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Which solar panel for Trooper?

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Which solar panel for Trooper? Empty Which solar panel for Trooper?

Post by andrewedmondson Sat Sep 11, 2021 5:36 pm

I want to fit a 200W solar panel to the fibre glass roof of my Trooper.
The roof has several bolt heads and a couple of ridges running front to back.
It is also slightly bowed and rather uneven.
Has anyone fitted a solar panel to their Trooper?
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Post by Roopert Sat Sep 11, 2021 5:59 pm

Yes, though as far as I can recall we don't have any bolt heads.
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Post by andrewedmondson Sat Sep 11, 2021 6:08 pm

Thanks Roopert.
What was your method and panel type?
I was thinking of routing a spiral cable through the rear, through into the wardrobe where the battery will be.
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Post by Roopert Sat Sep 11, 2021 6:15 pm

Method used is described here:

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

Note that we were glad to have made provision to get the panel off without too much trouble - the Bimble Solar panel failed after a couple of years or so, and has since been replaced with another flexi panel.
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Post by andrewedmondson Sat Sep 11, 2021 9:58 pm

I like that idea.
I still can't see how to overcome the uneven surface, apart from using a smaller, narrower panel.
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Post by andrewedmondson Mon Sep 13, 2021 11:55 am

I've contacted Bimble Solar in Brighton. They seem helpful. Looks like I'll have to remove the roof trim. I didn't want to do that right now as I'm in the process of putting all the other trim back. Ce la vie.
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Post by Roopert Mon Sep 13, 2021 12:55 pm

I bought and fitted a Bimble Solar flexi panel, and so did a mate of mine with a Bilbos Celex.

Both panels failed in around 2 years. I would not buy another from them.
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Post by andrewedmondson Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:04 am

Thanks for the heads up Roopert.
Did you replace it?
I'd like to attach some photos but can't see how.
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Post by Roopert Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:31 am

Roopert wrote:the Bimble Solar panel failed after a couple of years or so, and has since been replaced with another flexi panel.
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Post by andrewedmondson Tue Sep 14, 2021 6:42 pm

Ah thanks. I'll give it some more thought. Finally managed to post some photos.[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
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Post by Roopert Tue Sep 14, 2021 7:06 pm

That's interesting. I suspect that the metal straps are not original, and that some work has been done to reinforce the roof. Ours has similar moulded-in ridges, but not the bolts/screws down the centre. The panel fits between the ridges.
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Post by andrewedmondson Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:55 pm

Perhaps 3 small panels?
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Post by FreelanderUK Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:59 am

There doesn’t seem to be much sealant around those strips or screw heads

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Post by andrewedmondson Wed Sep 15, 2021 7:07 am

That's what I thought.
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Post by Roopert Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:30 pm

FreelanderUK wrote:There doesn’t seem to be much sealant around those strips or screw heads
Whoever fitted them may not have thought it important, because the screws/bolts go into the wooden crossmembers (which provide their own element of self-sealing inside). However, that may be short-sighted, as I can recall a thread here in the past where one or both of the crossmembers rotted - and that is not an easy problem to fix!
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Post by andrewedmondson Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:10 pm

Thanks Roopert.
I suppose I could eventually combine removing the roof lining, checking the cross members, and perhaps removing the bolts and using the holes to mount a frame for a rigid solar panel. Kill two birds with one stone.
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Post by FreelanderUK Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:18 pm

If there is no sealant the water will have wicked it’s way down the thread and will be soaked up by the timbers eventually causing rot, if you could take one screw out and see what it’s like, rusted = leaks , sealant on threads possibly ok

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Post by Roopert Wed Sep 15, 2021 3:38 pm

It certainly won't harm to check, though I have to say that I think we're being a bit pessimistic!

A previous owner has obviously put a fair bit of effort into using stainless strip and fixings, so no reason to assume incompetence unless it's proven. I suspect what you will find is that the fixings have been smeared in sealant before tightening up, and I would think that should be good enough in that situation?

I ~think~ on that version of the roof you can see the timbers inside - they are what each end panel's hinges are screwed into, and IIRC they are not covered with anything. So you should be able to see any dark staining on them if there is significant water ingress. I doubt there will be.
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Post by andrewedmondson Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:51 pm

Perhaps I could remove the bolts running down the middle longitudinally and glue the frame using sikaflex? Then I'd have a reasonable smooth surface for a solar panel. I suppose pooling water won't be a problem if the panel is glued to a vinyl sheet that is glued to the roof. The solar panel would be twisted somewhat, but perhaps it can cope with that. 

