Solar Panel mounted on Yakima or Thule tracks

[larrie]

Thanks for reviving this thread. Was trying to figure out how to mount panels to my Thule tracks. Now I know.

[Scalf77]

I purchased Replacement Anchor Parts from Etrailer.com and then some M6 x 12mm bolts.

-greg

[eruddick]

Out of curiosity, I am wondering what Solar Charger you have installed? I have the original Specialty Concepts Mark 22 and it's not working so well, so I am looking to replace it. I just purchased 2 170W Everbright solar panels to replace the old Solara(?) flexible ones attached directly to the roof.

Thanks,
Ed

[Czar308]

Scalf77, can you also comment on the newer fridge, brand, size, opinions and adequacy of the increased solar capacity. Thanks.

[Scalf77]

Originally Posted by eruddick

Out of curiosity, I am wondering what Solar Charger you have installed? I have the original Specialty Concepts Mark 22 and it's not working so well, so I am looking to replace it. I just purchased 2 170W Everbright solar panels to replace the old Solara(?) flexible ones attached directly to the roof.

Thanks,
Ed

I have a Morningstar Tristar-MPPT-60 controller. It is a little over capacity for my van, but it was in part payment for writing some software that interfaces to it.
Morningstar has similar Tristar -30 amp version, or their prostar line is also pretty good.

Originally Posted by Czar308

Scalf77, can you also comment on the newer fridge, brand, size, opinions and adequacy of the increased solar capacity. Thanks.

My van originally had the smaller Norcold unit, I moved up to a cruise elegance 130. The elegance is a nice unit, obviously it much larger than the Norcold I had. The physical size made getting reasonable venting to the compressor difficult. That and the warm summer made its daily usage high. I have made a couple of modifications to aid with venting and increased my solar capacity.
-

-greg

[eruddick]

Originally Posted by Scalf77

I have a Morningstar Tristar-MPPT-60 controller. It is a little over capacity for my van, but it was in part payment for writing some software that interfaces to it.
Morningstar has similar Tristar -30 amp version, or their prostar line is also pretty good.

-greg

I've been looking at the Morningstar Tristar-45, but the PWM version, not the MPPT. Still debating on the worth of the MPPT and the extra cost. One thing it would help with is that the existing wire from the panels down is only 10 gauge and it's fairly long so I'm concerned with voltage drop. The other problem is space. I really don't have any good space to put the solar charger where it would have enough clearance around it without losing a bit of storage space. I'm looking at the Prostar too, both PWM & MPPT. They are both a bit smaller.