Van Life 101: How to Turn Cheap Flexible Solar Panels into Hard Solar Panels
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2023
- Flexible Solar Panels can add solar to your system easily but they do bend easily and because of that bending they usually don't last long.
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Thanks for watching!
Maybe bolt these panels together with piano hinges so you can fold them up for storage easily but unfold them quickly in use and keep them permanently wired together
Sounds like good idea!😁
Note the power connectors will not allow simple folding. You would need to stagger the frames so that they can nest with each other.
folding = damage
@@noahriding5780 not actually folding the panels but the frame that's holding two individual 50 panel
Seen a few cargo trailers that have raised panels and then additional panels underneath on a Drawer slide that they can pull out over the side of the trailer adding more watts and shade at the same time
Another good one!
Genius idea. Thank you.
☘️🌝🌲
Hey, just put each in their own frame and hinge together to store even smaller. If they fold in, they will protect each other in storage.
Great idea, especially for those of us with health issues that cannot lift heavy panels. 👍
How heavy are the framed solar panels?
@@hg2. A normal 100 watt framed solar panel is about 14lbs. So, about 4 lbs more... assuming his are actually only 10lbs.
Personally, if I had trouble carrying 14lbs then I probably wouldn't want to be carrying 10lbs either. I would just buy the 14lb panels and use the money I saved to pay someone to install the panels on the roof of my van. If that is an option of course.
What some RVers are doing is creating a pop-up table of additional solar panels that nest below the main set of solar panels. Then at the press of a button the second layer slides open fully to double your solar. I saw one guy whole converted a gas van into a solar only camper. Replaced the gas tank and all the rest in the conversion to make it a solar powered EV. His panels are set to expand & to tilt. He uses a set of cords to hold the panels at whatever angle he likes and to keep the wind from damaging them (like they are sails).
I’m looking to add solar and theses renergy panels with the aluminum frame will probably be the answer! Thank you! Great idea!
Aluminum picture frames from thriftstores -- sides mixed and matched to suit panel dimensions. Corners very nicely mitered and held firmly with their included insert-brackets' set screws. Great cost savings.
The fifties are smaller in surface and will flex less than the larger 100’s! This looks great to me!
Mark has such simple solutions! And I loved seeing the tour of his trailer on this channel.
whats his channel name?
Good morning from Godley Texas, Mark solved a problem with a DIY fix. Great job! Stay safe and happy travels.
I did the same, but with PVC and legs that swivel out to adjust for the angle of the sun
Was thinking of an easier material to cut than metal tubing that is still lightweight.
Excellent - can you describe some details for someone like me, not very handy??
WOW!! That’s great! I like the PVC idea too.
corrugated plastic sheets work real well also a lot cheaper does both stiffen them and cools them.
Hello I'm a 57 year old disabled vet and I'm moving into my truck. Disability doesn't go far. I'll be joining you folks in your lifestyle very soon 30 days actually.
thats pretty cool, he could make them lighter and add airflow by drilling speed holes all around the frame
great idea maybe a little more detail on how he did the frame and connected them for a novice like me
Thank you for your share! I wish I was smart enough and strong enough to put that together.
Yes, that’s a good deal. I think that I could handle building the frame but I believe the wiring is beyond my capability. Thanks for the information!❤
Genius! My cabin will now have solar!
Excellent idea! Thank you for sharing it on here
Smart idea 💡 thanks for sharing, great appreciate this video and built 😊
I know nothing about solar panels but I have to get some good info about them and the batteries,and etc. To know what to order. Thank you both for some more info.
I wish I started out like greesed lightning but I didn't and time is slipping away. But at least I haven't stopped. See you next time.
Hi, I love the way you hooked up the pannels ❤
That is an excellent idea. When I start traveling, I’d like to give it a try. Great video.
Great stuff Mark 👏 👍
Great idea, I’m going to look into designing frames that can fold up so the whole system takes less space!
Thank you for sharing this insight. I have just purchased a ECOFlow power station and a solar panel. My first own of both. I have just started my home on wheels (car living) last weekend. So I probably will purchase more solar panels in my future since I only have one. 08feb23
He's smart. Thank you.
