Solar panel on Rhino rack bars

pedrogb · Aug 24, 2024

Hi all. Has anyone mounted a solar panel on or in between the roof cross bars?
I've seen redarc sells brackets that allows a solar panel to be mounted in between the bars, just below the bar level. This allows the bars to be used (to a certain degree) without harming the panel. It would obviously stop it working if you load on top of it
I don't think these particular brackets would work on the reconn bars due to width but I like the idea of having a panel permanently in place and still being able to use the bars.

pt888 · Aug 24, 2024

pedrogb said:
Hi all. Has anyone mounted a solar panel on or in between the roof cross bars?
I've seen redarc sells brackets that allows a solar panel to be mounted in between the bars, just below the bar level. This allows the bars to be used (to a certain degree) without harming the panel. It would obviously stop it working if you load on top of it
I don't think these particular brackets would work on the reconn bars due to width but I like the idea of having a panel permanently in place and still being able to use the bars.

Great idea, I have sent an enquiry to Redarc. Otherwise we might have to look into a design that will work, surely can't be hard (for someone who knows what they are doing)

TheDocAUS · Aug 24, 2024

pedrogb said:
Hi all. Has anyone mounted a solar panel on or in between the roof cross bars?
I've seen redarc sells brackets that allows a solar panel to be mounted in between the bars, just below the bar level. This allows the bars to be used (to a certain degree) without harming the panel. It would obviously stop it working if you load on top of it
I don't think these particular brackets would work on the reconn bars due to width but I like the idea of having a panel permanently in place and still being able to use the bars.

You can use L brackets and bolt one side to the solar panel (I drill a whole thru the aluminum frame), and secure the other side to the bars. You could either find some bracket or drill a hole and bolt it to the bar. I just used the slots on my Pioneer platform rather than drilling. I used eye bolts so I can attach tie down straps behind the panel on the roofrack.

Mine is attached to my Rhino Pioneer Platform using this approach. You would need to adjust it for bars.

I attached the solar panel on the Patrol the same way, and that survived a 150-180kph (combined speed) head on collision. It stayed in place and the panel did not even break.

pedrogb · Aug 25, 2024

Thanks Michael. My latest cunning plan (which cannot fail

) is to use the side mounts in the Rhino Rack bars, use some of the mounting plates in the side tracks with a through bolt through the side of solar panel. This should allow the panel to be firmly mounted between the bars, and still use the whole surface area. Just got to wiggle the bars to the right width, which is already pretty close. Easier now the awning is off! Will see how it goes. Got to get the right panel I guess.

TheDocAUS · Aug 25, 2024

pedrogb said:
Thanks Michael. My latest cunning plan (which cannot fail) is to use the side mounts in the Rhino Rack bars, use some of the mounting plates in the side tracks with a through bolt through the side of solar panel. This should allow the panel to be firmly mounted between the bars, and still use the whole surface area. Just got to wiggle the bars to the right width, which is already pretty close. Easier now the awning is off! Will see how it goes. Got to get the right panel I guess.

You could mount your solar panel on the underside of the bars and still have space on the topside for stuff.

Skydance · Aug 25, 2024

As an alternative if you don’t want to drill your bars. Rhino rack do some roof top tent brackets to mount on the side of the Reconn cross bars, kinda L brackets. You can then add T tracks to this and then mount the solar panel on the T tracks.

Steve.B · Aug 25, 2024

I have 4 factory rhino cross bars, and just cut 4 pieces of aluminium angle, used rhino slide in mounting bolts on the side slots, and mounted the solar panel sideways east west, well below the load height, a couple minute simple job.

Rooballer · Aug 25, 2024

Steve.B said:
I have 4 factory rhino cross bars, and just cut 4 pieces of aluminium angle, used rhino slide in mounting bolts on the side slots, and mounted the solar panel sideways east west, well below the load height, a couple minute simple job.

This is exactly what I have done also.

Max · Sep 13, 2024

I am looking into portable solar panels and the Jackery Brand has a lightweight that is of interest. Reviews talk it up and opinions or first-hand dealings would be appreciated...Just want quality over price. Thanks, Max

Jackery SolarSaga 100

TheDocAUS · Sep 13, 2024

Max said:
I am looking into portable solar panels and the Jackery Brand has a lightweight that is of interest. Reviews talk it up and opinions or first-hand dealings would be appreciated...Just want quality over price. Thanks, Max

Jackery SolarSaga 100

I cannot help with Jackery, but the KickAss 12V 160W Solar Blanket is excellent quality and has very good performance. 160W verse 100W, and heavier than the Jackery. Packs up to a small package and really well made. Also another option with a solar regulator (which I already had).

