That’s awesome! I wanted a 200 watt portable kit but the cost is so much more than a hard mount 200w kit. I’m going to build the same thing. Thanks for making this video!
Great ideas Mike. Thanks for thinking this out and presenting it in such detail. I never thought about using PVC to mount solar panels but now I have. Thanks again.
I was about to blow $330 on the Renogy folding solar kit but holy cow this setup is way simpler and pretty easy to make! I’m gonna follow this advice. Thank you!
Dude!! That is totally AWESOME!! I was trying to figure out a way to use rigid panels on my deck & easily slide on top of the flat roof of my garage. Your setup solves it. My neighbors are gonna say "what is she doing now?" 🤷🏽♀️😂 Love the purple tie. Geaux Tigers!
I was able to duplicate your setup for myself, 2 100 watt panels with the PVC pipe, works great. Thanks for sharing, very practical and doable with minimal amount of tools and time.
If you wanted to hinge in the opposite direction, would the 3/4 PVC parts make it too thick to close? I was thinking of using your design but put the sturdy tempered glass outward facing, rather than the delicate plastic backer.
Great video! Thanks for a well made setup and for keeping on point with your build. I will be copying this. I like it a lot better than the aluminum frames.
You have the only suitcase video i have seen that shows the label on the panel. Thank you. Not required for understanding hookup but useful when not just buying a complete "kit".
Too cool for school! Very nice cheap and easy solution for support legs! My panels are 41" long. What would you say the length of my 3/4" legs should be?
Thanks. I just made somewhat of an educated guess at 2/3rds my panel. That has worked very well for me. I would think the same ratio should work at any size
I used the app from the solar charge controller and then the other meter is a wireless display I use for my kayak. (testing on kayak batteries). My exact listing is gone. But this should be the same chinese meter www.ebay.com/itm/123201673413?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110013%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIMRXI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20211130130301%26meid%3D7c898ff6171c42148be44bb86b7f6230%26pid%3D101468%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D132136452272%26itm%3D123201673413%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D3650466%26algv%3DSimRWIWebRoundRobinBlenderWithPromotedSeeds%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p3650466.c101468.m3476&amdata=cksum%3A1232016734137c898ff6171c42148be44bb86b7f6230%7Cenc%3AAQAHAAABEClBV0HULvX%252FsR2ujldRbKqiPXc4M1uZ70AZlIHqTUvmLc1ScMSkFDCdsawaOQO3kJOq645MekT2kD9MeECJIxYot45RvX5xJsOGhV3SKeREHI8XHaCVwT7yXtb6eYefdTEuLRy2K6FDOoa4EDQ7FYlN0l0bIYm6Pc%252FAOp%252F1r5gzcTzCZw7tcqIcwdIl6iw2VJXuWGjPTIdLyT1%252BDAPGWPx0c0tWAwXFbCLR5mKtCwwJlkDtLMgaQup9KfMn%252FKZ7l7Q5y9GOE9HAmaoZVKijDCwLomU%252BtK2XBQI8NyOWLpFQuYZxaTlKBGODWfuwamtFX2QM0vMW6ifibn%252Bpbe8H3rw3L7onmqwPAGpwtvg2%252FRgA%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A3650466
It appears you used flathead bolts and nuts to secure the hinges. Do you recall the gauge of the bolts and nuts? Are the nuts the self-locking variety?
The nuts are the nylon locking type. I do not remember the size. I have a link for the hinges I used in the description. But I bought the hinges in the store. While I was there, I just matched a bolt that fit in the hinge holes. Simple, and you know it will work when you get home. Then I used the drill bit that fit the hole and matched the bolt
I love the folding to store and carry. I've been gathering the materials for my build this fall. Yes, I'm building just like yours ( even the corn hole carry case ). I'll need to stay at William Brice, Go Cocks!
Thanks,that was awesome information. I'm going to do this project in a few days. A great help. Just wondering,can this system be set up as parallel to my Ecoflow river Pro? Again thank you.
One of the best explained most useful tutorial videos I have seen. Well done, I am now going to try to replicate this! Any suggestions on what panels you would choose now, two years on... or would you still go with the originals?
thanks! I appreciate that. Those panels have been used everyday for 2 1/2 years. Zero issues. I bought another set. So I would definitely buy them again
I could't help but notic that the PVC Tee you used for a hinge is putting pressure on the back of the solar cells. This could be a problem, as the back is not protected like the front is with tempered glass. There is a risk of damage to the cells.
