Our Expanda- from mild to WILD
- Thread starter Moto Mech
- Start date
Fitted a protective plate over pump also.
Note all wiring, plumbing etc have not been tidied up yet, once Ive finished everything Ill do it all together.
Hi @Moto Mech, you seem to be making good progress, so might not be a work in progress for much longer. Always remember, "If you do it right, you only have to do it once!!" Cheers
Toolbox arrived so made up a frame to support it, removed lids and resealed around hinges. Ummed and ahhed about positioning gas bottle and diesel tank, ended up mounting toolbox 40mm off centre so gas bottle and jerry can sit at same width on van. Im also going to run some heavy angle inside the toolbox(along front and rear edges), bolted through to frame underneath which will support frame/toolbox with help me f draw bar.
Position of bottles, when I had a gas ticket done on old rig the fella mentioned regs coming about they have to be within the draw bar area or in boot, just haven't looked at if its come in yet or if fed regs or state...........Its sure coming on nice, first trip away you will be busting to get back home to fine tune stuff...
Gave roof a good sanding where panel was to be stuck down, glued down with sellys roof and gutter silicone. Used this on previous van and when panels failed, I couldnt get them off(was gunna damage roof) so happy to use again. Actually use this everywhere, great stuff.
Good work @Moto Mech, I'm following your lead here. Alum backed panels?? Did you swap out the blocking diodes for bypass (info kindly donated by the solar brains trust). Keep the updates and pics coming
According to the experts here, my pannels have bypass diodes already. Not alloy backed either, more like a nylon type product.
Im adding one more panel shortly(maybe more) and upgrading my controller(steca pr 2020) but for now I have minimal 12v power usage so this will do( compressor fridge to come)
[ ="Crusty181, post: 183067, member: 17"]Good work @Moto Mech, I'm following your lead here. Alum backed panels?? Did you swap out the blocking diodes for bypass (info kindly donated by the solar brains trust). Keep the updates and pics coming[/QUOTE]
Hi @Crusty181 and @Moto Mech, any changes to diodes (if necessary) will depend if EACH panel has any sort of controller AND whether @Moto Mech is connecting panels in SERIES or PARALLEL. I think the controller going to be used is a MPPT type with the capacity to handle the higher voltage if necessary. Hopefully he knows what he is doing and he is more than welcome to seek further advice if in doubt. Cheers (one of the solar brains trust???)
Hi @Crusty181 and @Moto Mech, any changes to diodes (if necessary) will depend if EACH panel has any sort of controller AND whether @Moto Mech is connecting panels in SERIES or PARALLEL. I think the controller going to be used is a MPPT type with the capacity to handle the higher voltage if necessary. Hopefully he knows what he is doing and he is more than welcome to seek further advice if in doubt. Cheers (one of the solar brains trust???)
Cheers ‘boots in action’, my panels were discussed and agreed upon that they had good quality diodes in the solar thread and yes, once other panel is fitted they will be in ‘series’ with a epsolar 4210 MPPT controller.
Great to hear you are all over it @Moto Mech . You seem to have a good understanding of what should occur. Just make sure that your BYPASS diodes (you said they were good quality!!) can handle the higher voltage you will have when you connect panels in SERIES. You will need diodes that can handle 45 volts with 2 panels in Series and approx 60 volts if you go to 3 panels in series. Current will be limited to the out put of the weakest current producing panel, so 15 amp type should do. I have visions of connecting 3 panels in series (all unequal in output - 200W, 180W and 80W), so in theory, the best I can hope for is approx 5 amps at approx 60 volts available to controller. As a result, I removed the old general purpose diodes on the panels and installed 15sq060 Schottky which will easily handle what I might do. You should consider this as you build up your "power generating station". With 3 panels at 200 W each in SERIES, you are talking about up to 10 or 11 amps at approx 60 volts. Not too much of a worry with cable size at that voltage and your 40 amp MPPT controller can also handle the voltage. Just make sure that the leads from the controller to battery are short and capable of handling the increased current which may reach nearly 40 amps under good conditions. Make sure there is good ventilation for the controller with that sort of current potential!! Good luck!! Love to hear how you go as you complete your project. Cheers
Just for info @Moto Mech I dug out the gas regs it's AS 5601.2:2013 it pertains to vans, boats etc but I haven't a clue what it says as I haven't found a freebie copy online yet, last look I had was a long time ago at a draft copy.........
Temp was around 16 deg, sunny day and an hour each side of midday saw a max of 7.2a coming in, and for rest of daywhile I was about 5.6a - 6.5a. Had this as a spare controller and will leave the setup as is till we fit a compressor fridge, then Ill add a second panel, second battery and a MPPT controller.
Very suprised at 9a going in