Solar Roof

[orange4boy]

Gascort,

Bummer on the water issue. Did you seal the crack you got earlier? I would bet that's where you are getting water. It would wick in there pretty quick.

Over this winter, I plan** on doing alot of work to Cara.

5 speed swap, alternator delete, full frontal grille block with 3rd gen T&C bumper cover, wheel skirts, wiper cover, mild weight reduction, few other things.

Did I hear alternator delete? SA-WEEET! More converts to the cult. ohmmmm...ammmmp...ohmmmm...ammmmp (alternaughter chant)

Misery loves company.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

Gascort,

Bummer on the water issue. Did you seal the crack you got earlier? I would bet that's where you are getting water. It would wick in there pretty quick.



Did I hear alternator delete? SA-WEEET! More converts to the cult. ohmmmm...ammmmp...ohmmmm...ammmmp (alternaughter chant)

Misery loves company.

Yeah, I plan** on doing it... but it's all getting done over the winter while I'm not driving it, so I won't be testing anything until the following seasons, which makes for an interesting first drive, for sure.

Good thing I can drive it on back roads until I put a plate back on it. First thing to get changed is the 5 speed swap, though. I WANT GEARS!

It's a good thing that gascort here is going to make it to his test phase long before I even think about putting this system together, eh?

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by Christ

How flexible are the solar cells? Will they easily bend into non-complex shapes, or will I need to hammer out my roof?

I don't care, I'll do what I gotta do if I decide to do this, but if the cells will flex and fill in the areas between the rises in the roof line, I'd rather do that.

You've got about three square metres on the roof of your Caravan. And I can't help but think about just how much space there is in the back - "Alternator? No, no...I just rely on these batteries and a remote-mounted fusion generator."

[Christ]

Originally Posted by elhigh

You've got about three square metres on the roof of your Caravan. And I can't help but think about just how much space there is in the back - "Alternator? No, no...I just rely on these batteries and a remote-mounted fusion generator."

Every one of the earlier mods listed leads up to** (see above post) an engine delete.

A very small TD generator will provide alternate power for longer trips, though they won't really be necessary. The rear floor pan, I intend to cut out and put a flush mount battery box into. There's 48" of usable space between the rear plastics, and excellent ground clearance to sink 8" tall batteries into the floor.

I measured it out once, I can fit 120V at least back there with normal car-sized batteries. (I can't remember what size battery I have, but it's a 1000CA from wally world - I can pretty much fit 10 of them behind the axle.)
Then, with two more boxes, I could fit 10 more on each side of the car near the sliding door sills, for a total of 360VDC, or 3 banks of 120VDC, etc.

I just don't like to postulate on it, because the more I talk about it, the more ideas that I can't afford pop into my head.

[chuckm]

Umm... not to rain on your EV dreams, but 30 lead batteries will weigh an awful lot. Even Optima Yellow Tops would add about 1350 lbs, without the battery box and cables. Ouch!
I think your suspension would need an upgrade.

[Christ]

Well, of course it would.... like leaf springs from an late model Ram, air shocks (which follow another plan I have, but haven't implemented yet).

This is part of the reason I don't really talk about it too much... I don't want to think about it yet, it might contaminate the idea.

[bizzybody]

How about using the extra string of cells to run a ventilation fan? Could also use it to charge your GPS, MP3 player, various other 5 volt gadgets...

"...and a remote mounted fusion generator."

"How remote?"

"About eight light minutes."

[orange4boy]

This is part of the reason I don't really talk about it too much... I don't want to think about it yet, it might contaminate the idea.

In other words: Don't let the bean counters in your head get anywhere near your dreams! They don't know beans about fun.

[gascort]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Have you discussed yet where you got the cells and how much you paid?

Ben, I did so only on my blog, sorry. They were from Fred480V on Ebay and cost $2.50 apiece. Now they're cheaper - this was in March '09.

Christ, I forgot about those dumb ridges on top of the van... have you pulled the headliner out yet to see what support structure is underneath?

Orange4boy, it wasn't the cracks, or not solely them. It appears to be capillary action between the silicone and the plexiglass. They're both super smooth and really close together, wicking the water right in. Anyone have an idea? Something that adheres to plexiglass that won't slip off/peel off?

[Christ]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

In other words: Don't let the bean counters in your head get anywhere near your dreams! They don't know beans about fun.

I plan basics - when it really comes down to getting dirty, if I plan it, the plan goes out the window at step 2 anyway, when the real world comes into play, so I just stopped wasting my time on the "planning stage" of any of my projects.

Almost every idea that I post as a solution to anyone's problem on here, or in real life (like.. not on the internet) is a spur of the moment thing. I think of stuff in my head like that, but I need to be prompted by a problem first. As I encounter problems, I solve them. That way, I know that it works in the real world. Never been too much of an agenda person, honestly.

Once again, gascort has done a great job on this car... *hint hint*.