Better aerodynamics and soundproofing solar panels

[Peter Horvath]

Hey everyone,

We’ve got these 300W solar panels from Solar Camper Solutions, and they’re awesome—super useful and work great. But there’s one issue: when we’re on the highway (not even going crazy fast, just over 100km/h), the wind gets under the front panel, and it makes this noise that my wife really can’t stand.

Since I’m a bit of a solar panel nerd and totally love them, it’s now my job to fix this. Any ideas on what I can attach to the front of the panel? I was thinking maybe some kind of diagonally mounted rubber strip or something similar to block the airflow and cut down the noise.

Do you think adding something like that would work? If so, what would you recommend?

 

[dspuk]

Given a few have the three panels and not mentioned this before it could be a fitting issue rather than a design one.

 

[WelshGas]

Hey everyone,

We’ve got these 300W solar panels from Solar Camper Solutions, and they’re awesome—super useful and work great. But there’s one issue: when we’re on the highway (not even going crazy fast, just over 100km/h), the wind gets under the front panel, and it makes this noise that my wife really can’t stand.

Since I’m a bit of a solar panel nerd and totally love them, it’s now my job to fix this. Any ideas on what I can attach to the front of the panel? I was thinking maybe some kind of diagonally mounted rubber strip or something similar to block the airflow and cut down the noise.

Do you think adding something like that would work? If so, what would you recommend?

You could try thick self adhesive rubber foam strip under the front panel so it doesn’t vibrate, but leave gaps for water to drain out.

 

[colintfcolintf]

Can they be moved further back towards the rear of the vehicle
Roger fitted my 3 panels and I’m sure that they are further back that yours in the picture. I can’t go and look now as it’s very dark and very wet here now!

We hear no noise from ours

 

[nigpdreadingfc]

This is how far back Roger fitted my 3 panels.
No wind noise or vibration at all.

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I don't want to be rude about your wife but I suspect she is imagining it rather than actually hearing anything. My first strategy would be to pretend to fiddle about with them, tell her that you've added some sound deadening and then see if she still hears anyway. I would put money on the noise issue being magically cured.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

We had 3 panels on our last van but never had any additional noise. The Cali has the aerodynamic qualities of a brick so is noisy by default, so panels shouldn’t make any difference.

You would need to interrupt the airflow to stop any vibration. When the same happens with surfboard roof rack straps on a long trip, you twist the strap(s) so that it’s no longer flat (makes no sense but it works). Try some self adhesive foam stuck on the underside of the front edge.

 

[The Tall Luthier]

I don't want to be rude about your wife but I suspect she is imagining it rather than actually hearing anything. My first strategy would be to pretend to fiddle about with them, tell her that you've added some sound deadening and then see if she still hears anyway. I would put money on the noise issue being magically cured.

It’s interesting how senses differ between people.
Personally my pet hate is people re boiling kettles as it makes the water in drinkable for me.
To date I’ve only ever found one person who shares the same super sense as me.

 

[MyrtleMoo]

Watching with interest. I've got a single panel from SCS mounted at the back and I love it. I definitely notice a reverberating sound from it if I start going north of 120kph on the French roads, or sometimes at a lower speed depending on the wind direction. It's not bothered me enough to try and solve it yet and I tend to just ease back on the speed when it happens. I have noticed that the rubber strip on the back of the panels is starting to separate away from the panel, that's something I'll have to sort out next time I do some maintenance.

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

It’s interesting how senses differ between people.
Personally my pet hate is people re boiling kettles as it makes the water in drinkable for me.
To date I’ve only ever found one person who shares the same super sense as me.

Err, ok, not sure what the relevant of boiling water is to the OP's question but it must be pretty inconvenient if boiled water becomes undrinkable. Must rule out a lot of hot drinks and possibly hot food.

