Unbelievably THIN Solar Panels For Your Van Build
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- Опубликовано: 10 дек 2022
- We fitted the thinnest solar panels from Shawllar Energy Technology Co these are the thinnest solar panels we have ever seen, so we installed them to our ford transit custom van conversion, the solar is 1.3mm thick and are the perfect solar panels for this small van build and perfectly fit on the roof of the van which means more solar could be fitted or even a roof vent. this ford transit custom van has been fully converted and is to a high speck and will make the perfect van for the owner, we have one more job to do on this van build and that's to add some off-grid heat into it and then it's all finished.
get your solar here and don't forget the discount code
Shawllar Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
Shawllar website: www.shawllar.com
Email: info@shawllar.com
Shopping website: www.shawllarlife.com
Discount Code： Vanlife
Discount: additional 10% OFF
WATCH MORE OF THE TRANSIT BUILD HERE
• We Are Converting This...
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Thank you 😊, you have given me the confidence to have a go at this myself. I thought it would be more complicated than that . Cheers Neil 😊
This is a great video, one of the best I’ve seen. Thanks for putting it together and sharing your knowledge 👍
Great vlog as always , Neil you would be good at icing a cake with your steady hands. Great work Emma too. Love too you both as always. Great van too xxx
Thanks Sue how you and that pupper are keeping good well and warm . And I’d be TOTALY rubbish with cakes as they would never last long lol
Wow - those are fantastic! Looks like a lovely set up! Never heard of Shawllar - will have to check them out - thanks for the video! Keep making memories & adventure on! ~Karen & Shannon WOY
Thank you guys, happy travels!!!!
Fabulous content Neil and Emma looking forward to seeing the heater vlog take care U2 stay warm 😊
Cheers buddy . That should be our middle of next week . And it’s a cracking unit as well
so many great tips and wise words of caution, all presented in a fun way
Thanks Emma & Neil you’re the power of light for us 👍
Happy holidays Mr Neill 🎄🎅🏻🤶
Emma & Neil 🎅🏻 hope you have a Merry Christmas 🎄
Merry Christmas Neil and Emma. And the little dogs have a good one
Nice job, I’ve been umming and aahring about outing panels on the roof of our van and seeing how neat these look it might be the way forward. Great content thank you
There a great low footprint idea and the price and they come with a long guarantee as well makes them even more attractive
You two are adorable 😊l just love all of your videos short or long. Another excellent project done 😎❤️
Thanks Gail . We love making videos just wish we had time to make more
Great video, a mate asked me about flexi panels so I’m gonna send him this link. Thank you ❤️
Thanks buddy, always good to get a comment from you 💜
Thx for the tutorial and the panels look very thin and light-weight! 👍
They are! Thanks for watching 😁
They look smart, great tutorial.
Safe travels
🚐😊
Thanks! 😃
live and cables, got it. Ive made a note :) Thank you as always your video are great and i learn so much from you, please keep them coming
Your interactions and repartee qre hilarious. Humor is a great teaching tool. Thank you.
No thank you for the kind words and accepting our weirdness . We just us doing us things
legends mate both of you, so informative and easy to follow ty
Glad it helped, thanks for joining us!
Cant beat CT1, good choice. Interesting vlog, look a good product 👍🏻
Loads underestimate ct1 and I don’t know why
Nice neat Fit ,those Panels cut the weight down too.
Your Wordy insert ,Put Bettery ,Tut Neil.
Your Glamourous Better Half has the Shoulders to Carry large Things 😊😍🥰😋😉
Good Vid 👍
Hahahaha ticks Dee there a great low pot print panel
As a Southerner I love your accent! .."Battery's all connected, Evert'on's connected to the solar panel, Everton's in, Everton's working, Everton's neat, tidy, tucked away and done!" 💁♂️👍
those panels are nice and stealthy, love the clear and simple how to video's, I'm not a van lifer but like some of the vids, started with Will's Galaxy vids 👍..
would you have to cover them in a hail storm!?..
Hi, we have just had a large amount of hail and some snow up north and we advent covered the panels and they are still working great!
