Solar Panel on Tongue Box Lid?

[EPGregg]

As I continue with construction I’m beginning to think about the construction of my tongue box.

Thinking outside of the box (figuratively and literally) has anyone ever mounted a solar panel on the tongue box lid?

It seems like a natural place, but I haven't seems one mounted this way, so there must be a reason.

Gregg

[Miriam C.]

I think you might have trouble getting a full days sun to shine one the tongue box. Of Course you could set it on a pole and turn to the sun.

[TENNJIM]

I am wondering the same thing. My plans for adding solar power includes putting it on the tongue box lid-seems natural to me. Most people I have seen at the gatherings have kept the solar panel(s) portable so they could put it in the sunshine when in camp. That's one consideration that I have noticed.

Jim B / Utah

[S. Heisley]

A solar panel on the tongue box seems like a natural. However, there could be an issue with possible 5-finger discounting. If the unit is on the roof, it is less accessible and less inviting to thieves. If the unit is detachable with a long cord, you can put it out only when you're there and you can put it wherever the sun is, including on top of the tongue box.

[Classic Finn]

Ive had thoughts of placing it on the galley hatch. Especially when its in the upward position. (on my tear model). Even though the tongue box is a very good place.

Classic Finn

[cuyeda]

I took this picture of emiller's set up, the photo angle to see how the bracket was made. I didn't get the full view, but the pole is attached to the front of the tear, with locks top and bottom as a deterent.
Sun? Which way is the sun, no problem, just twirl it around.

[mikeschn]

Jack put a 5 watt solar panel on his teardrop.

He said it's just to keep the battery charged inbetween trips. I imagine it takes forever to charge it up from a half discharged state. I'll bet he throws a battery charger on it when he gets home from a trip.



Inside, it looks like this...



Mike...

[gazz]

you really do want the solar panel in full sunlight, so roof mount is best,

absolute best is on a mount that allows you to point it at the sun, the pole mount is good,

basicaly do all you can to ensure the panel has an unobstructed view of the sun, the cheaper pannels are really fussy about that, some if more than a few individual cells are in the shade the entire panel stops working, the more expensive ones reduce output,

i have 3 large (125 watt) panels on my motorhome roof, when i first put them on, one of them got shaded by the sattelite dish if the sun was shining from the left hand side of the van, that really dropped the output, so much that i'd turn the van around,

i since moved that panel, and get a nice 25 amp hours of charge on a sunny day... shame we dont get many of them here in england, we need panels that run off rain really

i really do need that much solar power for my motorhome, got waaaay too many toys in it that suck power, the fridge freezer alone uses 85 amp hours a day,

that's one of the reasons i want to build a tear, back to basics camping.

[EPGregg]

Good information. Thanks!

After reading this I may try "storing" on the tongue box and moving/mounting on a pole?

I didn't realize that the cells were quite so finicky!

Gregg