I know you’ve taken off from the channel for a while, but I’m here to give you some praise.. Dude, you’ve got one of the coolest wrangler setups I’ve ever seen. After seeing this rig I went 7hrs out of state to get a used gobi rack. I’m about to install it along with this solar setup because of this video. Hearing you talk about night hog hunting with that thing and going on kayaking adventures got my mind running and has me geared up to do the same. That’d definitely be some prime content. Props for making this Cody
I live in Florida too so I feel you on the sun! Another awesome video Cody! My husband and I are avid and prepared campers now thanks to your videos. Keep em coming!
Nice to see you back Cody, it's been awhile since your last vid, keep them coming brother, stay safe and stay healthy with best wishes to you and your family
I have a roof rack on my Jeep and I mounted a solar panel on it. It is not a flexible panel, but a solid panel with an aluminum frame. I mounted it at the front of the rack, so the air dam would hopefully deflect the air away from the panel, but air was getting up under the panel and causing loud buffeting noise. I have since removed the panel and am thinking about moving it to the back of the rack. Did you have any issues with the solar panel on your Jeep?
I have since added a second panel and moved both aluminum framed panels on top of the roof rack. Spanning the entire roof. I bolted them down to the grid pattern on the roof rack itself. No issues at all. The gobi roof rack I have installed came with a wind deflector though that I have installed in the gap between the rack and roof of the jeep. I’m sure this helps a lot in my case. But maybe something after market to block/ redirect the wind over your panels instead of underneath and giving you unwanted lift? If I’m understanding your issue correctly.
@@WhentheLightsgoOut yes, you are right. My panel is bolted to the base of the rack as well. Adding a wind block under the rack should make a difference. Thanks for the suggestion.
Hi again Cody. Your solar design has helped me make what I hope are the right purchase decisions regarding my Wrangler's Solar panel--even if its purpose is for two entirely different tasks: 1) trickle charging an infrequently used vehicle during COVID, and 2) charging a dedicated battery I plan to use to energize my dash camera when in parking mode. Again, I thank you sir. Why I write is to ask/suggest sir that if you are ever in the need for a replacement battery for your system that you consider use of a Lithium Iron Phosphate LiFePO4 variety given it's greater safety and (although of less concern for you in FLA) it's resistance to voltage drops with temperature. You may have reasons beyond my limited understanding for your battery choice. I just want to, like you do for your viewers, keep you safe man. : - )
Awesome Dave, I’m glad you got some ideas and I appreciate the recommendation. The only reason I have the battery I do is because it was a cheap on sale battery at harbor freight lol. I wanted to test a few things(including the longevity of the battery in the Florida heat) before upgrading. But yes definitely need to upgrade in the future. Keep up the great work and you stay safe as well 👍🏼
I was asking myself the same question. It’s obviously possible just not sure it’s as simple as trickle charging a battery or how much would be involved to do it correctly. These modern day cars with all of their sensors could be a recipe for disaster. I had a tough time with a professional radio install and all the electronics going hay wire on me. Short answer: juice might not be worth the squeeze for the amount of electric miles you would get out of it.
@@WhentheLightsgoOut that’s a good point, but it could work if you charge a battery, and use the battery to charge the car. People have used the jackery solar panels and battery to charge the Tesla model 3
Thank you Cody for making this video. I am contemplating the installation of a Solar Panel on my Wrangler's roof rack and I found this very helpful in understanding how to proceed. I appreciate you taking the time to explain so others like me can learn.
It obviously does a bit, compared to running it on top and in direct sunlight, but not by much. I have yet to run it down. And it’s charged up by the following night.
Had the same question and have yet to get my hands on one for long term testing. My guess is that it most definitely would but as for keeping it running indefinitely, I’m thinking a bigger battery is needed and I’m not sure how great the efficiency with it being stored in the Florida heat 24/7 would be. (100+ degrees In the jeep) an ARB fridge would be more efficient than a Coleman electric cooler for example.
Weather seal on the jeep rear window? No issues. Made sure to set it in the deepest recess and the Florida heat has pretty well conformed the stripping perfectly around the wires. So long as you split the positive going in one side and negative routes the other way( so you’re not having two thick wires close together creating gaps) then you should be good to go. Hope that makes sense and answers your question 👍🏼
@@WhentheLightsgoOut thanks so much for the fast response I actually live in west palm beach so sounds like a good plan for me. I’m getting ready to order a 200 watt panel for my Jeep and originally I thought I was gonna have to drill a hole but I like this idea waaaaay more so thanks for saving me an unnecessary hole
Awesome. I was going to drill too but not a fan of permanent projects. I’m glad you stumbled on the video and hope it works out for ya. Keep me posted 👍🏼
Awesome video and an awesome setup! I'm a bit of a newb and am learning a lot from your page. The only question I have is how did you make the cage for the solar panel and latch it on to your rack?