Great looking panels them, I really like the look of your transit 🙏👍🚌
Thanks, its a lovely little van 👍
Nice neat job both 👍I’m liking those Ford custom vans nice little Rig
Thanks 👍
Yet another great instructive video, thank you very much. The best comedy duo since M&W ;-)
Wow, thanks! 😂
Your idea with putting the sunvisors down to clear the windows quicker definitely works I’ve tried it today
Thats great, as i have been watching you and getting some great ideas that you have been adding to the van - new project look smooth.... lovin the colour, and what you did with the ceiling
Thanks for the nice comment 🙂
@@UrbanVanlife I too have been using this method since seeing you do it! Nice tip!!
Another great job by Neil with Emma supervising
Thanks buddy . Some say she teaches me but I think it’s a ballance
Neatly done.
Thank you 😀
The most informative van lifers on youtube , tell us all positives and negative. Not sure what I want a self build or buy a coach build got 70k for build or just buy ..
For that kind of money they worlds your ouster mate . Just think how much your going to use the van where you want to go and what you want In it . There are some amazing campers for sale at low low prices these days mate . Have a look at oak tree motorhomes they allways have some amazing deals on vans of all sizes
Hi. Have u got a new van. Always watch your videos and press all your buttons. Another good utube to watch is frugal stu. Best wishes David and Beverley
No mate not a new van we have done lots of videos over the build of this van spanning over the past 12 months
your van does look very nice... good conversion :)
Thank you 🙏
Brilliant job 👍.. one thing that might be useful to some is fit an electrical junction box grommet in the roof if hole is correct size to create a seal.... Just an idea ?👍👍
Great tip!
Total Enter tech ment! 😊
Thanks Paul 😀
Hi Neil and Emma 👋 just us 2saying hi 👋 and thanks again for sharing this video update and information 👋 oh have merry Christmas and a happy new year 👍den and sue 🎄🎄🎄👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🚌🚌🚌
Thank you! You too! Happy Christmas to you both 😃
People that I watch on utube, used these thin panels which looks awesome..
Yer they are brilliant . If we ever needed to change the ones on the crafter I’d defo think of bigger ones to that
Your idea by putting the sunvisors down to clear the window quicker works thank you
Glad to be of service friend!
proper made me wince seeing hopes in the roof being drilled, Mr Cee but inspired using conduit. You both did a really cracking job. I've got a similar panel on Viv-I-van but was lucky having a tailgate so managed to avoid cutting holes. Mine was connected to a cetek 250 which had a built in mppt and then to the batteries- though I now wish Id got a bespoke MPPT and put the batteries under the R&R bed cos now Id love a swivel front seat and mine are inside it. Great job.great video. bessy regs-Kenny
Some times you have no option do ya mate . We could have ran them over the back door seal but that would have lasted 5 min and would have been a crap job . Some things need a hole
@@UrbanVanlife thats me told Neil, 🙂 though, truth be told I bottled out cutting holes in the roof as power tools hate me. Bad things always happen when I pick one up 🤣I'll bring a hole saw and drill to one of the meetings next year and get a proper job done.🖖
Hahshhshshs I just close my eyes and blame emma mate
good job Gary from Crewe 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks 👍
I have a small flexible solar panel just to charge battery packs it’s only 30w but its great it keeps my phone fully charged when I’m in the van.
We are thinking of fitting one to the crafter just for the main battery . Few other friends of ours have done it
good vid on the channel emma and neil thanks lee
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks Lee
Cracking job again guys - great idea to use the conduit and double seal - I’m fitting CCTV to mine soon and will use that idea 👍
Would you recommend the flexible over the rigid panels? In the future looking to upgrade to some more solar and wondered which would be best as flexible may just fit near the front (Ducato)
Thanks as always informative and entertaining 😀
All the best, David 👍
Flexible panels have an advantage in terms of weight and thickness, but their downsides include a much higher price per watt and a much shorter resistance to overheating which means that if you are using them in a hot climate they will probably only last a year or so.
Hi David, I did some research with regards to flexi and rigid last year with the general consensus being the rigid last far longer. That said there is also a guy on the Facebook group who swears by his folding panels for additional solar. It would be interesting to see how he connects them to his CV. Rick mentioned he is thinking of upgrading Pearl as well and I think you both have 20's. Hope this helps. Cheers K.
