Winter Van Life Nightmare: Don't Make This Critical Mistake!

[@mikecox645]

Mel , try giving them a clean it may improve the performance because dirt is nearly As bad as a shadow. Good video bud.

[@RolyHough]

Come on Mel, are we having Waffle on a Wednesday back. Your channel is at last back to normal x

[@simonrichardson5203]

Good youre facing the sun but for those that don't know solar panels still work on cloudy days or even just pointing at the sky ( indirect sunlight) obviously shorter days are the problem in winter

[@theonlywoody2shoes]

Option A - move the sun. Option B - move the earth. Option C - move the van. Your move 🤔🤔🤔

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

Haha, nice! I’d say let’s just move the van and grab some snacks while we figure the rest out!

[@bobhope5773]

Clean those panels, they are filthy and they will work better after the crap is removed!! No, It is not December BTW, was that a senior moment you were having?

[@Cheekymonkey1]

Good night Becky and Mel i love watching your you tube videos on your you tube channels I hope both of you are well and Mel enjoying his conversions of his new motor home where is Becky tonight I love all of your you tube videos when are you going to work on your new motor home please say hi to Becky please and please both of you keep safe and warm and please keep up your good work on your you tube channels

[@richardd8352]

340 watts @12v is around 28amps. Nothing disappointing about that - but always limited in winter. Also have you tried different angles - I think the optimum is around 50° in winter? And optimum is around 20° in summer.

[@tacticaladvance]

I had 800w on on a tilt system for 2 years and did used it once. The problem was you have to face the sun and i found this was not easy when traveling around doing so. If you have any wind ow no.

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

It sounds like you had quite the experience with that tilt system! Facing the sun can definitely be tricky, especially when you're on the move. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@rogerstarkey5390]

You're still getting a shadow along the bottom edge from the roof rack channel because the panel is dipping down as you pivot. If you move the pivot pins all the way to the corner of the panels you might get the whole edge generating? Better still, bolt some straight brackets to the sides that extend past the bottom or the panel and use those as the pivot point. That will LIFT the panel above the rack. Alternatively, a pair of stainless steel hinges bolted to the rack, with the hinge level with the top edge, and the other half to the panel. Then the frame of the panel will lift above the Rack.

[@bobhope5773]

I'm guessing your solar panel is a "monocrystalline" panel. Polycrystaline panels work better in partial shade, with dust or snow etc! Monocrystalline panels can break down if they are only marginally covered in snow or by dust, or if part of the panel becomes shaded, by a wifi ariel for example!

[@richardd8352]

But aren't polycrystaline panels generally much less efficient.

[@bobhope5773]

@@richardd8352 horses for courses. Polycrystaline panels maybe 15 - 20% less efficient but just a tiny wifi ariel reduced Mels charging ability by 100W. Like I said horses for courses, life is full of shadows dust, snow etc, there are times the efficiency of the monocrystaline panels will affected by these things. Cleaning the panels would help no matter which panel is used! Which would you choose, either option is a good/bad choice, all depending on which variables apply!

[@Starchaserpaige]

I would fix a bar between the 2 panels and in middle of that use a gate opener actuator to raise them at a press of a button Mel

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

Ah, the age-old battle between manual effort and technological advancement. Looks like you're firmly on Team Button-Pusher!

[@timstradling7764]

Well done Mel, a bit of lateral thinking😊

[@Michael-m4y]

December ? you in a time machine lol

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

A time machine would be handy, especially for getting back to the summer vibes!

[@dianegriffen2756]

It's not December quite yet, still a couple of days.

[@jartotable]

😂that was brilliant. Easy fix.

[@jamiemurphy3404]

If that van pulled up,in a campsite and those bloody great panels were sticking up I would be complaining what a eye saw

[@chrismajor2501]

Seriously? This is a silly comments you don’t go to a campsite to see beautiful campers you go as a base for the surrounding

[@chrismajor2501]

Hi Mel do you not need multiple holes in the panel for different angles depending on the time of the year and the height of the sun. It’s a great idea and I may try it on my caddy camper

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

great see you get the van build thanks lee

[@rchwha]

Thanks for your great videos. They're all really helpful and informative. I am in the process of searching for a sprinter van to convert to a campervan. I can't decide if I need a LWB or medium. It would only be used for myself and the dog ?

