Comment: Solar Power

Our roof pops up at an angle so that helps a bit

Also add cleanliness to that list of things that affect efficiency.
Just need to ensure they are clean and dust free.

Of course, Les, I should have remembered to include that. After a dusty drive I do clean them prior to setting up

And just to be fair to the panels and not distort the discussion, part of the lowish performance on my van is due to the sloped roof sections where the panels are mounted, so at no time are they ever both properly aligned to the sun - even less so than horizontal panels.

Hi Frank, I have 2 the same as yours, have not stuck them on yet, but use them as portable at the moment, what did you stick them down with?

Cheers Ross.

Hi Ross,

I used Sikaflex Marine Sealant Adhesive 291.

Good preparation is essential as I found out to my cost when one peeled off and had to be replaced :-(

You have to thoroughly de-wax the fibreglass and clean the panels' aluminium backing after you remove the protective film. I didn't do that well enough and one lifted, though I suspect it may have had a vandal's helping hand as the TRAILING edge of another panel had been lifted with something that bent and stretched the aluminium base.

I removed them all (no mean feat as they were well stuck), cleaned everything and re-installed with the addition of some small screws on the edges. The pic above is the original installation with no screws.

I have since found out there is a Sikaflex primer available which probably should be used.

My panels were retro-fits, obviously. The Kimberley factory now fit these as standard (without the external junction boxes). They don't use safety screws as I did. I don't know what glue they use.

Cheers

Ron,

I had a bit of yellowing on my panels. I polished it out with the fibreglass polish I use on the van - Septone Boatcare Fibreglass Polish - Superfine.

What is the headlamp sealer you used, and to what effect?

Cheers

I haven't had to do it yet but places like Repco sell it a a headlamp restoration kit with superfine emery and polisher as well as a sealer that protects the lens cover from the Au harsh UV

I have some left over somewhere in the man cave ( shed) that I used on my Hyundai, stopped the yellowing and the cover stayed clear till I sold the SUV ( no idea what happened after that ;) )



Ron

Thanks Ron. I'll hunt around Repco, Peps and Supercheap.

Cheers