Solar Panels on T7

[sticky1]

View attachment IMG_6943.jpeg
If you are interested in installing solar panels, you can see that I can get three of Roger Donaghue’s panels on the roof and still have room to install roof rack feet. https://www.solarcampersolutions.com/
Wire drops down next to the rear door hinge and through the grommet now conveniently installed to route the wiring behind the cupboards.
I now leave the fridge on permanently and the leisure batteries are fully topped up by 10am even if I have run the parking heater and air con the night before.

 

[Nimrodski]

View attachment 137535View attachment 137536
If you are interested in installing solar panels, you can see that I can get three of Roger Donaghue’s panels on the roof and still have room to install roof rack feet. https://www.solarcampersolutions.com/
Wire drops down next to the rear door hinge and through the grommet now conveniently installed to route the wiring behind the cupboards.
I now leave the fridge on permanently and the leisure batteries are fully topped up by 10am even if I have run the parking heater and air con the night before.

That installation looks fabulous and seems like a real value add. Can I ask, do the panels top up the vehicle battery when the leisure batteries are full? If not, what is your experience with the behaviour of the main vehicle battery when in camping mode? Mine looses it charge frustratingly quickly, down to very low levels after two nights camping. I have read the advice in other threads and am careful not to use the front doors, to turn off keyless access etc but I am struggling. There seems to be a constant draw on the main batter of 5-8 amps according to the central control panel.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

I had a 3 panel setup on my T6.1, it was awesome. Kept the fridge running permanently, interior lights, chargers etc & topped up my Ecoflow Delta to run 240V accessories.

It’s for sale at the moment, with Victron MPPT etc. same roof track dimensions on the T7

 

[sticky1]

That installation looks fabulous and seems like a real value add. Can I ask, do the panels top up the vehicle battery when the leisure batteries are full? If not, what is your experience with the behaviour of the main vehicle battery when in camping mode? Mine looses it charge frustratingly quickly, down to very low levels after two nights camping. I have read the advice in other threads and am careful not to use the front doors, to turn off keyless access etc but I am struggling. There seems to be a constant draw on the main batter of 5-8 amps according to the central control panel.

I was intending to have the “Duo” charger which is an MPPT with a 1amp trickle charge but we couldn’t find the starter battery without disconnecting the front seats and my experience with other vans means that you often get an airbag fault on the dash that needs a dealer reset.
I see the same challenge with the starter battery dropping amps on the display but so far I haven’t had it sit for longer than four nights, in camp mode, without restarting the engine. Like you I’m careful to not use the drivers door and lock up without using the remote, so far I haven’t turned off keyless entry, but I am careful to turn off the Infotainment system as I have noticed the Bluetooth on my phone remains connected and I am not convinced the system goes into low power mode when connected to your phone.
I have a jump start lithium pack in the glove box just in case.
I may install a split charge from the leisure batteries if it becomes an issue.
I really recommend getting these solar panels and if anyone is interested they are still under 2m total vehicle height (by 1cm!!)

 

[Californication69]

View attachment 137535View attachment 137536
If you are interested in installing solar panels, you can see that I can get three of Roger Donaghue’s panels on the roof and still have room to install roof rack feet. https://www.solarcampersolutions.com/
Wire drops down next to the rear door hinge and through the grommet now conveniently installed to route the wiring behind the cupboards.
I now leave the fridge on permanently and the leisure batteries are fully topped up by 10am even if I have run the parking heater and air con the night before.

Awesome !
Solar is a game changer isn’t it.
Out of curiosity, what’s the roof made out of ?
Aluminium ?
I’m exploring ways of fitting Starlink mini, before the 4M arrives.

 

[sticky1]

Awesome !
Solar is a game changer isn’t it.
Out of curiosity, what’s the roof made out of ?
Aluminium ?
I’m exploring ways of fitting Starlink mini, before the 4M arrives.

Fibreglass.
Have you seen the roof rack bracket?
You will run the risk of being over 2 metres though.

 

[Californication69]

Fibreglass.
Have you seen the roof rack bracket?
You will run the risk of being over 2 metres though.

Interesting, I have reports of RV users with fibreglass using Starlink mini under the fibreglass pointing upwards and they get almost the same throughput and ping rate as on top of the roof !
Very interesting !

Yes seen the roof rack bracket, and the 2m doesn’t bother me.
Most car parks I visit are 2.2m
I’m considering 2x perlight 175w panels so will be over the 2m option anyway.
But would be nice to keep under 2.1m

I bought a good starlink mini bracket from Amazon, it’s metal and I’ll fashion a bracket to keep it on the roof if it doesn’t work under the fibreglass roof.

 

[sticky1]

Interesting, I have reports of RV users with fibreglass using Starlink mini under the fibreglass pointing upwards and they get almost the same throughput and ping rate as on top of the roof !
Very interesting !

Yes seen the roof rack bracket, and the 2m doesn’t bother me.
Most car parks I visit are 2.2m
I’m considering 2x perlight 175w panels so will be over the 2m option anyway.
But would be nice to keep under 2.1m

I bought a good starlink mini bracket from +amazon+amazon+amazon+amazon+amazon+amazon, it’s metal and I’ll fashion a bracket to keep it on the roof if it doesn’t work under the fibreglass roof.

There’s definitely enough room in the roof rack channels for a sturdy bracket.
I’m tempted to mount mine at the back and have it easy to remove, I’ll run the power on the offside rear door hinge the same as the solar wiring and use the 12v socket in the back that runs off the leisure batteries.