New Solar Panels on the Ambulance

 When I got back to the farm and moved into the Ambulance I noticed the solar was only putting out around 50 watts (there is 900 watts installed). It was a little hazey and I assumed the panels were dirty from sitting in the barn all winter. 

The first thing I did was clean them and then wait for a sunny day. Once I got my sunny day there was no change. Next step climb on the roof and check all the connections, everything seemed good. Next step resest the solar charger. Still no change. Now I'm getting frusterated. I by-passed the solar charger and hooked the panels directly up to the battery and still no change. So I definently have bad panels, but nine bad panels?

After a little research I think I found my mistake.  I bought the flat flexible panels and I glued them to the roof with 5200 Marine Adhesive because I didn't want to drill holes in my roof.  Well solar panels get hot and need to breath and be cooled and being glued down to an insulated roof I think I burned them up.

So now we have a slight delay in our trip, I had to order all new panels and mounting hardware to hold them off the roof (I still don't want to drill holes in my roof). once the panels get here I think I can install them in one day. 

I bought a better quality panel and they will provide shade for the top of the ambulance so hopefull it will be a little cooler in the middle of the day. It probably ended up being about a 1200.00$ mistake. I guess you live and learn! 


Ripping the old panels off. (we used the tractor on a few) 5200 is some good s&#t!!



Finally got them all removed!


The new panels. We had to bolt all those black holders on. It was a 108 bolts. We had to hook them up on the ground because we had a storm with 70 MPH and lost electricity at the farm. So the ambulance ran the fridge and freezer in the house for two days!


All finished. We can leave in 24 hours once the glue dries!

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