My suggestion was in no way a criticism of the OP's wife (or anyone). I, like others on this thread, just think it should be nigh on impossible to hear any noise from the solar panels, I certainly don't hear mine. The Cali has the aerodynamics of a breeze block, it's never going to be a really quite vehicle.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

Turn the radio up

 

[tobyprivett]

It’s interesting how senses differ between people.
Personally my pet hate is people re boiling kettles as it makes the water in drinkable for me.
To date I’ve only ever found one person who shares the same super sense as me.

I used to live with someone who also hated re-boiled water. We're not together anymore - it was probably about more than the water...

 

[Kev56]

1- Make a spoiler.
2- Drive slow.
3- Noise cancelling headphones.
4- Remove solar panels.
5- Leave wife at home.

 

[nigpdreadingfc]

1- Make a spoiler.
2- Drive slow.
3- Noise cancelling headphones.
4- Remove solar panels.
5- Leave wife at home.

But not necessarily in that order

 

[acer]

Hey everyone,

We’ve got these 300W solar panels from Solar Camper Solutions, and they’re awesome—super useful and work great. But there’s one issue: when we’re on the highway (not even going crazy fast, just over 100km/h), the wind gets under the front panel, and it makes this noise that my wife really can’t stand.

Since I’m a bit of a solar panel nerd and totally love them, it’s now my job to fix this. Any ideas on what I can attach to the front of the panel? I was thinking maybe some kind of diagonally mounted rubber strip or something similar to block the airflow and cut down the noise.

Do you think adding something like that would work? If so, what would you recommend?

I haven’t had that problem, but it does make sense. I remember putting a reed / thick blade of glass in between both thumbs and blowing to get that annoying whistle that annoying young boys like to make. Mind you, I doubt that kids do that anymore. Indeed, does anyone even know what I’m talking about?

I wonder what Roger has to say on this? I suspect that the suggested solution of a rubber wedge underneath the panel is the way forward.

Looking forward to hearing how you go.

 

[Kev56]

But not necessarily in that order

The order was randomly picked, honestly.

 

[ewanc]

Hey everyone,

We’ve got these 300W solar panels from Solar Camper Solutions, and they’re awesome—super useful and work great. But there’s one issue: when we’re on the highway (not even going crazy fast, just over 100km/h), the wind gets under the front panel, and it makes this noise that my wife really can’t stand.

Since I’m a bit of a solar panel nerd and totally love them, it’s now my job to fix this. Any ideas on what I can attach to the front of the panel? I was thinking maybe some kind of diagonally mounted rubber strip or something similar to block the airflow and cut down the noise.

Do you think adding something like that would work? If so, what would you recommend?

I have a pair of NDS 200w flexible panels one at the front one at the back of the roof. The leading edge of the front panel definitely generated a fair bit of noise (fixed with 8mm spacers for cooling as per recommendations). I got around this with a triangular section of “1M Black Silicone Shower Threshold Water Barrier” from amazon 2cm base and 1.5cm overall height. Noise reduction improved further when I cut a saw-tooth shape into the upper edge as per formula one car screens!

 

[Jude]

I don't want to be rude about your wife but I suspect she is imagining it rather than actually hearing anything. My first strategy would be to pretend to fiddle about with them, tell her that you've added some sound deadening and then see if she still hears anyway. I would put money on the noise issue being magically cured.

She's a woman, so she doesn't understand. Listen to her or one day, going downhill, you will find the front one is ripped off. She has instinct. Try a wind deflector.

 

[acer]

New van?

 

[Norfolk Jim]

Go to local trade supplies and ask for some expanding joint filler foam. Or look on Amazon. These are self adhesive, waterproof and expand to many times their own thickness. Just us put on the ridges so allowing water to pass under. You may need to release the side bolts a little but even if gap is 5mm the strip will fit and after a little while will expand and fill gap. I've used these for years in specialist glazing - especially good for uneven surfaces (concrete movement joints). I have a tape in my garage that is 5mm thick x 25 wide on a roll. I used it on a gap which varied from 6mm to 15 in places. Within a day it had filled gap watertight and no movement. The adhesive is v strong so won't blow away; specified it on a refurb job around windows into stone on west coast or Irleand 5 years ago and still going strong - just Google Expanding Joint Filler