Upgrade mk4 Solar panel

[Gumb]

Just wondering with the evolution of solar panels in recent years, has anyone upgraded the 60W roof panel which came with the 2017 Firetail to a higher wattage panel with roughly the same dimensions ?

[robstevens]

I thought it was a 120w panel on the Firetail?

Our 2017 model Firetail  definitely has 120w...

Looking at what is around these days, you'd probably find a 150w panel to suit the same size but that's about it.

[hulbyw]

Our June 2017 built Murranji (Mk5 prototype no.3)has a 120watt panel.If your Mk4 was a late model with the new roof, it may well have a 120watt panel as from memory, when the roof was changed, the solar panel was also.

[Gumb]

I don't have the higher roof which came out around the time ours was delivered in early 2017 so we never had that option. I can only get around 2.5 - 3amps out of it, which would suggest that it's only 60w.

The specs sheet I have here states that normal the panel was 40W and an upgrade to 60W was available, which the original Firetails had. It sounds crazy now, to advertise 40W, but panels and power have advanced so much in 7 years.

[hulbyw]

Measured the panel on my Mk5 and it is 1210mm x 670mm. Will that fit your Mk4?

[Gumb]

Many thanks for doing the measuring. No, my maximum is about 600x900 without it looking odd and going over the edges of the roof line in that space. 

[robstevens]

Yeah - my higher roof panel also measures: 1200 x  670

[Gumb]

Thanks Rob, looks like I'm stuck with the 60W panel. I do have portable panels to add =lenty of charge but I can't leave them out unelll I'm around. Not a big deal but the extra wattage would have been handy.

[robstevens]

How about mounting a big one on the rear hatch - permanently? You could fit a 250w panel there...

[hulbyw]

The all electric Tvans have a hatch mounted panel but I think it may be a removable blanket. There was also a thread on here some time ago about attaching flexible panels to the hatch

[Gumb]

Thanks guys. I have considered mounting one on the hatch but it would obviously need to be one of those thin flexible panels. My mate has them on this Kimberley Karavan and they have caused issues with adhesion and they eventually failed. They get hot, like all panels and you need airflow underneath, so it's not ideal in my opinion.