View: https://youtu.be/veqhUS9vMrg

pedrogb · Sep 17, 2024

I put a Hard Korr 170w panel on the roof yesterday, in between the roof bars as discussed above. I ran the cable through one of the roof top dtp outlet grommets, into the car. (It's on the other side)
I need to pull some trim apart to hide the cable next.
I did notice some additional wind noise on the way to work this morning, wondering if the panel would be better between the rear bars. I guess the air coming over the roof from windscreen is buffeting under the panel.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Anyway, that's minor, thanks for the tips for install and cable ingress.

TheDocAUS · Sep 17, 2024

It fits neatly.

Steve.B · Sep 17, 2024

pedrogb said:
I put a Hard Korr 170w panel on the roof yesterday, in between the roof bars as discussed above. I ran the cable through one of the roof top dtp outlet grommets, into the car. (It's on the other side)
I need to pull some trim apart to hide the cable next.
I did notice some additional wind noise on the way to work this morning, wondering if the panel would be better between the rear bars. I guess the air coming over the roof from windscreen is buffeting under the panel.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Anyway, that's minor, thanks for the tips for install and cable ingress.
View attachment 7870428

Hi Pedrogb,

I had the same problem, so I went to Clark Rubber and got some 20mm or 25mm square rubber and wedged it in the rear bottom edge and sides of the solar panel and the wind noise disappeared.
I ran the solar cable next to the raised air intake and through a firewall grommet along with the UHF coax cable.

pedrogb · Sep 17, 2024

So you think just inside the edges of the panel is causing the noise? I hadn't thought of that. I guess I could give that a try
Thanks for the tip

pedrogb · Sep 30, 2024

Hi all
Solar panel seems to be working OK, but SOC doesn't seem to have moved much at all. 80 to 82% for days on end. No load on battery except for 15 minutes drives to and from. The car was in complete bright sun all day today. My victron mppt smart solar regulator is wired direct to auxiliary battery.
Surely it should have charged it up a bit today.
Strangely enough, before solar panel went on and last service, it sat around 87%. For months. Never much above or below no matter what. Long drive would bring it up, but haven't done one recently.
On Cape trip, I saw 100% several times, and drop to 60% after a couple of days in place using charges and lights etc.
Suggestions anyone?

weeman · Sep 30, 2024

My understanding of the Aux battery setup is that it will only trickle charge the primary battery once it drops below a certain voltage. The car shunt which measures SOC is also only on the primary battery so will give no indication of the SOC of the Aux battery.

I assume the Victron is configured correctly with an AGM charge profile?

TheDocAUS · Sep 30, 2024

pedrogb said:
Hi all
Solar panel seems to be working OK, but SOC doesn't seem to have moved much at all. 80 to 82% for days on end. No load on battery except for 15 minutes drives to and from. The car was in complete bright sun all day today. My victron mppt smart solar regulator is wired direct to auxiliary battery.
Surely it should have charged it up a bit today.
Strangely enough, before solar panel went on and last service, it sat around 87%. For months. Never much above or below no matter what. Long drive would bring it up, but haven't done one recently.
On Cape trip, I saw 100% several times, and drop to 60% after a couple of days in place using charges and lights etc.
Suggestions anyone?

The SOC from the INEOS is not that accurate, OK but not great. So I fitted a BLE monitor to get additional information. It is not perfect either, but the two sources are giving me similar readings. The BLE is a cost effective option. The most accurate way is to use a shunt, but that is expensive.

pedrogb · Sep 30, 2024

weeman said:
My understanding of the Aux battery setup is that it will only trickle charge the primary battery once it drops below a certain voltage. The car shunt which measures SOC is also only on the primary battery so will give no indication of the SOC of the Aux battery.

I assume the Victron is configured correctly with an AGM charge profile?

Yes it is.

pedrogb · Sep 30, 2024

TheDocAUS said:
The SOC from the INEOS is not that accurate, OK but not great. So I fitted a BLE monitor to get additional information. It is not perfect either, but the two sources are giving me similar readings. The BLE is a cost effective option. The most accurate way is to use a shunt, but that is expensive.

I have one of this on the Aux battery and the voltage readings seem close. I might put charge on both batteries via posts in engine bay, as I'm not sure where in the battery boxes I could wire it in to both. See what that does

TheDocAUS · Sep 30, 2024

pedrogb said:
I have one of this on the Aux battery and the voltage readings seem close. I might put charge on both batteries via posts in engine bay, as I'm not sure where in the battery boxes I could wire it in to both. See what that does

If you charge both batteries up at least you know the starting position (100%), I had to do this with my battery boxes when testing the new Ancel battery monitor. My car batteries have been consistent from Day 1 of ownership.

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