The weight of the panel does not appear to be resting solely on the tees. It is distributed to the frame by the crossbar which the tees are attached to. PVC does flex, but I doubt it would flex enough, over that short of a span, to push the tees into the back of the panel so hard that it would damage it.
So, just had a thought. What about, for the bottom? I was just thinking that if you had, say 2 One- inch stands on the bottom, not only would you get a fraction more stubborn because it would be out of the grass, but I would think that it wouldn't get as dirty also. IDK, I don't have any solar panels, but I'm looking into getting a couple for traveling, so maybe I'm over thinking it a little bit. What do y'all think?
Thanks a lot, Mike. I've been pricing a lot of commercial folding panels and they are expensive. There are great prices on panels like you have used here. I'm looking at using 200-watt panels to charge my Bluetti AC200 Max more quickly. Any thoughts on that idea?
Bonjour merci pour votre vidéo c'est une très bonne idée j'adore la conception au moin sa sera un panneau solaire pliable IP67 et beaucoup moins cher de ce qu'il vende en panneaux solaires pliable souple qui ne vont pas sous la pluie cordialement
Brilliant. Nice one for sharing. In the place of buffers/spacers one could use magnets of an appropriate strength that hold it closed & open with little effort.
OK...I bought everything to your specs here. My panels are 41x21 and that makes them a little heavier. Also, the space between the edge flanges and panel is 1". I'm thinking the 1/2" and 3/4" tubes are not going to be stiff enough as those tubes are going to be cut just a bit longer. I'm going to try to increase everything by at least 1/4". Your concept is solid, though!
Received my panel today. Jumped right on it following your video. Tomorrow I'll get some 1/2 rubber bushings to keep the T's from sliding around. Everything folds right back up and with the Styrofoam corners and side pieces it fits right back into the box. Fits perfectly in the basement of my 5ver. Thanks for the nice tip.
Hi, i made the stand just like yours and after about 13 months the PVC pipe rubbed holes on the back side of the panels an burned thru to the font.have you had this problem???
Thanks for a very detailed video. I bought 5 lightly used 100 watt panels yesterday and built stands for four of them today. I'm a little leery about drilling the holes for the hinges. Do you remember the bit size used? The hinge you linked from Lowes says to drill a 5/16 hole but that seems a little large. Don't want to hit the glass on the panel. Super job and thanks for sharing your build.
Mike, Thanx for the great directions and the info on orientation/angles of the array. I feel comfortable that I can break into solar for my small casita travel trailer trips more economically now. Question on voltage controller though...If I adapt 200W panels as you did, what voltage controller would be best for my small 30A RV (single AGM Deep cycle)??? PWM or MPPT? What Voltage/Amp ?? Thanks
MPPT is more efficient. The one I used in the video is linked in the description. Victron is pricey, but the best. And you can see what is going on in the app. If you buy more Victron equipment, they all talk to each other
Plan for now to reinforce the box it came in , ( 1 , 100 watt panel , with single panel it will FIT BACK in box to transport ! Looking forward to this little project , thanks for the info …👍🏻👍🏻 gunna try this ! !!
I have been trying to replicate this in Europe (Romania), but we don't have normal PVC pipes, only PPR which needs to be "soldered" together and don't fit nicely like in this video smh...
Nice work! I am working on the same project! I'm planning to cut and piece the original cardboard boxes back together with contact cement to store the suitcase when not in use. I also like the idea of adding the Cornhole bag! Question: The Renogy Suitcase has the glass on the outside when folded. Why did you put the glass on the inside when folded? Seems like the thin white sheeting would not protect the panels from damage. If something should happen to scrape off or damage the white coating, do you know if this would this damage the PV cells?
Thanks for the setup. I've been considering using PVC for (2-100w) solar panel brackets on my shed roof, which is only 7 feet high. The only issue is whether the PVC will warp over time in the constant sun.
200 watt portable solar panels renogy today is $235. Vevor $175. Just saying... nice video if you can get real cheap used panel The solar angle app looks good to have. I've only seen various plastic or wood or beer can ideas.
Good question. I have never weighed it. But the manufacturer specs say 16.5lbs a piece. What I added doesn't weigh anything. So probably close, or a little less
I wonder if the 3/4 pvc hinge point where the 1/2" slides through it might cause wear on the back of the panel and cause an issue? Have you seen any problem with this?
