Solar kit from Califaktur.de

[Aury73]

I bought that exact same solar panel (Bosswerk neptun 130) myself, an identical aluminium carrier (vagabunde) and a victron 75/15. Didn't want that curly cable, so used a scanstrut. Cable invisible from behind and inside. (cable lenght from solar panel itself is perfect, no extra connections needed)

Ended up around 350 euros. DIY install not that difficult if you're a bit handy at least.

Hello ! I'm really interested in your setup. It looks very nice.

What cable did you use and what length ? Do you have any picture of your setup ? Or even better a mini tutorial ?

I think I'll order these elements but I'm not sure about the cable fitting.

I have a Beach T6.1.

Thank you,

 

[ALFIrE]

Hello ! I'm really interested in your setup. It looks very nice.

What cable did you use and what length ? Do you have any picture of your setup ? Or even better a mini tutorial ?

I think I'll order these elements but I'm not sure about the cable fitting.

I have a Beach T6.1.

Thank you,

there's a long cable already on the panel! (didn't measure, but long enough to go to the victron ip cupboard).
As a surplus, the cable is a single black one, with the +/- inside. Not 2 cables exiting the panel.

You say beach, not sure about whre putting the victron. You might have to extend the cable.

 

[ALFIrE]

I used a scanstrut gland instead of the spiral cable.
Yes, 1 hole in the roof, but cleaner and more comforting to me than cutting the rubber thule from backdoor

 

[ALFIrE]

ps: lots of tutotial son youtube.
my victron is in the upper cupboard, right where the cable enters in the poptop. Had to drill a hole there (rubber cable gland for protection). Cable goes to roof in a pocked with the original led cable , then through the roof.
I added a fuse to the + from solar and + to battery (below the kitchen - ocean).

Also added channeled black plastic between the alu carrier and solar to minimalise heat risks (black alu carrier, dark brown van)

 

[ALFIrE]

this gland, very high quality! (marine applications)

DS-H10-BLK Horizontal Cable Seal for Off-Road

DS-H10-BLK Stealth horizontal entry cable...

www.scanstrut.com

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

For any interested Beach owners, I have a Victron mppt and an isolating fuse switchbox inside the cubbyhole where the jack is located. It is securely fastened to the body shell using industrial strength velcro and does not stop the jack being taken out if needed.

 

[Aury73]

Thanks AlFIrE for all the explanation. You just made me saved hundreds of euros !

Yes RedWhiteMonkey I think that's where most Beach owners put their Victron and fuse switchbox.

 

[temporarysecretary]

Always like the look of the installs on a solid mount and drilled hole.

Seems crazy no one in the UK has made one.

 

[stim]

For any interested Beach owners, I have a Victron mppt and an isolating fuse switchbox inside the cubbyhole where the jack is located. It is securely fastened to the body shell using industrial strength velcro and does not stop the jack being taken out if needed.

Interested to see a pic of this if you are able to upload one? Thanks!

 

[Roger Donoghue]

Always like the look of the installs on a solid mount and drilled hole.

Seems crazy no one in the UK has made one.

I looked into it but stuck with side mounting bars for several reasons.

1) Cost, even trade I was looking at adding around £60-£70 to the kit cost. That was having large batches made for me out of aluminium.
2) I have never had good experiences with sticking panels to flat surfaces. No matter how careful laying down the adhesive to eliminate air pockets, or, using self adhesive backing sheets, they just don't like not having air under them, or, if there are any air pockets it expands the panel causing fatigue failures. I've got a good few out there still that span the ridges of pop tops and still running fine, but I stopped offering stick on solutions a long time ago. You just end up with unhappy customers if there is a panel problem.
3) Most of my customers absolutely won't consider drilling a hole in the roof. The % is probably close to 99%!
4) last but not least, I'm not comfortable with copying someone elses' design. He has his customers and I have mine, and I would not want someone copying me , so....

 

[WelshGas]

All to do with this.

VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel Hi All, Anyone else have blistering paint work on the front pannel of the roof? I'm talking about the metal body pannel thing that meets the windscreen and forms the 1st part of the roof at the front. There's another thread about this sort of thing, but...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

To avoid a Warranty claim being refused.

 

[Roger Donoghue]

Absolutely, but I also think, generally , most people are just not comfortable with the idea, PLUS, if doing a DIY install, even less comfortable with it!