Very nice
Very nice of you thanks 😊
They look awesome - would be interesting to see how long they last.
Hi，Shawllar flexible solar panel has German TUV authoritative certification.
In addition, it has 5 years product warranty and 12 Year Linear Power Warranty
I would use these as temporary panels mostly if I had some similar to folding portable panels. Thinking of trying some as an extra boost along with my glass ones when needed or to use in portable situations. I`m in hurricane country in a dangerous situation in a very isolated area, disabled, and no transportation. All I think about each month is more prepping supplies. Right now my main focus is on setting up solar power for my tiny window air conditioner by April, testing it for a month, then deciding what I need to do to improve it.
I`m almost certain that decision will have to be more solar panels than my initial plan of 780 watts of panels. That will be perfect during the six main hours of bright sunlight but not if it`s partly cloudy with big puffy clouds slowly passing by. And in Winter I will certainly need more because of a lot of partial shading from the cursed pine trees. I need to be able to fill up my large battery fast if possible when sun is limited. Regardless of the limitations though I`m excited that my dream of solar powered air conditioning is very near reality. Maybe next I can get real internet here so I can be a content creator. But we`re still in 1920 here.
My friend broke his panels pretty quick.
He glued the panels directly to the metal and the the extreme heat of the summer created air bubbles and melted the panels to some extent. He regretted not mounting them with a bit of airflow underneath.
Something to think about I guess
Dont be offended. Im very surprised that lovely well built and amasing inside . Didn't sell in the summer. Get it on a SORN save you road taxe. Im imagining youve already done that xx
Been well sorn buddy
love watching you guys neil and smurfette lol cracking stuff . curious got fam in crockey what bit you in ?
Lol we not in crocky mate . And the smurfettt lol brilliant
You inspire me to put a solar on my gal. Think I can fit six panels on her back.
brillinat man , 6 wow thats a lot but the more the better
Another brill vlog. Think you should take on youre Apprentice full time Neil lol
The apprentice is too expensive, she earns more in her day job so he can't afford me 😂
@@UrbanVanlife brilliant. A bet youre a solicitor. Or legal secretary lol . Enjoy youre xmas you 4 x
Very helpful video guys, very informative. Just a quick question regarding the gap in the roof the solar panels sit over, is it worth filling that to stop any wind lifting the panels over time?
Nar it won’t effect the panels . And to be honest we put them ther on purpose because of the gap . In the hot weather it will allow expansion and will allow the panels to breath
They are proper thin, nice. Wish u guys were closer, can't find anyone local to fit my diesel heater and its fecking freezing 🥶
I fitted one yesterday. (or rather I corrected the mistakes of the person that attempted to install it and completed the installation) Owner is very happy.
@@nexpro6985 Well done Mr. Fixit 🙂 My new one came today fingers crossed we found someone to fit it tomorrow 🤞
@@FreeBirdUKVanLife enjoy a warm van!👍
Oh no where are you and did you get sorted
Sorted now thank fully. X
Problem with these panels is they can not dissipate heat very well, and in strong sun they get fecking hot. Which will reduce their output
Glueing flexible solar on a roof is a big no bueno. My failed after a year despite having a PVC isolation underneath. Funny video though.
Great vlog guy's 👍
Emma can I Ask you where you got your camol coat from 🙏
Be safe 👍
Hi ya the camo coat is actually a dry robe, warmest thing on the face of the planet!!!
Mptt, did that type melt on your van not long ago !? Cool blog .
No mate TOTALY different unit . Lot of them look the same . But the one on the crafter was the phonetic universe one
You can’t go wrong with CT1
Only thing i would do different is putting some corflute between solar panels and the roof, will make them work better and last longer.
Make sure the panels are ETFE , Renogy ones have mounting holes and great quality, I have 800w on my caravan, you should have some form of an air gap 5_10mm between the roof and panel with something like twin wall Polycarb, it stops them burning cells out on very hot days and they last a lot longer, watch RV with Tito all will be explained better than I can.
yep need an air gap, my 100w panel lasted 2 year with no gap, but this summer burnt it out
Thanks for the tips, but we did leave a gap at the back and at the front so its not 100% sealed all the way round!