[@Flossy_tops]

Now get that Luxurious Vario finished! 😉

[@debbie62140]

I agree, you need as much solar this time of year as you can get. Looking at the geometary of your props and cross member, couldn't you shorten the prop a few inches and cut a slot in the vertical side of the cross member? If the prop is then permanently fixed to the panel, the bottom end of the prop would slide in a slot. It'd save you clambering onto the roof to reach the top of the prop.

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

Thanks for your input! That’s an interesting idea, and I’ll definitely consider how modifying the prop could improve the setup.

[@WhipperdeetsAdventures]

Great video bud 😊 one day like to fit a tilt system 😊

[@roygardiner4002]

Panel also looks v.dirty Mel ??

[@welshieonwheels]

hi mel are your panels connected in series or parallel thanks for the great vlog well done good luck

[@tomhannigan4971]

Mel love Yr videos. Did you clean the panels. I know you was a little disappointed after 2 were up.

[@zonkanator]

I got 2 flexible ones that I hook on the side saves all that work

[@rogerstarkey5390]

He needs those as well!

[@MartinJose-g4x]

Vary good job 👍

[@PRESTIGEANDCLASSIC]

December! Can you time travel ?

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

Yes 👍 thanks for watching to the end of the video really appreciate that 😂🤣🫶👍

[@boatingmanchester]

That little object blocked 50% of the sola input pretty interesting would never of worked that out cheers for the knowledge :)

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

I'm glad you found it interesting! It's amazing how small objects can have such a big impact on solar input.

[@sidpf1972]

December😂😂

[@WildUK-Kate]

Now try 4 way tilting lol using no bolts and no hinges. You made multiple mistakes in the design.

[@bobhope5773]

who said that? 😅🌞☀😎

[@davidpatrick1813]

Is there exhaust that dirties the front panel?

[@thevikingcraftsman]

👍

[@My15minutes...]

I made the mistake of buying city plumbing solar panels only to find out they are 36v and my renogy DC/DC & mppt has a max 24v 🤦

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

It sounds like you ran into a common issue with solar panel compatibility! It's always a good idea to double-check the specs before making a purchase. Hopefully, you can find a solution that works for your setup! All my panels are 36v

[@My15minutes...]

@BigVanSmallWorld am hopeless with electrics! Going to see what happens. Wish me luck! Love the videos, keep it up!

[@sparkykevboss]

I may be wrong but the panel voltage shouldn't matter to the dc/dc charger. And the money you saved with the £70 panel will easily buy a new mppt.

[@My15minutes...]

@sparkykevboss who's going to bet I get the wrong one....again 😂😂 wish me luck

[@exilimitor]

No mistake No nightmare. Your solar panel is made up of 50 small PV squares. So that's 2% each of total power 300w. One square therefore will contribute max 6w. You said you were getting 177W and then moved antenna blocking one square and got an extra 100w.. BS max increase you will get is 6W. Is this a spoof video or do you actually think you've gained 100w😂

[@SimonJones-jy8ly]

It depends what voltage each of the small panels is and whether they are in series or parallel. You might need some real world experience to prove your point because I think you will be surprised.

[@Martin-oz6lr]

If I ever do invest in a campervan, I'll be recharging with a generator. Solar in the uk is pointless.

[@paulcarpman1]

Your MOT ran out on the old sprinter in July you need to sort it and stop running around in it as it could be a danger to other road users…

[@neilmick6778]

Why you talking shit?

[@tonydean1262]

Try 24 October 2025

[@JackOfAllTrades-UK]

You do talk rubbish sometimes. My solar panel is flat on the roof and I am at least 200 miles north of your location so the sun is even lower in the sky. Yet today it charged the battery well for a few hours.

[@BigVanSmallWorld]

Rubbish? Nah, I prefer to think of it as "creative interpretations of solar science"! Glad to hear your panels are pulling off a surprise performance up there!