Solar, factory or retro fit?

[Stage]

Hi,

Once again I would like to dip in to the vast pool of experience on this forum.

New MH arriving in March, leaving the costs issues aside, should I;

1. Invest in solar power?

2. Have the panel(s) factory or retro fitted?

[Corky 8]

Factory fitting is more expensive but you will have your M/H returned solar Panel fitted and working with some recall if it fails to work, d.i.y. wise, you will firstly have to determine where the best place on the roof to fit your Panel considering where the charging wires will enter the roof and where they will meet your Regulator/controller which will need to be mounted so the wires can then carry on to the Leisure battery/ s. and Paramount to that is your diy skills, I have fitted Solar panels to two different Motorhomes with success, if you want to do it yourself spend quite a long time panning the route of the fitment and the run of the Cabling which should highlight any Problems before you do any drilling of holes in your New Motorhome,  on the diy Plus side what you save on having it fitted you can spend on a better/bigger Solar Panel and Kit, I bought from here and have had good service from them.   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120W-12V-dual-battery-solar-panel-charging-kit-for-motorhome-camper-caravan-boat-/111073984299?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item19dc867f2b  But shop around for best Price ...Others will be along with more info,  good luck.

[Derek Uzzell]

Stage

 

In your recent Chatterbox inquiry

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/General-Chat/Chatterbox/Air-suspension-conversion-/36839/

 

you referred to "...my nearly new MH, Fiat Ducatto/Al-Ko chassis.”

 

I believe you’ve not provided any other details of the vehicle but, if the motorhome you’ll be obtaining in March 2015 is secondhand, I would have thought your choices regarding a solar-panel system will be to have the system fitted by a motorhome dealership that’s an agent for the make of motorhome, by an independent specialist company, or (as Corky has done) by DIY-ing the job.

 

Nowadays certain motorhome manufacturers provide a solar-panel system as standard on some models, while others will offer a system when ordered as a factory option on a brand-new vehicle. But in many cases the make/type of the system will be down to the buyer and not involve the motorhome manufacturer directly. Specifying that the vending agency fit the system is convenient and (as Corky says about factory-fitting) may simplify matters if problems occur. It’s quite likely though that a motorhome dealership may decide to subcontract the task to a specialist.

 

If you mean by “retrofitting” that the system be fitted some time after you have obtained the motorhome, the obvious attraction of that approach is that you will by then have gained practical experience of using the vehicle and will be in a better position to decide the specification of the system most suitable for your requirements, or even whether you need to take the solar-panel route at all.

 

I can’t really advise on the ‘investment’ issue, as it depends on what plans you have for your motorhome. In 2012 a French motorhome magazine published an article saying that a solar-panel system, a bike-rack, an awning and a satellite-TV aerial were now pretty much standard requirements for modern motorcaravanners. I’ve been motorcaravanning since 1998 and neither of the two motorhomes I’ve owned have had any of those things. I’ve never felt a need for them and the motorhome I have on order for delivery next year won’t have them either. As, during 16 years of motorcaravanning, I’ve felt no urge to have a solar-panel system, I can’t see that changing in future. For me it would be money wasted that I’d much rather fritter on things like a spare-wheel/tyre, a refillable LPG-bottle and a more up-to-date sat-nav.

 

However, in your case (based solely on your October forum inquiries) it may very well be that a solar-panel system will be exactly what you need and will make good financial sense.

 

(There is a lot of earlier forum debate about solar panels. Using the forum’s “Search our Forums” feature will retrieve more recent discussions.)

[Brian Kirby]

Stage - 2014-12-26 12:17 PM

 

Hi,

Once again I would like to dip in to the vast pool of experience on this forum.

New MH arriving in March, leaving the costs issues aside, should I;

1. Invest in solar power?

2. Have the panel(s) factory or retro fitted?

To add to the above, are you sure you still have the option of a factory fit?

 

You say "new" MH, which I take to mean new and unused, and you also say arriving in March, which I take to mean presently on order with a March delivery date.

 

I suggest you check whether, having provided a delivery date, and so presumably allocated your van a production slot, the manufacturer will still allow alterations to the specification.

 

I'd also suggest, if the answer is that you can still alter the specification, that you check whether the schedulad production date will be affected by the change. It is not uncommon where change is accommodated, for production to be put back. Once an order is placed, IMO, it is generally better not to make alterations if one expects delivery dates to be met.