Exactly what I did 7 years ago with my 100w panels only no cross bar.
Cut out where the sprinter roof ribs are and ran lengthwise.
I used VHB tape and cleaned roof and square tubing thoroughly with alcohol and stuck them to the roof was a little worried about the VHB holding at 70mph .
But after a half hour I tried to pull them upwards and the metal sprinter roof started to fex a little. That definitely answered the question! 7 years on the Sprinter and never a problem.
Keeps the weight down, less a quarter. Absolutely no cupping or loss of power from the Renogy 100w flexible panels 200w watts are still giving 10 to 12amps on a sunny day just as they did when I installed them 7 years ago . And no holes except for wires!
YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO CLEAN BOTH SIDES THAT WILL MAKE CONTACT THOROUGHLY WHEN USING VHB TAPE AND LET DRY!!!
Great idea. Thanks for sharing
That is a good enough idea if that's the method that you choose but I personally wanted my panels to be lower profile and more difficult to see on top of my van.
I have a 99 Astro..
I bought two renogy flexible panels just like the one you guys are holding and I put them side-by-side on the roof of my van gluing them directly to the van with white GE Silicone..
Also have some dokio 300-watt fold-out panels that I lay out on the ground when needed for a boost..
At any rate I watch a lot of your videos Bob and I just saw you guys doing this and it struck me as kind of funny because I just got done handling this very same kind of last week as I installed them on my van.
The work you do is a good work helping people to make their lives easier and better.
You're a good man, Bob Wells.. keep it up..👆🇺🇸
Looks great!
It also looks like a business for somebody -- kits if flexible solar panel frames.
Alone the same lines, maybe coroplast could be "grooved" so these can be "glued" to a car roof and stay cooler. (Idea from an earlier Bob Wells video about a Toyota Yaris converted for digital nomad camping.
Great video. I have a flexible Renogy 175 W panel. It’s a great panel, but it seems to be a bit fragile and prone to warping. I’m going to take inspiration from this and build a frame for it.
great topic
Love The Hack and Thanks
Looks so practical
I wouldn't be able to build those frames, but it is a really good idea.
Good for at home too!
I was planning on doing something like this on a van roof but I don't even have a van yet. Now that I see how the grommets were used with bolts it looks like it would work well. With vents on the roof I was thinking I could maybe squeeze 400 watts on a Promaster van. I was thinking of also getting a Dokio 300 watt foldable panel to stick to the side of the van with magnets and hopefully plug that into a shore power outlet to avoid a cord running thru the van.
Solar is a nice bonus when available but I was hoping to do remote computer work via Starlink so I would need a DC to DC charger and a generator for that. To make all that work requires 600Ah of battery at (gasp) $2,000. The real power solution is a second alternator for power anywhere/whenever at (bug eyed gasp) $3,000. And all of that pales in comparison to a Promaster van at (collapsing making gurgling noises) $30,000. I hope future hobo me appreciates all of what went in to that smile on his face.
another great idea, thank you
Thanks so much
magic. thiis is the solution im looking for. might try pvc frame
Some more on the weight question:
The Renogy 50W Flexible Solar Panel is anything but traditional. Perfect for marine use or placement on top of a van or vehicle, the Renogy 50W Lightweight Solar Panel is thin and capable of flexing up to 248 degrees. At 2.87 pounds, this flexible solar panel weighs only a quarter of its traditional 50W counterpart.
Renogy 50 Watt 12 Volt Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Renogy
thanks!
Hey Bob I'll keep this short. I've be watching your channel and shows about your Van dwellers and I'm jealous! I have an RV but would love to be more mobile. Anyway the recent videos I watched was you talking about different ways to cook things and I'm thinking how great would be to have all the caravans that wanted to participate... put recipes together and publish a small book and sell it for profit and you can use the money to help people that needed Help with repairs or upgrades. What do you think Bob is that possible?
Best idea yet for setting out, can this setup be attached to the roof also?
