Does that look like a destination board or what?

[Zephod]

It's my Harbor Freight solar panel. I purchased it specifically based on how it looks on a fairly stealth schoolbus conversion motorhome. It looks to me like a destination board.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Iceni John]

Mounted there, it will get either very little or absolutely zero insolation.   Mounting it under the bus to catch albedo would be just as (in)effective!   Seriously though, just put it on the roof.   When sunlight hits at even a small angle to perpendicular, solar yield drops significantly:  http://www.solarpaneltilt.com/   The Northern Arizona Wind & Sun forum has also had some pertinent threads on this subject, well worth reading.

John

[Jeremy]

Just wanted to say that I'd never come across the word 'insolation' before - cool, I love learning new things like that 

Oh, and yeah, that's a completely daft place to put your solar panel. You may as well just paint a black rectangle there instead and try to get 12v from that.

Jeremy

[Zephod]

Not so daft. Remember I drive busses regularly and know what damage trees cause. I've had marker lights ripped off before now by low branches that can't be seen.

Remember also that panels on the roof remove the stealth aspect.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Utahclaimjumper]

  YOU removed the "stealth" aspect when you painted that thing with rattle cans.>>>D

[Jeremy]

But what on the Earth is the point of having a stealthy, tree-proof solar panel if it won't actually do the do that a solar panel is supposed to do? Iceni John wasn't really joking when he said that you may as well mount it underneath the bus for all the good it's gonna do where it is at the moment - you'd do well to click on the link he gave in order to understand how they work

Jeremy

(And how is something mounted on the roof and not visible from the ground not stealthy anyway?)

[Utahclaimjumper]

  "STEALTH" can't be the top priority in this case,,starting with the most recognizable "bus" in this country.>>>D  (When have you seen a "destination board" on anything stealthy?)

[lvmci]

If you had a hinge on top and a way to lift or crank it up,  that would give you a more direct angle to the sun that would give you maximum sun rays, maybe like a car hood?
lvmci...

[HB of CJ]

The PV panel does not have to do anything.  I like the color.  We did some neat paint jobs with a finish type high quality paint brush and rubbing compound.  From about 3 feet away you could not tell the difference!

Will a really hot 8V92T Detroit fit under that hood?  Also required is the necessary 10 speed RTO14710 Roadranger tranny, 100mph and a crisp Jake!   Or if not air brakes, (can't tell) perhaps a TO14507 seven speed? 

Live your dreams!  Life is too short, then we are dead for sossss long! 

[lostagain]

Wow Zephod, you are so far out of the box, you are not even in the warehouse!

Entertaining though...

JC

[Zephod]

  YOU removed the "stealth" aspect when you painted that thing with rattle cans.>>>D

Roller and some areas need retouching.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Zephod]

If you had a hinge on top and a way to lift or crank it up,  that would give you a more direct angle to the sun that would give you maximum sun rays, maybe like a car hood?
lvmci...

I did think about that but then I said stuff it. It only has to run a single CPU fan for my air intake. Any leftover power goes into batteries destined to be used to charge phone, MiFi pad and tablet.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dreadnought]

I think your solar panel could work well, even with the positioning provided you used your bus as some sort of space craft or even space probe and made close forays near the suns corona. Could also work well on planetary systems with the binary star layout especially if they are T-Tauri type sequence stars.

[Raymond smith]

What is wrong with some of you. This board is not here so you can belittle others. Just because his bus does not say Prevost or MCI on the front is not a reason to talk down to him. Were all in this together but if this is the way it is going to be,count me out. I have been treated the same way in some of my posts,do not assume i am clueless , you do not know me. I am getting sick of reading posts on this board,some answer posts just to say they dont know. I think they just want to make their post count increase. We are suppose to be here to help and support each other

[Astro]

Hinge it at the top so when you stop, you can tilt it up. Then when you drive, tilt it down (in stealth mode) as you won't need it anyway as alternator takes over.  Go with it and enjoy.