Added portable solar panel
Recently ordered and set up camper for a 100 folding portable solar panel... only took 8 years to add second panel. One week of fiddling with it. When we installed our solar system in 2006 i...
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Got the panel "stored".
I had noted the space between dinette back and rear wall where the slide floor extends about 4". Panel could set on it. Just had to remove a little magazine rack that was attached to seat back.
Sat the panel on the floor edge, perfect. Plenty of clearance. Once secured it can ride there. Doesn't interfere with slide moving in/out.
Scrounging thru the shop found old snap buckles straps from previous cover. Cut the female side off as it was to short and buckle was on corner of case, resewn a longer piece so it would wrap around width of case.
Folded straps over themselves 3 times to make a pad that 'clamps' the straps when screwed down.
Attached to dinette back & the longer male end to slide trim, using latch screws with washer.
Sat the panel back up, snapped it secure. Works slick. Panel can ride here. Easy to access, if we don't use it will be out of the way. Easily clears when taking slide in & out. Patting my self on the back picked up my tools. Went to close the door, umm it wont latch?
After a lot of looking, thinking the door or frame twisted-
Finally got inside, try to close door. Dooh- the silly pull on the screen door extends inside quite a bit, its hitting the solar panel case.
Never paid attention-assumed Id just remove whole center section of screen door for this trip-doubt we will need it this time of year. But looking, the pull is a separate piece held on by 4 small screws. Cool. Took to the shop, deal with it later
However looking at it, it has a center rib, if trimmed along it, it would end up looking pretty much as it did before just narrower. So sliced off. Could have been simpler unless it had a sticker "Cut here if needed". Funny
Reinstalled the pull, remounted panel. Plenty of room. Hey, door closes.
Mounted, Like it was made for it. I was thinking this unit would be something have to keep shuffling around. Need to get out see what other gotchas I didn't see. Though Margaret has already hinted shes going to miss the rack I removed- she keeps all the maps & etc in it. Never ends.
I had noted the space between dinette back and rear wall where the slide floor extends about 4". Panel could set on it. Just had to remove a little magazine rack that was attached to seat back.
Sat the panel on the floor edge, perfect. Plenty of clearance. Once secured it can ride there. Doesn't interfere with slide moving in/out.
Scrounging thru the shop found old snap buckles straps from previous cover. Cut the female side off as it was to short and buckle was on corner of case, resewn a longer piece so it would wrap around width of case.
Folded straps over themselves 3 times to make a pad that 'clamps' the straps when screwed down.
Attached to dinette back & the longer male end to slide trim, using latch screws with washer.
Sat the panel back up, snapped it secure. Works slick. Panel can ride here. Easy to access, if we don't use it will be out of the way. Easily clears when taking slide in & out. Patting my self on the back picked up my tools. Went to close the door, umm it wont latch?
After a lot of looking, thinking the door or frame twisted-
Finally got inside, try to close door. Dooh- the silly pull on the screen door extends inside quite a bit, its hitting the solar panel case.
Never paid attention-assumed Id just remove whole center section of screen door for this trip-doubt we will need it this time of year. But looking, the pull is a separate piece held on by 4 small screws. Cool. Took to the shop, deal with it later
However looking at it, it has a center rib, if trimmed along it, it would end up looking pretty much as it did before just narrower. So sliced off. Could have been simpler unless it had a sticker "Cut here if needed". Funny
Reinstalled the pull, remounted panel. Plenty of room. Hey, door closes.
Mounted, Like it was made for it. I was thinking this unit would be something have to keep shuffling around. Need to get out see what other gotchas I didn't see. Though Margaret has already hinted shes going to miss the rack I removed- she keeps all the maps & etc in it. Never ends.
