Fitting solar panels - vw t5 camper (off the grid camping)

[@pimnmike]

So cool. You have your fast car and your travel van that's really done up.

[@SpyderLEE]

Yep best of everything 😀

[@PaulDovener]

Loving the over-complications

[@SpyderLEE]

Simple is boring 😂

[@PaulDovener]

Lee, any chance you can do a video on how you did the electric hookup below the rear lights?

[@CaffeineJogger]

love your conversion. I made a rocknroll bed for my T5 and have just insulated and soundproofed the back.

[@leoinswlondon]

I am not a VW owner but a Sprinter one, but you definitely got yourself a new subscriber. Keep videos coming pls!

[@timogronroos4642]

Exactly what I was looking for, thanks. This is good way to put a rigid panel as low as possible for example in ID. Buzz, which is 1,93M high. This could be done under 2M mark. I also like the fact, that the panel is not the highest point of your roof. Also using 2 panels instead of one large, You get more rigid setup with framing in the middle of the system. Less movement on bumpy roads.

[@SpyderLEE]

They are still holding strong 👍

[@JasperIjpelaar]

After I seen your electrical jobs on the t5 and the mr2, it makes sence your a electrician #metoo. Thanks for sharing and big thumbs up on the install.

[@edinburghtumuran916]

Cool installation buddy! I will install my solar panel this weekend on our VW Camper! Thanks!

[@deenunya7735]

Lovely Vid n8ce tidy job ... to get thru Sikoflex use a length of MIG Wire both ends Wrapped round 2 Screwdrivers or Wooden Dowels, use as T Bars .,u on 1 Side a pal on other and use like a cheese Cutter , cuts both sides at once , good for Bonded windscreens too , just push 1 end thru into Cab That Van looks the Dogs Doodars , real Tasty 👍

[@diobrando6147]

God i want that T5. It looks so good.

[@SpyderLEE]

Cheers 😀

[@traceywilding9281]

Looking in to this for my VW 👍

[@SpyderLEE]

It’s definitely worth it

[@gazmgow622]

tracey wilding buy a decent panel instead of 2 average ones

[@JgHobley]

Very interesting. Not a camper owner but hope to be one day. Great work!

[@JamieBulloch1]

magic, simple explanation, well executed, will do mine in a couple of months when funds allow, thanks for the common sense tips.

[@SpyderLEE]

Thanks. Well worth doing. If anything your battery will last longer, the solar conditions the battery when it’s full.

[@kevinfarrell5778]

Your tech knowledge is way beyond mine ...but still enjoyed....luv that van. ..

[@SpyderLEE]

Cheers 😁

[@heathbrowning34]

Another excellent and informative video. Honestly, I love your videos 👍🏻 You make things sound so easy! Can't wait for the next one. Cheers 🍻

[@SpyderLEE]

Thanks, mucho appreciated 😎

[@normanmazlin6741]

A good idea to fit an auto reset CB between panel and controller as close to panel as possible.

[@arecibo1974]

Very nicely done ✅ 👍🏼 thank you for sharing!

[@roygibson4645]

Nice job pal

[@hillyproductions8480]

Great video and work! I prefer solar panels attached the rack 👍

[@iankearns]

Isnt it at risk of getting airflow getting under the panels and ripping them off when doing a ton down the motorway? Anything to be gained by putting a bit of a spoiler in front to divert airflow?

[@K1lostream]

Ian Kearns - From what I could see in the video, I'd guess not - it looked like the front roof-rack cross bar is already doing the job of taking the brunt of the air pressure, and the panels behind appear to be solidly-fixed (well, once the tek screws have been replaced). You'd need to be careful with adding aero, spoilers might divert airflow, but as they do it, they create an area of lower pressure below and behind the spoiler and higher pressure above - that low-pressure 'hole' in the air wants to be filled, and at high speed, it ain't fussy what it fills it with. If the panels are in the wake of something that does that, the air above the panels will be affected differently to the air below the panels, which will create a force sucking (or pushing, depending which side you look at it from) the panels upward - past a ton this effect could become significant. I think you will get that effect anyway as the air being stuffed below the roof bar and under the panels will experience some compression, but the point is adding aero without knowing what you're doing could amplify the problem as easily as reduce it. Besides, it's a camper, he's not likely to be rushing around doing a ton in it! That's for stressed-out sales reps and boy racers! Where you rushing to in a camper that you want to even be on a motorway, let alone do a ton on one!

