Mount a Solar Panel on Bonnet
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 10, 2020 at 12:18
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Corinna
Hi all,
I posted before,
here, and finally got approval by the department of vehicle standards in South Australia, where the car is registered, to mount my solar panel on the bonnet.
The solar panel is flexible, lightweight, and made of plastic. I ask myself:
1. Should I screw the panel onto the hood (
see here) , or do I use something like Silkaflex or Velcro Heavy Duty (
see here)?
2. Should I leave space between bonnet and panel for airflow, to prevent overheating? However, doesn't the airflow make the construction prone to rip apart?
3. The cable of the panel is supposed to reach to the passengers foot area, this is where I will keep the solar controller and the battery box. Any idea on how to do this?
Thank you for all yout help!
Reply By: Rangiephil - Wednesday, Jun 10, 2020 at 21:57
Wednesday, Jun 10, 2020 at 21:57
Quote The solar panel is flexible, lightweight, and made of plastic. I ask myself: Quote
It is recommended that flexible solar panels always have an air gap underneath them.
However just thinking about It I don't know how you could support the centre and if it is like
mine it would flap about.
I have used nylon bread board to mount an awning bracket on the roof of my car and sikaflexed it to the roof. Sikaflex has a very high shear strength. I suggest that you get a say 8-10 MM nylon breadboard and cut it into strips and glue around the edges of the panel, and put a couple of say 100MM squares in the centre.
That should hold it rigid and allow air underneath.
its not so much the bonnet that gets hot but the panel itself and they deteriorate quickly if too hot.
I have a 1100x1000 MM flexible panel which I have made a frame for and a stand and I can tell you the back gets very hot even with good circulation.
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