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Author Topic: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?  (Read 7805 times)

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Offline bottlecreek

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Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« on: April 21, 2015, 08:19:06 PM »
Just wondering how other campers store and carry their solar panels when travelling in the camper trailers?
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Offline Bunyip

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2015, 08:20:03 PM »
We have a KK and the panels are stored in one of the side gullwing boxes with the hoses and tarps.
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2015, 08:29:12 PM »
Our 3 x 100w Mandrake panels are stored and transported in a 3 bay frame on top of the front box on the Coota.
A steel rod through the lot, with a pad lock at each end, helps them stay there until I want them somewhere else.
They're wired into the system, so when the alternator is having a little rest, the sun takes over.
Once at camp, the panels can be slid out of the frame and set-up individually, or grouped together and wheeled around as a unit.
Pretty clever, huh??.... ;D ;D
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Offline Redcherokee

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2015, 08:43:07 PM »
Ours go in their bag and on top of the bed in our soft floor, along with the table and some lights.
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Offline topcat

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2015, 08:44:04 PM »
Quote from: GeoffA on April 21, 2015, 08:29:12 PM
Our 3 x 100w Mandrake panels are stored and transported in a 3 bay frame on top of the front box on the Coota.
A steel rod through the lot, with a pad lock at each end, helps them stay there until I want them somewhere else.
They're wired into the system, so when the alternator is having a little rest, the sun takes over.
Once at camp, the panels can be slid out of the frame and set-up individually, or grouped together and wheeled around as a unit.
Pretty clever, huh??.... ;D ;D
Cmon Geoff  :worthles: show us ya panel storage   :D
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2015, 09:02:05 PM »
Here ya go Tony.....
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Offline Bill

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2015, 09:20:21 PM »
Ours just fold up, go into their bag and go under the bed in our hard floor.
Bill
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Offline jclures

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2015, 09:32:12 PM »
I need to ask is it the panels or the shed  we should be looking at, >:D ;D  , back on topic is it just angle a iron  frame Geoff.
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2015, 09:39:32 PM »
Quote from: jclures on April 21, 2015, 09:32:12 PM
I need to ask is it the panels or the shed  we should be looking at, >:D ;D  , back on topic is it just angle a iron  frame Geoff.

 ;D

Yes John, that's pretty much it.
It's 40x3EA down the sides and across the front, and 50x4SHS sliced in half to form a C section across the back.
The C section keeps the back of the panels in place, and the fronts are held down by small over-centre catches.
A 6mm steel rod passes through the lot at the front for a bit of security.

 :cheers:
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Offline Bird

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2015, 11:29:05 PM »
In the padded bag it came in, on top of everything else inside the trailer.... usually the pile of rubber squares I use for flooring...
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Offline speewa158

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2015, 02:48:12 AM »
On the cub l moved the tool box forward 100m so the panels can slide in there . 2X 80w hinged together in a padded bag Fe has made    :cup: :cheers:
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Offline Ozsnowman

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2015, 07:35:02 AM »
Back into their bags, then into the back of the ute.
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Offline duggie

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2015, 07:49:40 AM »
I store and carry mine on top of the folded up tent, under the vinyl cover,  last things to pack away, first things to unpack.
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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2015, 07:53:47 AM »
Mrs Jeepers reckons I'd need to carry mine in my shorts.

Something she reckoned about me having the attitude the sun is shining out my ......
You know what I mean.
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Offline Flighty (WA)

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2015, 01:41:49 PM »
Bolted permanent to the roof of the canopy, and hard wired inside it
 :cheers:
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Offline Beachman

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #15 on: April 22, 2015, 02:14:13 PM »
I originally bought my 120w panel from Jetcrew which was transported around in the normal padded bag, but then when I found out he sold aluminium cases which is much better at coping with the bumps and knocks it gets in the back of the wagon.
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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #16 on: April 22, 2015, 02:40:28 PM »
The panel for the CT is located on the fridge box (Aussie Swag). A further fold-able solar panel is stored under a fake floor I build for the boot of the D4.
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Offline Redcherokee

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #17 on: April 22, 2015, 04:38:00 PM »
A mate stores his under the roof rack on top of his Patrol. Similar framing setup to Geoffs, mounted under the existing roof rack.  Panels just slide out the back, or if there is nothing on the rack he can just plug in where they are.  Very hard to spot, and a lock stops anyone who does notice them.

And no, I don't have pics.
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Offline oldmate

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #18 on: April 22, 2015, 04:43:52 PM »
My 160w ones will soon live in a space below these drawers once they go in the car. And my projects 120w blanket just goes int the nose of the trailer
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Offline DropBearRacing

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #19 on: April 22, 2015, 05:11:56 PM »
Got our projecta kit from jetcrew, it just folds up onto itself to a size of an A4 folder.  It can be stored anywhere but usually just sits in the toolbox.   :cheers:
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Offline peterdeg

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #20 on: April 22, 2015, 05:47:20 PM »
Under the mattress in a bag I made from thick bathroom towels. They're flexible, so really thin.
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Offline feisty

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #21 on: April 22, 2015, 06:42:47 PM »

Thin flexible 100 Watters under the mattress as well. No bag though.
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Offline Barry G

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #22 on: April 22, 2015, 08:20:12 PM »
My fold-up pair of panels I purchased from Mandrake come in an aluminium case.
Carry them inside the cavernous storage area inside the Heaslip, with other stuff packed on top.
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Offline V8CRSA

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #23 on: April 22, 2015, 09:10:59 PM »

Depending on the trip, either behind the rear seat in front on the cargo barrier in the cruiser, or on top of the bed in the KK.

Matt
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Offline thommo19

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Re: Where and how do you carry/store your solar panels?
« Reply #24 on: April 22, 2015, 09:34:46 PM »
Mine are in a padded bag stored behind the front seats in the cruiser.
Jeff
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