How to secure <span class="highlight">solar</span> <span class="highlight">panel</span> on roof rack

I always have liked the look of the setup from Derek of ABR, who has secured his 80w panel to the basket as per his blog:

Solar Panel on Prado LC150

Andrew

True Blue

I have a 2005 Prado and I bought a set of roof racks and a basket and orginally sat the folding 120w panels in the bottom of the basket and secured them with zip ties. All worked well until I noticed that early morning and afternoon sun put a hugh shadow from the rim across the panels. I have since raised the panels and secured them by threaded rod through the top rim of the basket and the aluminium lip of the solar panel. Also a wind diverter will be needed at the front of the basket or the drumming noise from the air passing through the basket, while driving,will send you deaf.

I have tried to up load a photo but I can't work out how to down size it. Sorry.

Mick N

True Blue,

Our approach is shown in our blog Our Troopy Setup.

We fitted C section channel to the custom roofrack, fitted HDPE runners to the solar panel and simply slide the panel into the rack. Since the original we've added a second panel on top of the first, again sliding in from the side of the vehicle. Works well, allows the top panel to be charging whenever the vehicle is in the sun, and both panels to be easily removed and set up when stationary. See the pictures in the blog.

Cheers

John

Hi True Blue

I have 2 x 80 watt panels on the forward part of my Troopy roof rack. They work fine and I have never had any problems. They are charging 2 x AGM battery's. The solar does a much better job of charging the AGM battery's than the vehicle alternator can ever do, due to the higher voltage delivered. If there is no sun I switch back to the alternator but it only brings the battery's up to about 80pct.

Wayne

I have an aluminium roof rack and had 2 aluminium C section's welded underneath. The panels are shaded when travelling but as someone stated the alternator is charging at that time.

My 2 panels slide into the channel with a small padlock through the channel at the end to stop them falling out. A thief could get them without too much trouble.

Paul

Thank you all very much for your replies and suggestions. Great set ups, that's for sure.

I liked the look of Michael's basket arrangement. That is very much what I had in mind.

Plenty of food for thought from you all, thanks again,

Wayne

G'day True Blue.
I fitted two panels to the ARB rack on the Patrol using aluminum T section fixed to the rack mesh floor, and secured the panels to the T section with keyed alike window locks.
Barry.
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Got a special made partially flexible 60watt monocrystalline item and just stuck it on the roof with silicon.

Its requires no brackets or special mounting bits and is only about 5mm thick so you would never know its even there.

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