New Solar Panel

Fitted the solar panel to roof today.

The old flexible one packed up, so I brought a solid monocrystaline 100 amp unit. 

Along with 6 mounts. 

Mounts fitted first

Then lined up over old one which is stuck to roof, not worth removing it as can damaged fibreglass.

New one just fits some of the new " feet" are sitting on old panel.

Set up position

Then masking tape along edges.

Slid the panel away from OS mounts piled the sikaflex 522 within the masking tape.

Repositioned panel. Middle bracket sat a bit proud ( fibreglass poptop) 

So piped in some more sikaflex. 

Pressed brackets down a bit to settle it and help adhesion. 

Had to reposition van as my drive is only just wide enough, so I could do the other side. 

All in place then time to remove masking tape and clean up! 

Sikaflex is white but couldn't get black anywhere! 

Needs about 24 hrs to cure fully so will leave it till tomorrow to run cabling into van.

Hoping that I can tape new wires to old ones and pull thru! 

Original fitted one, the wires are 4" apart going into the roof then join together inside. This might be a problem, as it looks like they bend inwards to the centre then come into the poptop. 

The new panel already has the male n female plugs fitted.

I removed one to have a look but without remove the male n female plug parts might not be flexible enough to thread thru to the  inside. 

The original wires were just spliced onto a slightly thinner cable then threaded into van.

I suppose it is an option if first attempt fails!

Pm

Time to wire the solar panel

Wasn't able to join old to new wiring to pull thru hole. 

Had to drill out the hole in the poptop by a millimetre! To get new wires thru! 

Once done I spliced the internal wiring to the panel wiring. 

Hooked up battery and the Victron MPPT unit lowered the poptop to get as much sun as poss 16:15 hrs. 

Paired the app

Success all systems working as should, previously the app wasnt giving full info, which I now know was the fault of the failing old solar panel!

Just need some old fashioned cloth insulation tape to wrap the internal wires.

Gave the solar panel a tug and a shove no movement other than the van rocking! 

Pulled up pushed down seems pretty solid! 

Thinking about putting a " spoiler" across front of solar panel I've got some 6" wide thick rubber that might do the job!

Solar Panel

15:00 hrs 18/07/22

Not the best day to sod around in the van but need to see how easy it would be to retro fit the new solar panel!

Wiring goes through poptop into van at back there's a wooden box section across the back which hold van wiring and camper wiring. Which is where the old solar panel wires enter vehicle. Easy enough to get at. 

The original wiring from panel is downsized in the van. Probably to make it easier to thread thru, however, I will see if I can keep the original wiring from new panel! 

At this point I've cut off the old wire leaving a few inches protruding onto roof, hoping to join the new wires to old then pull thru hole. Need to clean area and the entrance hole first. 

Couldn't get sikaflex locally so had to order online.( Sikaflex 522 new version old 512) 

But I can drill and attach mounts to solar panel in the meantime. 

I bought the mounting kit that has 6 mounts 1 each corner 1 eitherside middle of panel. Poptop is a little flexible and as the panel sits around 25 mm of roof middle mounts add more stability. 

Job 1

Thread the solar connector cables thru to the van via box section down offside to connect to the victron mppt . Won't have to remove connectors doing it backwards so to speak!

Sorted easy than expected!

Hopefully threading from down through the poptop should be similar!

Done 19/07/22

Job 2

Mount the solar panel over old stuck on one! Near impossible to remove these without damage. Advice is leave it where it is! 

Attach panel mounts to solar using small bolts.

Position panel and mark with masking tape

Add sikaflex to roof.

Position mounts into place leave to set! Over night at least most seem to give it 24 hrs!

Leisure Battery test

Took out the battery reading was 12.12!

Put on charge via smart charger for 35 hrs.at 13:50hrs 17/07/22 13.65v via multimeter.

Will take a reading same time Monday 18th

15:00 hrs 18/07/22 13.32 v warm day battery removed from vehicle 

11:15 20/07

13.18 v cool day today after heatwave yesterday.