Could I use one of the solar panels to charge a Eco River 2 instead of buying their portable solar panels.... there's no leisure battery it would just be for the eco river...
Thanks.
Love the Chanel guys....
🙏😁🙏
Exactly what I need one/two for. Did you make any progress?
Keep us updated as soon as the rain pishes in through ya holes will ya
3 weeks on with all the snow ice and cold all still good mate . And ya mean the 1 hole that was filled with sealent . That hole ya mean . Seems to be fine but I’d expect now less to be honest we have never had a leak of that nature on any of our vans
Where did you get all that Cable from as I need a lot doing a 1000w solar set up for our home & 400w solar for the van
It was sent with the pannels mate . Bit over kill but can’t accuse them of being tight
I have the same solar panels and I’m trying to plan the wires / layout. If I’ve got one panel at the front of the van and the other at the end, and I wish to join them together in parallel, do I put in two glands, one either end next to the corresponding panels and join the wires inside the van or join the wires on the roof of the van and use one gland? Thanks
Hi. Nice job. But what about overheating of panels due direct contact with roof, no gao. Any issues?
Never known any one to ever have that happen mate . And we know a lot of van people but it’s some thing you hear of but no one ever knows any one that it’s happened to
Great job ,,,,,,,,,,,So have you got any results ( numbers / efficiency ) for us ?
No sorry the van was built to sell
Nice one. I still hate drilling holes in a roof…
Some times you have no option do ya mate it’s one of them things but I know what you mean
Does the set up produce any noise when working, I mean, would u like perhaps be able to hear a quiet hum or buzzing at quite of night time? Think it would be nice if some how thin battery was external out on roof too
Don’t really think a battery on your roof would be the safest place to put one of in honest mate .and also zero noise at all
hi nice job stuff youv done looks great have you a price on cost of what its cost to do van in total without van cost thanks
On this van without the cost of the actual van we spent just under 5k but that included so small detailing work on the exterior
Flex panels are nice but j hope you have an air gap underneath them because, they will heat up without ventilation and burn out.
Yes there are gaps underneath 😊
Also, appreciate your points regards gluing them down, but what if one goes faulty, needs to be repaired? My guess is they won’t accept returns with adhesive all over them?
Is that MPPT not the same as your one that nuked it’s self, but in a different colour scheme?
No mate TOTALY different unit mate .
Nice one Neil, they do really seem thin and convenient to install, how long do they last ?
Hi，Shawllar flexible solar panel has German TUV authoritative certification.
In addition, it has 5 years product warranty and 12 Year Linear Power Warranty
Hi，Shawllar flexible solar panel has German TUV authoritative certification.
In addition, it has 5 years product warranty and 12 Year Linear Power Warranty
Oh mate these will last for year as long as you clean them and look after them bud
Hi Neil, one year on are you guys happy with the setup? I wonder if the solar panels would get too hot being touching the metal ?
We don’t have the van anymore but it’s new owner has been very happy with it
Hi, where in the UK did you buy these panels from. Many thanks Stuart
There from the company in the description mate we met them at the nec motor home show mate
But you say touting your panels give you more power Then have you have problems with the solar panels is it easy to get them back off the roof
Glue them to a than pice of vinyl and drill through the vinyl and attach them to a rack. Then they will be easier to remove if they fail.
What are your plans for the transit van? Use or sell? Looks a great little van
It’s allways been something that’s going to be sold . It’s on our web site now
Hi just a question is that the same unit u fitted to ur van that went wrong or different sort out
Totally different unit, we will never use their units again after what happened in our van!
Great video plenty of good information however I don't think I would use them panels because I reckon it would be a nightmare getting them off when you want to replace them.
However as I said bloody good video mate.
Quick tip for you where you cut the hole out on the roof I know you put some heat shrink around the cable so it would not catch on the sharp edges of the cut out hole. Try running a bit of blue tack around the edge as well.