PVC is a plastic polymer. So it the back of a panel. I can't imagine any wear, unless you open/close them 10s of thousands of times. By that time, someone will probably have invented something better
Great job you basically built exactly what i imagined. I've been trying to decide what dimensions to go with for ease of transportation and set up basically comes down to 40" x 20" or I've found 28" x 30" (100 watt). The weight seems to me to be a problem (30lbs) getting them in and out of the RV so I'm considering having the wiring in the RV and plugging in the panels once setup, also in order to minimize weight and ease of handling i realize they don't have to be joined together like Siamese twins ? So I'm considering that route. I might even secure them safely to the rear ladder for transporting rather than digging them out from under the bed! Also when priced out renogy has a 300watt complete kit with everything needed for $259 which includes all cables panel,30ft + battery,16ft 4xY connectors and adventure controller + Bluetooth. So i might just do that and make it portable? Also will add a chain or cable lock to the panels. But yeah i like the idea of portable over fixed.
@@MikeJordanUnCamplicated can you provide a link to that video, I am interested in that builld but can't seem to find it. Loving your channel btw. Some great videos.
You are right, the white PVC doesn't have any UV protection. So for other outdoor projects in the sun, I would definitely recommend the grey. But on the back of the solar panels, the PVC is literally always in the shade. It will probably take decades to degrade it. And by that time there will probably be mobetta solar panels to build a new frame :)
Thanks. I just got some Renogy panels with this very idea in mind. I probably won't save very much in the long run after all is said and done. But it looked like a fun project. I think I'm going to use paracord with knots in it for the angle adjustments.
As the glass is most of the wight have you considered taking the glass out and packing that space with corflute? since its not permanently outside you really dont need it and you'll get more amps also?
@@MikeJordanUnCamplicated Corrflute is that plastic sheet with holes for insulating a hot house wall - i didnt use as no glass on the 380 watt panel - its siliconed onto the rails - it put out 7.1 amps in yesterdays 70deg near winter sun and a 10 meter lead
Every panel brand is going to be a different size. And even the same brand bought at different times can very in size. So you will have to measure. My panels are approximately 3ft x 2ft. I measured down 1ft (1/3rd) panel size for the cross bar placement. That works well. Then just measure everything else from that point
@@MikeJordanUnCamplicated Yeah, I have ordered the same pannels as you have. They are a little cheaper on the HQST website, might take a little longer to get to you but save a little money. I got the two panels for 155.00 and free shipping. Thanks and I will be passing this along on my channel later as I make the stands for my solar panels. Thanks for the info!
@@MikeJordanUnCamplicated Cheers pal for this I’ve just realised it’s for Android that’s why I couldn’t find it for iPhone I will see if I can get a alternate app
@@MikeJordanUnCamplicated Sure do. Its gonna be a bit girthy but we'll figure it out. Here ya go: www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08P45VMYL?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image
@@Prinnypiepie I've been down the search rabbit hole since I saw your post. There is a "tailgate size" cornhole board case that is 36". I think I am going to order one of those. Fit will be much closer. Hopefully not too short
@@MikeJordanUnCamplicated Ah yes, for yours that will hopefully fit better. We actually have two Rich 100w solar panels 45.5 x 20.5 x 1.4, but used your vid for reference when making them into a suitcase pair. I spent all day trying to figure out a case, or how to make some sort of padded cover for them myself and then I stumbled upon the corn hole case covers and was elated! Finally, something I could work with. We haul ours behind our spare tire in the back of our pleasureway van, the corn hole logo will hopefully help deter theives too.
@@MikeJordanUnCamplicated I wish I could send you a picture, we utilized the case this trip and it looks great! I also cut the box the panel came in and set the cardboard halves into the sides of the corn hole bag for extra protection. Another cool perk, is it says "Cornhole" on the outside of the bag so our panels are incognito.
I tried boiling water in another project. I never got a flat completely solid piece like I got for the latches. I wouldn't call the latches burned either
@@MikeJordanUnCamplicated Seidio is back? They went out of business Feb 2020. I've used their cases for years until I got my current phone. Let me run to their website. Excellent quality phone cases.
@@Diva9000x the phone is an S8. The Seidio has been on since day one. So a little while. If they are gone when I finally get a new phone, I shall be disappointed
I have watched video a few times trying to find cut lengths for all the pvc PCs do u have them and I’m just missing you mention size should be in video right after cleaning and prior to placing them into panel ?
I decided folks may build this with all kinds of different panels, so size would vary. But with 3 ft tall panels I come down from the top a foot with the cross bar, and then measured from there. The worked great. PVC is forgiving. Measure, cut, then attach the cross bar