I’m glad to hear it 👍🏼. The cage is part of the gobi roof rack I purchased. Just so happened to be the perfect fit. I then screwed in L brackets around the aluminum frame of the panel. Poked the ends up under the cage and zip tied them flush with the top. There’s infinite ways to mount it, just how I did it with what I already had laying around. You could even bungee it down or ratchet strap it if you wanted a truly removable system. Let me know what you come up with on Instagram. When_The_lights_Go_Out_ I’d like to see how it turns out. Can always message me and I’ll help as much as I can. Stay safe and good luck 👍🏼
@@WhentheLightsgoOutjust now getting around setting one of these up and had the same question about mounting the panel. Glad I found the answer Hope yall fared well during this last hurricane!
Just discovered your channel. That’s not bad. Have you thought about looking into a trolling motor box instead? It’ll save you a lot of space, as we both know space in a Jeep Wrangler is a premium
Not normally. Only hard wind and driving rains. I ended up snaking the wires up underneath the topper from the bottom, against gravity and the problems fixed 👍🏼
Look into marine industry ideas for burying your wires through the roof of your jeep. It can help you avoid pinching and cutting into your wires as well as having future leaks in your weather stripping.
See what you did there 😎 there’s a lot I’d like to film at night. Including the night vision/thermal stuff. The lighting and picture quality is unfortunately hard to capture at night with the current film set up. I’ll run some test footage and see what night time routines I can capture 👍🏼
![Lil Uzi Vert - Chill Bae [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D7F42F_JM3U/mqdefault.jpg)
Legend.
Don't stop
I know you’ve taken off from the channel for a while, but I’m here to give you some praise..
Dude, you’ve got one of the coolest wrangler setups I’ve ever seen.
After seeing this rig I went 7hrs out of state to get a used gobi rack. I’m about to install it along with this solar setup because of this video.
Hearing you talk about night hog hunting with that thing and going on kayaking adventures got my mind running and has me geared up to do the same. That’d definitely be some prime content.
Props for making this Cody
Awesome brother, I’m glad you found some inspiration and I hope there’s lots of sweet adventures in your future. 😎
So tacticool.
I live in Florida too so I feel you on the sun! Another awesome video Cody! My husband and I are avid and prepared campers now thanks to your videos. Keep em coming!
That’s awesome to hear and glad to have a Florida neighbor on the channel 😎
Very cool bro !!
Thanks my man 😎
Nice to see you back Cody, it's been awhile since your last vid, keep them coming brother, stay safe and stay healthy with best wishes to you and your family
Appreciate that Richard. All the same to you. Thanks for watching
@@WhentheLightsgoOut I've enjoyed all your content, next time my wife and I come to Florida to visit our family, we should get together.
Sounds like a plan. Which coast?
@@WhentheLightsgoOut My sister & brother in law live in Ocala
Badass. Thanks for sharing.
I’m just here for the earring.
I have a roof rack on my Jeep and I mounted a solar panel on it. It is not a flexible panel, but a solid panel with an aluminum frame. I mounted it at the front of the rack, so the air dam would hopefully deflect the air away from the panel, but air was getting up under the panel and causing loud buffeting noise. I have since removed the panel and am thinking about moving it to the back of the rack. Did you have any issues with the solar panel on your Jeep?
I have since added a second panel and moved both aluminum framed panels on top of the roof rack. Spanning the entire roof. I bolted them down to the grid pattern on the roof rack itself. No issues at all. The gobi roof rack I have installed came with a wind deflector though that I have installed in the gap between the rack and roof of the jeep. I’m sure this helps a lot in my case. But maybe something after market to block/ redirect the wind over your panels instead of underneath and giving you unwanted lift? If I’m understanding your issue correctly.
@@WhentheLightsgoOut yes, you are right. My panel is bolted to the base of the rack as well. Adding a wind block under the rack should make a difference. Thanks for the suggestion.
Very nice!!
Nice set up
Hi again Cody. Your solar design has helped me make what I hope are the right purchase decisions regarding my Wrangler's Solar panel--even if its purpose is for two entirely different tasks: 1) trickle charging an infrequently used vehicle during COVID, and 2) charging a dedicated battery I plan to use to energize my dash camera when in parking mode.
Again, I thank you sir.
Why I write is to ask/suggest sir that if you are ever in the need for a replacement battery for your system that you consider use of a Lithium Iron Phosphate LiFePO4 variety given it's greater safety and (although of less concern for you in FLA) it's resistance to voltage drops with temperature.
You may have reasons beyond my limited understanding for your battery choice. I just want to, like you do for your viewers, keep you safe man. : - )
Awesome Dave, I’m glad you got some ideas and I appreciate the recommendation. The only reason I have the battery I do is because it was a cheap on sale battery at harbor freight lol. I wanted to test a few things(including the longevity of the battery in the Florida heat) before upgrading. But yes definitely need to upgrade in the future. Keep up the great work and you stay safe as well 👍🏼
Awesome video Cody keep up the good work👍
Thank you sir 😎
Technically, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is a plug in hybrid, could the solar panels slowly charge the jeep?
I was asking myself the same question. It’s obviously possible just not sure it’s as simple as trickle charging a battery or how much would be involved to do it correctly. These modern day cars with all of their sensors could be a recipe for disaster. I had a tough time with a professional radio install and all the electronics going hay wire on me. Short answer: juice might not be worth the squeeze for the amount of electric miles you would get out of it.