Did you have a problem with heat? Someone told me that solar panels get hot if there is no airflow underneath and I was advised not to glue it directly to the roof but glue it to a plastic sheet first. Really stumped now. And help or extra advise will be very appreciated 👍
There is a lot of people talking a lot of crap about solar mate and how to fit them . But every single camper van manufactured van on the planet what has these kind of panels has them stuck to the roof like we did . And non of them seem to have a problem buddy . And Iv never known any one to have an issue . So I’d just stick them my friend cos that’s what there designed for
whats the latest update on the panels guys. Has it been worth the investment and would you recommend the way you fixed them to the roof?
We no longer have the van sorry so can’t answer your question 🙃
Where are your isolators as recommended?
You don’t actually need to fit isolators there not some thing a lot of people fit . I mean most motorhomes with solar from built company’s don’t have them . It’s only a thing in the self build comunity but not needed if you don’t want them
The panels still working well for you?
No problem at all but would expect any thing less
You could have always glued them to something else and then connected that to your roof so it was removable... would have been an idea!
How much did it cost you for the two panels as a kit please? Cant see prices on the company site?
With the video being over a year old and us both having rubbish memories couldn’t tell
You the price sorry but there’s links to the company in the description best would be to fire them an email for a quote
Only problem i see is with the thin panals you need to create a air gap so the panels arnt getting baked with the hot roof for some reason the hotter the panel the less energy it can take
24v?
If the panels fail can you remove them ?
Yes they can be removed
How?
With alot of hassle
The vanlife code for 10% doesn’t work at least not on the power bank and the price is in Euros. Just fyi not complaining
That’s a nice blue van Niel will you be selling it ? I need a decent camper van. 😅
It’s up for sale now mate all details are on out web site bud
❤
❤️😍❤️
Hello mate, how much are those panels please?
All links to there shop are in the description mate have a look at what’s best for you and what you would need for your van
Just remember the golden rule: never stick solar panels directly to your van roof!
Best inform the millions that do . Self build and coach build as well . Litraly millions of vans out there doing it wrong . Good job your here to tell them all there all wrong mark .
Where's your airflow under the panels?
Duno mate can’t see it cos there still stuck there
Oh Neil, you have let us all down..... As you started applying the sealant I was 100% sure we would be getting a rude shape.... but no... 😥
If it wasn’t for Emma I wouldn’t even watch this channel 😋😋😋
💜 great comment!
That mppt looks the same a renogy 20A..
Looks similar we agree
Did i miss something? where is the beast (white van) with all the gadgets on it??
This is another van we have been converting we still have Eva (the white beast van) 😊
Where are the links
They are in the video description buddy
Is this your New Van?
No we have been working on it for 12 months . And now ready to put it up for sale
Can you walk on these?
Since you connected the solar panels in series not parallel you are putting out 24 volts.
Ive hesrd them thin panels over heat as air cant get underneath them
Iv heard that as well but in 10 years never known a single person to have this problem
@@UrbanVanlife see how it goes with them I've the other one that up on legs or a roof rack just to be on the safe side
Interesting panel but not a fan of those red/black cables run externally, could you not have had a single roof gland eitherside either side of the roof closer to the panel connection, then run the red/black cables internally ?....I assume that they are double insulated and UV resistant insulation ? Just from an electricians point of view.
yes they are double insulated and UV resistant and why have two glands when you can have one?
Cos as an electrician he can charge you more money for doing more work :)
yay.. complain about solar is this a new thing :)
Who’s complaining
I am worried about directly mounting to the van due how hot the thin panels get
We did leave air pockets and gaps under
They'll overheat, you need an airgap between the panels and van. They'll die after a few years (or less) without one.
Is there no air gap there and isn’t that why we fitted them there for expansion purposes ????
Ok when the van roof gets hot you’ll lose efficiency , and even reduce the life of the panels , you need airflow under the panels , Twinwall polycarbonate panels need to be sandwiched between the panels and the van
And that’s why we fitted them where we did and didn’t seal the air track out of the panel . It’s as if you didn’t watch the video but made a comment on a presumption
No I watched the whole video you glued the panels straight to the roof
Neil can you please let everyone know that NO FERRETS WERE INJURED DURING THE MAKING OF YOUR VIDEO lol lol lol
Now I can’t say that cos it could have happened . All I can say is you never know with me mate