Check out SanTan Solar in Gilbert. Very inexpensive hard panels. 250-300W panels between $50 and $100. Each 300W panel is about 30 lbs.
It is probably important to note that these are *not* the same as foldable panels designed for portable battery units found on products made by Jackeri, Bluetti, and many others. Those are *not* waterproof--as I have validated for myself--and are not designed for permanent outside use, which I would have known had I read the owner's manual a wee bit more carefully...
Any solar panel can be used with a portable battery, you just need to buy the right connector if it's not included. My flexible solar panels are waterproof and always kept outside so I'm guessing you're talking about the specific ones in this video?
@@serenityjewel My comment was not about using panels with other devices. Rather, it was about using portable panels outside, exposed to rain and I am referring to the two I have, Jackery and Bluetti, both of which tell the user NOT to use them outside without additional protection from water. I expect most people have one of the two of them; I am happy your panels work outside.
Bit of a difficult circumstance in that the flexible panels don't like to be flexed, and solar panels in general don't really like to get too hot, so they don't really like being out in the sun.
I don't understand. You have to have them in the sun to charge. What do you mean?
@@alive-awake There needs to be an air gap at the back so they can reduce excess heat. Flexible panels are usually flat against the roof or ground and get too hot.
Just a thought here - people often bring up the fact that the sun hitting the windshield heat up their vehicle so I would like to see someone put the panels on a drawer slide system to catch the rays but keep the car/van cooler. Anyone .???
That looks good. I have two flex panels, but I don’t have the expertise nor tools to do that. Can I use gorilla tape and PVC pipes? What do you think?
I like the idea of light weight
I mean as far as it cost to publish a cookbook maybe some sponsors of different types of ovens and Stove tops Could finance it.
I need help I would love to talk with you about solar for our camper your the expert 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
wow
Great idea/solution, but I don't understand how they could be smaller.
What’s the best solar choice to put on top of a Leer camper shell which is on my Ford
?
I want to have enough Solar for a 2000 power station
Thank you ❤
ML
I would like to do something like he said on the solar panel. I would like to know how many batteries does he have.
I did something similar so that I could put them on my rounded fiberglass high top. I didn't want to put the extra weight of glass panels up that high. Its not at all hard to do with the right tools. Aluminum is easy to cut and drill.
Does it make more sense to just buy the ones that are already rigid? I imagine they are slightly lighter because it doesn't have the protective glass layer, but I'm not sure if it's much or a weight savings.
I’ve a suitcase Goal Zero panel in my Subaru Crosstrek. It weighs 42#. I made space in vehicle to keep but it is heavy for me.
I have 4 100watt glass panels, they are heavy especially when you put them together on a frame.
😃
Wouldn't he simply get more batteries to hold more power versus panels? Or no?
I’m not sure how this is an improvement on a standard solar panel. I see how it’s a solution if you bought flexible panels and realized it was a mistake.
Are they waterproof or just splash proof?
Consider what the punch line says, “deliver fully assembled FREE”. Is the shipping free or is the bike & shipping free?
But how much does this aluminum frame cost? My guess is more than the panels...
Where did he get the frames?
Buy one complete with a frame
Great idea
I need to know: what is the best battery if I’m only going to get one battery for my Renogy hundred watt flex solar flex?
The biggest consideration for solar to battery is the voltage coming off the panels. It may be more useful to ask what you are trying to run and size your battery/inverter off of that. I would probably recommend one of the many all in one units like Blueitti or Jackery if you are not familiar with electrical circuitry. All you will need to find is the right conversion plug
It's ok to cut them? And how do cut them?
No! Don’t be cutting them!
I don't know if nobody commented about he talked about legs what I do is just have it where it is track the Sun rotate you know born and just tilt backwards or turn it and I'll be a best thing you have but I don't know how heavy that Abby to do that but you know. Stead me getting out here you know when the Sun starts going going down I want to move it but be best as have someone where you just put it on there till the backwards or forwards but I don't know how hard how to be or it would that be at more painting a rumpus or not I don't know but I want to do is have legs on it because they have to get out there and pick the whole thing up and move it okay have a good day
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