@@WhentheLightsgoOut that’s a good point, but it could work if you charge a battery, and use the battery to charge the car. People have used the jackery solar panels and battery to charge the Tesla model 3
Nice rig! Keep up the content bro
Thanks Sergio 👍🏼
Thank you Cody for making this video. I am contemplating the installation of a Solar Panel on my Wrangler's roof rack and I found this very helpful in understanding how to proceed. I appreciate you taking the time to explain so others like me can learn.
Awesome. I’m glad you found it helpful. It’s super simple and well worth it. Let me know how it goes 👍🏼
Does the cage cause you to lose power levels coming in?
It obviously does a bit, compared to running it on top and in direct sunlight, but not by much. I have yet to run it down. And it’s charged up by the following night.
I like it, You rig is very similar to mine.
Then I like your rig as well 😎
Good to see your rig it’s been awhile.
Great video Cody
Stay Safe
Thank you sir, you as well 👍🏼
what roof rack do you have installed?
The Gobi Stealth rack. Pricey, and it’s starting to rust in spots. But it’s held up thus far from 2016 (not garage kept)
Will this power a fridge
Had the same question and have yet to get my hands on one for long term testing. My guess is that it most definitely would but as for keeping it running indefinitely, I’m thinking a bigger battery is needed and I’m not sure how great the efficiency with it being stored in the Florida heat 24/7 would be. (100+ degrees In the jeep) an ARB fridge would be more efficient than a Coleman electric cooler for example.
I think it would be better without music, it’s distracting.
Great ideas, keep going.
Have you had any issues with the weather seal leaking around the solar wires?
Weather seal on the jeep rear window? No issues. Made sure to set it in the deepest recess and the Florida heat has pretty well conformed the stripping perfectly around the wires. So long as you split the positive going in one side and negative routes the other way( so you’re not having two thick wires close together creating gaps) then you should be good to go. Hope that makes sense and answers your question 👍🏼
@@WhentheLightsgoOut thanks so much for the fast response I actually live in west palm beach so sounds like a good plan for me. I’m getting ready to order a 200 watt panel for my Jeep and originally I thought I was gonna have to drill a hole but I like this idea waaaaay more so thanks for saving me an unnecessary hole
Awesome. I was going to drill too but not a fan of permanent projects. I’m glad you stumbled on the video and hope it works out for ya. Keep me posted 👍🏼
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Bro this is AWESOME!! Think this would power a full time fridge?
Yessir. Might need to beef up the battery for full time. But process is the exact same. All scalable. Solar is a pretty sweet deal 😎
@@WhentheLightsgoOut thank you man. Love your channel & build! 👏🏻👏🏻
Wouldn’t the fridge draw more than 100watts?
Awesome video and an awesome setup! I'm a bit of a newb and am learning a lot from your page. The only question I have is how did you make the cage for the solar panel and latch it on to your rack?
I’m glad to hear it 👍🏼. The cage is part of the gobi roof rack I purchased. Just so happened to be the perfect fit. I then screwed in L brackets around the aluminum frame of the panel. Poked the ends up under the cage and zip tied them flush with the top. There’s infinite ways to mount it, just how I did it with what I already had laying around. You could even bungee it down or ratchet strap it if you wanted a truly removable system. Let me know what you come up with on Instagram. When_The_lights_Go_Out_ I’d like to see how it turns out. Can always message me and I’ll help as much as I can. Stay safe and good luck 👍🏼
Thanks again and will do!
Cisco's Corner 👍🏼
@@WhentheLightsgoOutjust now getting around setting one of these up and had the same question about mounting the panel. Glad I found the answer
Hope yall fared well during this last hurricane!
Just discovered your channel. That’s not bad. Have you thought about looking into a trolling motor box instead? It’ll save you a lot of space, as we both know space in a Jeep Wrangler is a premium
I’ll definitely check it out 👍🏼
back window any leaks
Not normally. Only hard wind and driving rains. I ended up snaking the wires up underneath the topper from the bottom, against gravity and the problems fixed 👍🏼
Look into marine industry ideas for burying your wires through the roof of your jeep. It can help you avoid pinching and cutting into your wires as well as having future leaks in your weather stripping.
Great idea. Was going for simple plug and play for this build, but I do need to look into upgrading. Thanks for the ideas 👍🏼
If the girls don't find ya handsome at least they will find you handy (red green)
it would be nice if you show your car (with the light system) at night, when the lights go out ;)
See what you did there 😎 there’s a lot I’d like to film at night. Including the night vision/thermal stuff. The lighting and picture quality is unfortunately hard to capture at night with the current film set up. I’ll run some test footage and see what night time routines I can capture 👍🏼
Step one to solar panel setup. Cover it 😑
Survived two hurricanes and a tree falling on it. Doesn’t seem to hinder efficiency much. So I’d say worth it
😂
Dude lose the belt purse you at home ..
Ya never mount your solar underneath something blocking access to the sun.
Normally agreed. I can tell you through experience. Hasn’t been an issue in the Florida sun.