Installing LightLeaf Solar Panels on my Sprinter Van Conversion
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 มิ.ย. 2024
- This video covers my installation of four LightLeaf 140W gLeaf solar panels on my Mercedes Sprinter camper van. My old array was built out of three 200W rigid panels, and by swapping out for the LightLeaf panels I saved over 40 lbs of weight! If you'd like to learn all about their products visit www.lightleafsolar.com
If you are using thread locker on any of the fasteners to secure the panels make sure to use Loctite 425. Many common threadlockers are not compatible with polycarbonate (the outer layer)
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0:00 Intro
1:02 Why LightLeaf
8:50 Install Considerations
10:58 Making Brackets
17:12 Attaching Panels
20:00 Wiring
22:30 How Much Weight I Saved
Products and Tools (Amazon Links Help Me Out, THANK YOU!)
LightLeaf Solar www.lightleafsolar.com
Aluminum Extrusion eagle-aluminum.com/product/al...
VHB Tape amzn.to/3Sdjnpt
Wixey Angle Gauge amzn.to/3uj4cTD
Hand Brake/Seamer amzn.to/3UdT3y4
Cutting Fluid amzn.to/3vYAPq5
SS Rivnuts (a decent metric assortment) amzn.to/3w16iYI
Wirenuts www.pacergroup.net/crimpable-...
Junction Box www.superbrightleds.com/m686-... - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Your channel has some gems. Thank you.
I love the seam ripper tip. Great idea!
Not sure the extra $400.00 per panel is worth the savings. We are talking $1,600.00 to save 32 lbs..
I'm still curious what the Eff rating is like..As right now Bi-Facial panels are cheap. As they don't fall under the import tax surcharge fees..
Wow! Those look fantastic! I agree that looks like a better solution than the flexible panels. Really send like they need to develop a bracket for this product though. Probably even just a T track extrusion but set at the right angle would be nice.
Very very clean install! Always hated MC4
And it’s a Canadian company! How cool. I think I might be in the market for these looking forward to further videos
I also moved to the Renogy lightweight panel, from a glass panel and appreciate the weight savings. Great work, esp like how you wired into the junction box, eliminating the MC4 connectors. I've made my panels removable with rare earth magnets so I can easily remove and deploy them as needed for more effective sunlight capture since I live and camp in Vancouver BC and we have lots of trees, so shade is a big issue.
bout to mount 2x 100w flexible panels to my EV's roof as an experiment. I think I will try covering the back of them with that thicker aluminum foil duct tape. im pretty far north and I dont think ill get much super hot sun, but im hoping the metal foil will help move heat a bit better. probably will still go bad after a few years. just an experiment to see if i can boost my EV's range by taking out some of the 12v load
Seems like the curve of the panels would decrease the efficiency due to the angle potentially facing away from the sun. Especially since cells usually drop to the lowest in the array. It would be interesting to hear your real world experience after you use them for a while.
Panels are really facing the correct way on a van anyway. Cheers
Very nice design. Thanks for sharing the install and mods you had to go through to get to this point. Very smart.
Thanks for sharing, thats quite interesting and impressive weight savings. Look forward to the long term review!
Great concept. Im looking to tilt my ridgid panels.
I have found the only flexible panels on the market worth the money are from Merlin Solar. We've been installing them on commercial & recreational vehicles for two years and have had no delamination or hot spot issues like the Sunpower panels directly mounted to the roof. It appears the LightLeaf panels use Maxeon cells and Sunpower panels bonded with a carbon fiber backer. I don't have any experience with LightLeaf and I am not saying they are in any way bad (or good). I like the fact they don't have MC4 connectors on them. And the airflow under the panels should eliminate the burning issues the Sunpower modules suffer from. Mounting the Merlin Solar panels to the top of a vehicle roof that has ribs is a pain in the butt. These panels look like a great alternative for ribbed van roofs. Thank you for sharing this. I'm eager to see a longevity update from you. Cheers!
Sweet, I'll keep the name in mind. So most of your installs have been on non-ribbed roofs?
@@projectofscience Most of our mobile installations are on flat roofs of commercial vehicles (usually fiberglass or aluminum) or RVs (travel trailers, motorhomes, etc). Most of the van work we do is fixing other installations, either DIY or van builders without a lot of solar or electrical experience. We do have one or two dealers who build vans but for some reason most of the van builders like putting racks on top of the van and then rigid panels on top of the racks. For stationary installations we use traditional rigid panels. We don't work with traditional residential installations so most of our stationary installations are ground-mount. Thanks!
I was also exited when I found Lightleaf Solar. Thanks for showing the pro/con breakdown. Looks cool on your roof!
Thanks you!
Excited you mean
They look very excellent 🎉
Hope the work out for you🤔
Cool. I'd actually been wondering about the feasibility of bonding flexible panels to rigid composites. Obviously I wasn't the only one.
Cleaning of the bond surfaces is critical! Removal of any waxes and contamination with wax remover followed by IPA should work. One additional thing to consider when using VHB tapes; Bond strength can be increased by gentle heating of the surfaces, especially when working in a cold shop. A simple heat gun is fine.
Very nice but I wonder if that little bit of VHT tape is sufficient to prevent panels peeling flying off in wind especially given their shape.
For the rigid panels you can get plastic clips that make the water sifon off of you panels. That way you will have less problems with dirt on the panels.
That sounds interesting, got a link?
Don't have experience with one specific type. Just search for solar panel drainage clip.
When your van is on flat ground you have to check where the lowest point is. There you attach the clip. This will make the water sifon off of the solar panels. This will prevent most algae that would otherwise form it also prevents gathering part of the dust since the panel dries out a lot quicker.