[@paulthompson5416]

It will be a disturbed air flow because of the two cable entry points pushing air over the top of the panels bud. So it would balance its self out quite a bit and the central brackets will reduce the majority of the panel flex. But in a previous video he had explained that he wanted airflow to cool the panels also as they can get quite hot 👍🏼

[@DANO2015]

Great video, thanks 👍

[@SpyderLEE]

Cheers 😀

[@timbior]

Greetins great video! The cross bars on the roof racks shouldn't be pointing the other way?? The rails look identical to my Metris MB (US spec V class)....

[@jj8526]

Lee. Just wondering your reasoning for having a feed to your starter battery as well as your leisure battery..? I enjoyed the video..🚐🤔☘

[@andrewbrookes654]

Great video it's helped me alot. Just one question, did you use self taping screws that went through the chanel or did you get nuts in there?

[@SpyderLEE]

Hex head tek screws.

[@nickfreeman8027]

Great video

[@paulthompson5416]

Nice job bud 👍🏼

[@RobS32]

Nice job pal 👍

[@mechanicalnut7866]

Where have you gone my fellow sparky ?!

[@inakitapia8045]

Where the plate is located, the bars are threaded sheet metal or screws with nuts thanks

[@philipsloan957]

Mate this is brilliant! Can find those panels of yours though:(

[@CaffeineJogger]

did you build the cupboard and sink/stove yourself. really neat conversion.

[@L4zzA]

Nice job there! thanks for sharing! Did you pick a specific thickness of the aluminum bracket or would any thickness will be fine?

[@alexbarrelet9149]

Are your cross bars curved and do you have a link to the long bracket you fitted the solar panel to the cross bar with?

[@DanielKelly-n7z]

Hi love the vid just got my solar panel and think of mounting the same way as you with the cross bars have u had any issues with movement at speed iv read about the venture tunnel effect basically air not escaping as quick as it’s entering causing the panels to move have you had this problem?

[@SpyderLEE]

Nope still all good been on 5 years now since this video.

[@ervinvelic7167]

what brand are these cross bars please?

[@buster9647]

Good video. Have you fitted a diesel heater?

[@SpyderLEE]

Yes, the planar 👍

[@TRUCKERKEV]

how long can this set up keep you off grid for ? running fridge ect ?

[@SpyderLEE]

Last year with the one panel, I ran my fridge for 8 months continuous. I went to Scotland for 5 nights no problem. My camping is usually one spot for one night then stay somewhere else, so the split charger will be helping too. I never plug the hook up in. I never run out of battery. Having 2 panels will be even better.

[@karlcrozier3454]

What colour headlining is that mate?

[@SpyderLEE]

Karl Crozier in the cab area it’s the dark grey stretch carpet I used on the walls. In the rear it’s a random grey suede.

[@psimanx5416]

Dear Syderlee you didn't have to put holes in your roof. In the back of the van the tail lift door has a gater where you can thread the cable in. I personally would not drill holes in a roof. In any roof. EVER.

[@geoham11]

Great job. Enjoyed the video,very informative. The unit thats attach to the roof where the cables go through. Any reason they were fitted to the lower section on the roof and not fitted to the raised part of the roof? Just curious as the water might clear quicker if they were fitted that way. The reason I ask I'm planning on fitting solar to my T5 👍

[@SpyderLEE]

Erm yeah that makes sense doh ... the raised section would be better

[@lurcho101]

Looking good nice install. Do you get any wind noise on the motorway or buffering? Also what make of crossbars are they I like the low profile. Cheers

[@SpyderLEE]

I’ve only been between work and home a few times so far (15 mile motorway) but seems ok to me 👍. Bars were just some random ones I found on eBay.

[@lurcho101]

@@SpyderLEE no worries be interested if you get any wind noise in the future. Good find on the bars

[@raychambers3646]

Spyder Lee is there no dissolving substance for sikaflex?or would that attack the paint?like yours vids very informative.

[@SpyderLEE]

I’ve got it off before just by rubbing it. It’s not that difficult to clean off to be honest but I’m incredibly lazy lol. You can’t see it and the on,y time I would remove those panels was if I went pop top, then I’d change them for flexible anyway.

[@DolbyDogAdventures]

What cross bars are you using please? Thanks.

[@SpyderLEE]

They came as a full roof bar kit. From eBay but a well known transporter bits supplier. Can’t remember which.

[@bigyin1690]

An other.great video

[@SpyderLEE]

Cheers 🤘

[@livingstudio777]

Coooool!!!!

[@TotoGeenen]

I've been thinking about doing something like this myself and I have a question. If my batteries are full and I'm not using any energy is that a problem? Solar panel still creating power but can't go anywhere? Thanks!

[@SpyderLEE]

No, the charger goes into a “conditioning” stage. Keep the batteries in good health.

[@TotoGeenen]

@@SpyderLEE okay, thanks!