Solar installation has started

Got a few bits together to start the solar panel installation, I bought this rack for £30 to use the cross members and the spoiler on my rack 
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I was in luck with this in that it was straight forward installing the cross members to the Thule rack with the fittings that came with it, the 250w solar panel will span these cross members , it will have to be above the middle sky light but should not cause to much darkness and the double gland will go next to the tv ariel 
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

2 new 105Ah batteries,a Victron smartsolar 100/20 regulator and a Victron smart battery sense, 2 new battery boxes , the solar panel is on back order as there are non in the country 

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

would two 100/120w panels fit without having to cover the rooflight, i dont know how dark (and loss of ventilation?) this might make the van?
there looks to be some space up there for a couple of smaller panels in parallel....
just a thought, i wouldnt want to lose the light....if at all possible.
some good kit there, good luck with the project, either way.

I measured and measured and could not work it out any better , have closed the black out blind in the middle sky light and it’s ok , with the panel being white underneath I will get som reflected light ,

The Panasonic panel is 1580mm x 798 mm and will be raised a little

Freelander your new battery boxes are the same as I got  as they link together and did not waste any space with the batteries I fitted .i remove the vent grill at one end for the cables to go through [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Yes they clip together, a nice sturdy box, got them from Gael Marine, did you use the straps to secure or screwed them to the floor

FreelanderUK wrote:Yes they clip together, a nice sturdy box, got them from Gael Marine, did you use the straps to secure or screwed them to the floor

Morning Chris,is the sun up yet ?  Thick mist here,have a nice day,don't fall of the roof of your van.  
Boaby

Morning Boaby
Blue sky with a few red clouds ,it’s inside the van today installing the batteries

I just used the old strap fitted to the larger box I removed. I did put 2 slats of wood to raise the batteries a small amount so they fitted better in the box

FreelanderUK wrote:Morning Boaby
Blue sky with a few red clouds ,it’s inside the van today installing the batteries

Still misty but mild here,,take care.  
Boaby

I have installed the 2 x 105Ah batteries and the boxes , gives me an extra 4 inches space the Victron smart battery sense was fitted to one of the batteries [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I am thinking of installing the Victron Mppt regulator to the top of the EC500 box as shown , I was going to put it on the side but with the heater tubes there it may get a little warm, thoughts of fitting to the top please , about 4 inches from the seat base when down
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Chris 
On the batteries you need to put the + charge and power feed on one battery and - wires Charge and power to the other technical reasons

Yes I realised after I had posted the photo and changed it, cheers, any thoughts on regulator placement Glyne

glyne lock wrote:Chris 
On the batteries you need to put the + charge and power feed on one battery and - wires Charge and power to the other technical reasons

WOW!
I didn't know that, sorry to bump this thread, been reading with great interest, as MY 200 w install, one leisure batt is under a seat, which is under the controller, so I connected both pos & neg to that, the second leisure batt is under the driver-seat by the vehicle batt & it'll be a ball-ache to run a wire to it!!
Everything ( seems ) to works ok however.
Should I be concerned??

Modelman have a read here loads of info

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Modelman
It’s not always so easy as It was in my case and what Chris is doing with the batteries next to each other And I have a inverter that now draws the power even from both batteries. As the saying goes every days a school day 
Modelman how you have wired yours is ok but may not draw the power even from each battery

The smartgauge info show 4 connected batteries, we only use 2, & I feel the 'losses' will be almost nothing, also i've not changed the power take off from the batteries, only connected the 'charge' from the panel to one of them.
Would not any variations between them level or balance out say, during the day when idle, with  no drain, but being charged?
I DO see where you are coming from & think its the best way, but i'll leave it be for now & see how it pans out over time.

Chris
I take it you mean  solar charge controller when you say regulator. for the best result as close to the batteries and to keep the solar panel wires as short as possible . did you also remove a blank and fit vent pipes to the batteries.
you can help people a lot better when you see pictures as you had posted and is nice when you are appreciated by people like yourself.

Hi Glyne yes the charge controller shown in the photo , Victron Smartsolar 100/20 do you think it would be ok we’re it is in the photo.

I removed the blanks but not fitted vents yet as the pipe I had was not long enough, off to the auto shop in the morning after Autoglass has been to put the new screen in 

Cheers

Chris
Yes that looks ok 
The pipe you need for the vent is screen wash pipe Just take the elbow fitting for size . Euro parts Halfords all sale this pipe

The Panasonic 250w panel I want is back in stock, I have ordered the panel and the rest of the bits and delivery is Tuesday/Wednesday so will finally be able to complete this job on the van next week

The panel turned up and was smashed ,now to wait for a replacement
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Got the panel on the roof rack today, it covers the small sky light above the kitchen area but will still open for ventilation, had help from a couple of mate to lift it on the roof as I pre fixed it to the cross rails , electrics to do tomorrow and drill the roof for the cables to the regulator

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I admire your graft Chris but personally would not want to lose valuable light in what is already a rather dark van in Autumn weather.

Need the size of panel though to charge Christines mobility scooter when no ehu , there’s plenty of led lamps

Ah block natural light with a solar panel so you can power extra lights to see by    Just speaking from personal experience as currently sitting in the van on  a site and compared to our previous Kemerton this is a much darker van in Autumn  daylight.