150w Flexi solar panel upgrade off grid on VW T5 Campervan

[@soyjordi]

Great video. Whats the name of the products you use to remove the sikaflex?? Thanks in advance.

[@AXISUK]

Hi, the best stuff was brake cleaner. Just need to take off the bulk with a blade and it works a treat 👍🏻

[@soyjordi]

@@AXISUK thanks!! 👍

[@viv-i-vangoesforth]

Ola 🙂 I'm glad I watched this video. When I fitted the flexi panel on my roof I didnt fit the "cable gland " and just stuck the wires under the tailgare. I'm now getting a bit of wetness coming in so I'll be fitting one and I windered how to faff about with the wires to get them proper. Genius solution of yours with the connectors and shrink wrap. As soon as the arctic weather goes, I'll be nicking your idea and doing the same with the wires on viv-i-van. I've now subscribed and will follow. Nice vid👍 Bessy regs-Kenny

[@AXISUK]

😊 Thanks. Yeah it’s always a faff wondering how to get wires from the outside in 🤦🏻 Hopefully when you do it the leak stops 🤞

[@lioncrunch9098]

Hi great vid, I’ve watched three times now, and can’t find the item how you fastened the wires, prior to shrink wrap, what connectors did you use please, you didn’t seem to crimp them.

[@AXISUK]

@@lioncrunch9098 do you mean these solder heat shrink connectors - amzn.to/3MJfLae ? And thanks for watching 👍🏻🤣

[@johnfurniss1967]

Good video mate but that music is very loud 😮

[@AXISUK]

@@johnfurniss1967 old video from when I didn’t have a clue how to edit 🤣

[@sairym3607]

Thanks so much for this Vid, ive just installed mine in the same way. Ive no output from the panel at all. Can you tell me what connections you used after cutting off the mc4 factory connectors. I used yellow crimp butt connectors rated to 48Amp to reconnect the mc4 inside the vehicle. Would hard wiring the cables and doing away with the mc4's perhaps resolve the issue. Wish id tested the panel before installing 😢

[@AXISUK]

The joint in the van was soldered and heat shrink over. Check you have the wires the correct way round.

[@sairym3607]

Yes the wires, control settings etc gone over and checked 100%..oh well looks like I've lost my money.

[@AXISUK]

@@sairym3607 if you have a multi meter, pop the cover off the solar panel wire block (on the panel) and check the voltage. I had a dodgy panel and one of the terminals that was soldered came loose.

[@sairym3607]

Thanks for the tip, I have nothing to lose I guess!

[@sairym3607]

I have volts spot on! No amps, so is that a diode issue?

[@RollOnBusin]

Why did you use Sikaflex again? It didn't hold down your solar bracket the first time.

[@AXISUK]

The sika is fine on the flexi as grips quite well. The rigid panel brackets didn’t have enough on, plus if you noticed in the original video the weather was freezing. Not ideal for using a bonding solution.

[@timstephenson3341]

Have you had any issues with the panel trying to lift off at the front whilst driving. Just wondered how secure it still is after 11 months?

[@AXISUK]

That panel was fitted over a few years now and never moved 😊 all depends on what you use as a bond.

[@ALTNABREAC-UNCOVERED]

Can i ask about ventilation heating up or whatever they call it, have you had any issues with that and how long has it been fitted now. Thanks

[@Diftfog]

Mine, was fitted by skyline nearly five years ago now, flush to the poptop. Still going strong now. But only 100w flexi. I've been thinking of flopping a 150w flexi over it.

[@ALTNABREAC-UNCOVERED]

What's skyline please, I've 2 Ecoflow 100w flexible panels to potentially fit

[@Diftfog]

@@ALTNABREAC-UNCOVERED skyline are the company who fitted my poptop and original solar panel.

[@CCRISPYY567]

Hiya, great video. How is the ebt + holding up? I’ve just done the same to my van and am just learning that there are caravan specific sealants from sikaflex. Should I have used one of those do you think or have you not had any issues?

[@AXISUK]

Hi Billy, to be fair I use the ebt for everything and never had anything break away or come loose. 👍🏻

[@RollOnBusin]

@@AXISUK What are talking about? We saw how it didn't hold the bracket to the roof at all.

[@AXISUK]

@@RollOnBusin he asked how it was holding up on the flexi panel and it was fine??? On the ridged panel not enough was used to bond the brackets.