy
VIP Member
After much mulling towards the end of last year we decided to add some panels to Dizzy. We contemplated getting kits from a variety of different suppliers. In the end we decided we would have a go at building our own system, we could take our time souring components from where ever we wanted.
We wanted flexible panels and went for three Renogy RSP100DL-36-UK - 100 watt panels hoping we could get them on the roof with a cm or two to spare. To mount them we sourced some unequal L aluminium , had them cut to size and rounded off the corners and drilled out some 8mm holes. The tricky bit came with the mountings to the van tracks, in the end we got some coach bolts with square mounts cut out some stips of ali drilled holes and squared them off with needle files, bolts fitted in nicely and we stuck them in with some flex adhesive (the same stuff people sometimes use to glue panels down).
The panels themselves were bolted onto the frames with a run of the same bonding down either side. So here you go all three assembled ready for install.
Underneath them we stuck some foam strips to protect the van roof.
We got a couple (male and female) renogy 3 to 1 connectors along with some mc4 cables and corresponding connectors. annoyingly there was a fault on one of them so i sent them back for a refund and swapped to a 3 way cable splitter, that actually mounted better under them on the roof of the van.
Next bit was the coiled springy cable and getting a suitable waterproof connector, this was frustratingly challenging, ended up with a deutch DTP 2 core. Which did work pretty well in the end.
Mounting up and in through the gromet in the tail gate as per other installs, omg, getting that cable through to the cupboard was a right PITA but once in connected up to an isolator, into the Victron 100/20, connected onto the leisure battery and off we go.
We've been away for a 3 nighter completed off grid early march and i am pleased to say worked a treat.
Now just considering whether to go with an ecoflow delta 3 but am a bit concerned about space requirements in the boot.
So how much did it all cost ? Well i wont go there in too much detail but i think approximately £550-600 or there abouts.
We had a load of fun doing it and that was all part of the challenge.
D
We wanted flexible panels and went for three Renogy RSP100DL-36-UK - 100 watt panels hoping we could get them on the roof with a cm or two to spare. To mount them we sourced some unequal L aluminium , had them cut to size and rounded off the corners and drilled out some 8mm holes. The tricky bit came with the mountings to the van tracks, in the end we got some coach bolts with square mounts cut out some stips of ali drilled holes and squared them off with needle files, bolts fitted in nicely and we stuck them in with some flex adhesive (the same stuff people sometimes use to glue panels down).
The panels themselves were bolted onto the frames with a run of the same bonding down either side. So here you go all three assembled ready for install.
Underneath them we stuck some foam strips to protect the van roof.
We got a couple (male and female) renogy 3 to 1 connectors along with some mc4 cables and corresponding connectors. annoyingly there was a fault on one of them so i sent them back for a refund and swapped to a 3 way cable splitter, that actually mounted better under them on the roof of the van.
Next bit was the coiled springy cable and getting a suitable waterproof connector, this was frustratingly challenging, ended up with a deutch DTP 2 core. Which did work pretty well in the end.
Mounting up and in through the gromet in the tail gate as per other installs, omg, getting that cable through to the cupboard was a right PITA but once in connected up to an isolator, into the Victron 100/20, connected onto the leisure battery and off we go.
We've been away for a 3 nighter completed off grid early march and i am pleased to say worked a treat.
Now just considering whether to go with an ecoflow delta 3 but am a bit concerned about space requirements in the boot.
So how much did it all cost ? Well i wont go there in too much detail but i think approximately £550-600 or there abouts.
We had a load of fun doing it and that was all part of the challenge.
D
