Solar Panel

While washing van down today i noticed while cleaning roof that the inside of the solar panel was going green and the electrical circuit inside was badly corroded, on closer investigation by pressing the surface of the panel water could be seen moving about inside!
Has anyone else had this issue?[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The green looks like copper oxidisation and if you can see water moving about underneath the glass it will fail at some point when the contacts corrode through.
Solar panel are supposed to be waterproof but in your case this is not the case.
You could remove it and thoroughly dry it out then seal with waterproof lacquer.

How disappointing for this problem to occur so soon on a new van. It may be in your interest to enquire about a plausible manufacturing fault/fitment situation that could be challenged under a warranty claim? Regards.

Your solar panel construction looks very different to one on our 2014 Broadway. Ours is of square aluminium frame solid construction with possibly glass/perspex solar surface and so far looks very durable and is completely watertight. Water sometimes pools in one corner but thankfully never enters it. Have AS changed their supplier as your solar panel looks to have a deep plastic edging and different a solar area material. Seems like AS are trying to cut costs again IMHO of course!

I am sure someone will tell me I am wrong!

Pete

As Andy has pointed out the panel appears not to be water tight. So dry it out. A hair dryer may do. Then reseal the joint between frame and glass.

My advice - put in a warranty claim pdq and DO NOT INTERFERE until that is accepted.

inspiredron wrote:My advice - put in a warranty claim pdq and DO NOT INTERFERE until that is accepted.

Agreed if under warranty

After discussions with supplying dealer, but mainly with Auto-sleeper agreed that this was a warranty issue, have date to go to their service centre for replacement to be fitted.
Auto-sleeper were extremely helpful, well done.