22:00 30/07/22

Now the solar panel is up and running hopefully the leisure battery will be fine! Will be monitoring it for a few days!

Victron/ leisure Battery

Battery dropped .1 to 12.22

Not ideal situation as solar panel is in van but gets sun thru window. 

Van is parked in public layby next to our house so can't put panel outside of van unsecured. 

Add in its to bloody hot to work outside currently! 

If van on drive only gets sun pm onwards but I think I will park van on drive and just put panel on the roof and monitor it's workings! 

Other issue is the battery lost a lot of charge when things went wrong and could be damaged! 

Or easier to just remove battery hook it up to my smart charger and monitor for a week! 

Decisions Decisions 

Solar

Running out of hair to pull out here!

Sterling unit 

Shows solar but liesure battery dropping voltage! Nothing is on, but when I open the van it shows solar light and power? Ignition off etc. Also then remote gauge fires up and shows low voltage who F'ing knows!??

So I've disconnected main battery from unit. 

Then re wired the victron MPPT with solar panel and leisure battery wires. 

Which on writing this makes me wonder as the leisure battery is powering the 12v accessories via busbar. So not using the load terminal on the victron unit!

I'll leave as is till I've read up again and check battery voltage in a couple of hours. 

If no improvement ( it's hot and sunny) maybe the 12v need to be separated!

Nope for once I'm right! 

The load terminal is only for say led lighting! Which I have but I'd rather the whole lot go thru a fusebox! 

The victron app is showing live info this time but still not actual solar output on main screen. 

I'll check back after an hour to two as it's obviously building info at present.

12:45pm

03/07/22 Tap

Cold water tap

New Tap securing thread is 1cm smaller than old tap! Therefore the hole for tap on the smev sink hob unit is to big! So in 5 yrs manufacturers have changed specs! 

Gotta love today!

Going to have to make 2 washers for top and bottom 

04/07/22

Sorted tap!

Using hole cutters!

Cut a disc out of 5 mm ply then a  corresponding hole in centre to fit threaded part of tap.

In a moment of genius 😂 decided to cut a small piece out of the ply disc to allow me to thread the wires thru without having to dismantle and disconnect the wiring.

So undid the retaing nut lifted the tap slid the wooden washer into place dropped it back in the hole and threaded the locking nut back on! 

More blood sweat and tears avoided! 

Now what! 

Oh yeah thought it best to check 12 v inputs etc whilst I'd been fiddling and flippin earth wire came loose from solar panel! Easy fix for once!

cold water feed 01/07/22

B2B and solar sorted, now the cold water feed. As said I'd removed the cold water tank from under the van due to the pump hassles. Bought a 10 ltr fresh water tank that fits bottom of kitchen unit ( hoorah!) 

No the witchcraft of 12v wiring. 

Could I get it to run, could I get it to stop? Could I heck as much!

Blew a few fuses couldn't find the issue.

Either the cold ran and not turn off or nothing!

Taps got a microswitch mmmmmm ! 

I've a removable panel just below the worktop above the oven. I could just get at the tap securing nut. 

Can I replace the microswitch? can I get at it?

Nope seems sealed! Great !

Ordered a new tap.

Removed the tap today. Was about to be throw it in the bin but decided to have a look at the internals. 

Turns out the microswitch wires were entangled and basically shorted out! Also the lever within the tap that actuated the microswitch wasn't even touching it! 

Bonus is I can now see how to pull apart the tap to get at future microswitches!

Remove spout pulls off

Lever can be removed via the small plastic plug on the top and undo screw ( the plastic plug is thin and will split).

Remove the small attachment that holds spout by gently pulling and twisting.

You can then  prise the body of the tap off the inner workings to expose the microswitch! Gentley does it tho! I did by using a small screwdriver working around the cover to loosen, then pull a bit. 

You can then prise/ pull the cover off the internals. 

I've also watched a video where the guy said get a couple of microswitches for your tool box! Must be common!