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200 Watt fixed solar panel installed

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Builds (2014-2021)' started by jpbewley, Oct 15, 2019.

  1. Oct 15, 2019 at 10:38 AM
    #1
    jpbewley

    jpbewley [OP] New Member

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    Installed the 200 Watt fixed solar panel on the ARE MX HD Camper shell... It's hard to see and hard to take a good picture of... but that's really the point. My goal was that you wouldn't really even know that it is there.

    I used a flexible 200 Watt panel. It's attached with 3M VHB TAPE. I've used this on several other builds and it holds up great. I routed the wires down through one of the existing screw holds for the roof rails and RTV siliconed in the cable route.

    The whole cable run is about 6 feet. 200 Watts @ ~12 Volts is around 15 AMPS. Given this, I used 14 AWG wire.

    I used the Victron Energy MPPT 75 15 BlueSolar charge controller. On the load output side, I used the Blue Sea below deck panel which has 12 volt power port, 2 USB ports and a Voltmeter.
    image_efb2c3897481f3e547ca5f5f4753baa2f3afa310.jpg IMG_0208.jpg
     
  2. Oct 15, 2019 at 10:41 AM
    #2
    e30cabrio

    e30cabrio I'm e30cabrio, I'm a modaholic

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    Very cool.
     
  3. Oct 15, 2019 at 10:43 AM
    #3
    lewi3069

    lewi3069 New Member

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    Do you have a second battery or does it charge the truck? What is the use case you have for this?
     
    Rex Kramer likes this.
  4. Oct 15, 2019 at 10:49 AM
    #4
    P-Factor

    P-Factor New Member

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    Outstanding! Great job with fit and finish! :thumbsup:
     
  5. Oct 15, 2019 at 10:51 AM
    #5
    Jerry311SD

    Jerry311SD New Member

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    Thats sweet. I like how you cant realy tell its there.
     
  6. Oct 15, 2019 at 10:56 AM
    #6
    jpbewley

    jpbewley [OP] New Member

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    It's tied into the truck battery at this point. I use the shell for camping and expeditions. It will offset the usage of my fridge, charging drone batteries, camp lights ect. I did a longer post on the shell in my build post here:

    https://www.tundras.com/threads/2019-tundra-trd-pro-overland-build.53431/
     
    lewi3069[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Oct 15, 2019 at 10:58 AM
    #7
    osidepunker

    osidepunker OsidePunker

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    If you have to remove it for some reason, how hard is it to get the VHB tape off???
     
  8. Oct 15, 2019 at 10:59 AM
    #8
    osidepunker

    osidepunker OsidePunker

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    which panel is it??
     
  9. Oct 15, 2019 at 11:04 AM
    #9
    jpbewley

    jpbewley [OP] New Member

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    It's a pressure sensitive tape so if you need to take it off, you can. The way I have done it in the past is to take a flat tool, slide it under the panel and give it a twist. Without that... I've been driving MY FJ for years and 1,000's of miles and the panels stay put.
     
  10. Oct 15, 2019 at 11:05 AM
    #10
    jpbewley

    jpbewley [OP] New Member

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  11. Oct 15, 2019 at 11:08 AM
    #11
    osidepunker

    osidepunker OsidePunker

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    Thanks man. Yeah I wasn't worried about it coming off, I was more worried about it leaving glue everywhere if you have to remove it. What about hot sun?? You think it'll last and not dry up??? I really want to add solar to my roof but I've been hesitant
     
  12. Oct 15, 2019 at 11:08 AM
    #12
    Windsor

    Windsor Why do I do this to myself?

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    Some.
    Did you use the 3m VHB primer? I put 2 Renogy 100w flex panels on my parents Airstream. Used the primer.
    Tested a one square inch piece of tape with and without primer. Difference was very big. The piece with primer ended up getting cut down with a razor blade and covered by the panel. The piece without primer came off by rolling the edge back.
     
  13. Oct 15, 2019 at 11:37 AM
    #13
    jpbewley

    jpbewley [OP] New Member

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    I'm two years in on my motor home and 1 year in on my FJ... so far no problems. I give them a little test "tug" every time I'm up there cleaning the panels.. and no issues. They have both seen very hot (Arizona summer 110+) and colder temps (20's). My experience has been that it comes off pretty clean if you need it to come off.
     
    osidepunker[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Oct 15, 2019 at 11:38 AM
    #14
    jpbewley

    jpbewley [OP] New Member

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    I didn't. I just cleaned the fiber glass shell and back of the panel with alcohol. That's the approach I used on the motorhome and FJ and haven't had any problems. I do test "tug" them from time to time when I clean the panels.
     
    Windsor[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Oct 15, 2019 at 11:46 AM
    #15
    NoRcptn

    NoRcptn Better than mediocre poster

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    Damn that's nice!
     
  16. Oct 15, 2019 at 11:54 AM
    #16
    TXMiamiFan

    TXMiamiFan SSEM #3 and tractor extraordinaire

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    That is awesome.
     

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