Semi flexible or fully flexible?
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Post by IanH Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:18 pm

Rigid is best in my experience.
Have a look in Members Factsheets for my tome Executive, how I did mine in there.....
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Post by andrewedmondson Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:37 pm

Interesting fact sheet post.
The trouble is that my roof is bowed.
I'm surprised that the corner brackets are strong enough but I like the air gap beneath.
Perhaps semi-flexible on some kind of board, all glued to these brackets?
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Post by IanH Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:03 pm

My roof is bowed also in addition the aft corner blocks are on the tapered ramps to the rear skylights.
Which solar panel for Trooper? KNMFZOiDkcjWRTOrq6K6PSfb8l8zIVjP39YbhF6GSluL08I3pJrroIZR_LPZMKgEsUHYivaXXw2SdCG42N2B1ClIYk4aRTosNjUCRZ9yYF9bnNCAHqFQEEXYL9bJC2mK23jTDwh2PGGVJN_Y8vwWTfsWD2-D1xSebZsN0KvoJqH5rKOnaSbh065Q_EV3elcLQTA6RLHiKu31RmpbnQZI7oHlpcZk4hPhMYjcIRNwwSVsp78q15eGoMufxe2ZkjEI1qNmqROS1eR-BZRIp6LE8YPRLmIiRYmydiQH938A1A8ZEedCCtneFoxZLYUqiHQ6l23TK0KLovS7_KQIiHtGaqpnTAKCSl3f5nudSyc7RmOOlpri5EpPMIxtNRQecPX_QTw_IQstxdZ4eJFlUElAvZchpZ0gxysVkgMyCwtTkbFAg2NntklQ5-XXBhcUE743VnI7OFMuh4sTTr3Ch_Kz5Vx4N38gDf_mn2E0UeZZWFpweAriFun_iH_A_wxAD73PjkNVmffRg8JLW5HqTUlyQ8GiQfBD2x8q7uCB1FhGvBa6FWgIwmJLw0-qe5JwmIj_biH-vN-4oaICW1AtNuuSfSkM4erHCjwro1-U2RsjCrh1ZRpj4DWW6EPEbsnQThO8kXtG5VSvUIo4THz0ERBh4St3ZBUGPEjRIQBbpd4WHS-_u9ly0CHNwR34kMnZua_teCE6e-Bd7TFgVAiwVLAKToAUAg=w876-h657-no?authuser=0
This pic shows some of my curvature and the aft blocks on the skylight ramps


The corner, and you can have side brackets are plenty strong enough. The way to deal with curved roof is to fit the corner and side blocks to the rigid panel on a flat surface, using self drilling and tapping SS screws in the cutaways already in the blocks.
Get it on the roof and position it exactly where its going to be, then draw round the corners and side blocks with a marker pen.
Seriously clean and abrade the glue area and also the undersides of the blocks, use pure alcohol or similar, meths perhaps....
At this stage you'll see the roof curvature.
If happy then apply a large amount of Sikaflex 252 to each corner and side area, enough such that when the panel is placed, the glue will fill the gaps and form a flat surface for the blocks.
Then leave well alone, cover it by all means and keep away for 24 hrs.
It will then be well fixed to the roof.
Now you can drill vertically though the corner blocks and screw it to the roof, using large thread self tappers, SS if at all poss. Fit one, then remove it, then fill hole with Sikaflex, then refit it, that hole will be perfectly sealed. Do the others the same.
If, however you have the inside of the roof exposed, then SS bolts with penny washer on the inside will be better.
On my Exec, all of that is as done, but I haven't done the screws through the roof, relying entirely on the Sikaflex bond, shouldn't really admit this but its was still there after an 80Mph run!!!!
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Post by andrewedmondson Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:16 pm

Thanks for the detailed explanation Ian. Time to measure up.
What is the gap beneath the panel? I'll need to know this to decide whether to remove the bolt heads.
Or perhaps bond 5cm aluminium angle?
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Post by IanH Fri Sep 17, 2021 6:02 pm

About 1inch
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Post by andrewedmondson Sat Sep 18, 2021 11:53 am

I've found a source for 40mm by 50mm by 3mm aluminium angle.
This would fit along the raised ridges and house a 650mm wide rigid panel.
3m weighs 2.1kg.
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