Interesting...seems cumbersome to get on the roof, but could maybe just permanently leave a couple up on each panel. Would still be interested to see the flow rate to see if it can actually get the dirt out.
@@projectofscience I’m thinking that it could really help for those of us with flat panels, since we can usually park vehicles with a little slope -which is often not enough to quite get the water over the panel lip.
They are not expensive so I would probably go for 2 in each corner. That way it doesn't matter which way the van is tilted when parked.
Put them on once and leave them on.
Just the first hit youtube gave me.
th-cam.com/video/aiU8NRd1yQA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BImB4_ONp3LJOyrf
Flow rate seems to be pretty decent.
Hi, I'm from the future, what ever you do don't use lock tight on your fixings 😜
Looks like three across panels could have fit your van.
Did you look at attaching to the rails, to limit the number of glued down brackets. Maybe even sharing a bracket between panels.
Wonder if flat panels would have enough flex to match the contour to the roof?
Great video and quite informative to the details as always --- Wasn't it an option to arrange the panels crosswise and fix them to the existing rails? (I'm a little phobic about VHB only ...)
Interesting. I've read 3M's instructions for VHB tape, and used it to attach lexan protection over window glass, and never had a problem or seen a note to use silicone seal around it.
Also very curious how all those curves will add noise at highway speeds
Used panels from santan solar is the way to go.
How tall is the panel with the curve? It's not listed in any of their datasheets.
I wonder given the curvature how wind resistant this will be.
These PV panels looked very interesting to me, until I researched their build and warranty. They unfortunately have a polycarbonate front sheet, which as we all know, tends to haze after 5-7 years in the sun. This is probably why they have only a 5 year performance warranty rather than the glass panels' 25 year warranties. Pity, as I was curious if they would last in the intense Arizona sun for my golf cart roof...but almost certainly will not!
Have you used the CIGS panels?
What do you think of the BougeRV panels? People are driving their cars over them and they still work.
in europe its significantly cheaper, we pay 18 cents to maybe at a premium 65 cents per 1Wp
Any weird sounds or whistling when on the highway? Excellent video.
Not yet! Did get going over 80mph on the interstate but it has only been a few drives.
But how many watts per square meter to they give compared to rigid panels? The most important metric imo.
You could compare the nominal figures given on their websites, but that’s not going to be reflected exactly in real world usage. That “curb” effect he shows in the video would probably reduce the output of the rigid panels by roughly 50%.
hey bud. what about CIGS panels? Hobotech did a review about the Bouge RV ones and they seem promising too. Thoughts?
I've had the same question... cigs panel are about 4$ w
yeah...i haven't tried them but the reviews from non-paid reviewers seem mixed. i do think depending on where you live (and even store your vehicle) they may work great. i still see a lot of mention about delamination and given they are a fairly new product i'm skeptical of long term performance. a bit curious...but not as i was about the lightleaf.
watching this hopping you re gonna use sealant glue both sides of the panel even if it preasurized when constructed... !!!!! moisture must stay out of the holes
You’re saying the flexible panels delaminated, but you are referring to the tape coming off the mounting surface or the panels actually coming apart?
Layers of the panel coming apart. The tape and adhesive are solid based on the amount of work to clean it up;)
@@projectofscience Thanks for the reply.
I am about to install a Xantrex 330W panel on the SCA pop-top loft on my Sprinter. I hope it lasts, since it was rather ridiculously expensive.
Outside of convenience, why do folks mount the panels on the vehicle? Wouldn't it be better to park the vehicle in the shade and have portable panels in the sun? I don't think the line loss would be that great compared to running fans to cool down the vehicle interiour.
I mounted my lightweight Renogy solar panels with rare earth magnets, so I can charge when traveling and remove as needed to use as portable panels. Line loss isn't much of an issue, assuming you are using 10AWG good quality copper wire. I have a number of lengths I can add together if I need greater distance.
For my use it wouldn't work great. The greatest reason for so much solar on this van is to offset the consumption by the air conditioner, which we often leave in towns or busy trailheads to keep our dog alive as we do other stuff. Pretty sure the panels would grow legs pretty quick;) plus deploying an array or this size seems like a cumbersome undertaking especially since we move camp and location so much.
Make sure you silicone all you bolt holes
These look good, but the 200w cigs panels from BougeRV still top them imo
i've had curiosities about cigs panels but there are plenty of reviews about delamination...but maybe bougerv has figured something out others haven't. the product hasn't been on the market that long, has it? so it is hard to believe it will last 10 years when it has only been available for a couple. as for the bougerv 200 w panels specifically, the size would prohibit more than two installed due to their enormous length. i'm also a bit skeptical with everything from bougerv. their marketing hammers the influencer/social media really hard so it is hard to figure out who is actually giving an honest review (my 2 cents).
@@projectofscience nah man. I thought I destroyed mine when they came loose on my roof on the freeway. No loss in charge output after flapping at 70mph. Hobo tech shot them. Wdym you don’t trust them? That are excellent. I have 4 on my van. 2 are on the side
1:56 unless you’ve got an Asian made these vehicles could last really long.
hi there. love the testing and info and build quality in your videos! with regards to aluminum becoming brittle. i think what you are talking about is "work hardening" which happens easily to aluminum and copper. this happens during deformation where atoms in the metal's crystal structure form dislocations and create imperfections in the uniform-ish crystal structure... like the rigid links in a chain. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_hardening
The issue is there extruded aluminum..Any form of heat deforms the metal to failure. Why you don't bend them several times. As they will not recover..You would have to use cold forged to get away with that..If you want to bend them. It has to be a large radius curve..
Just so you know. That make adjustable aluminum Stand offs just for this purpose. IronRidge sells them..