Permanent Fitted
Solar Systems
The four major components in a fully fitted system are the solar panel, controller, battery and if you need it, an inverter. We discuss all the different options below and some essential safety features you should install when fitting.
Flexible Panels
150w Monocrystalline Solar panel are great if you are short on space, or don't wish to drill through your roof.
Flexible are lightweight and can affix to non flat/curved surfaces unlike rigid panels.
If it comes with the free chinese controller, throw it away. You will only get about 10% of what the sun produces and they have been known to fry batteries.
Adhesive
You will only need two tubes of adhesive to fit a flexible panel. Don't scrimp on the adhesive, it's the only thing holding your panel down.
Click here to viewRigid Panels
The longer lasting option is a rigid panel, if you have space and can fit a rigid panel, then these are a great price.
You will need to buy a mounting kit and adhesive to install this and ensure air can get underneath it to cool the panel when in use.
100w Rigid Panel
This one is a 100w panel by Renogy, a trusted manufacturer.
Click to view200w Rigid Panel
This is a 200 watt panel by Renogy
Click to view340w Rigid Panel Set
This is made up of 2x170 watt panels by Eco-Worthy
Click to viewEverything you need to fit any of these rigid these panels is below
Mounting Kit
To fit a rigid panel you will only need the following mounting kit, good adhesive and some self tapping screws for complete peace of mind. Ignore any suggestion of just using adhesive, a belt and braces approach is always. If you have more than one panel you'll need more than one mounting kit.
Click to viewAdhesive
Roughly two tubes of this are needed to fit the mounting kit and the panel.
Don't be tempted to scrimp on the adhesive and sealant, this is the stuff that's preventing leaks in your pride and joy, cheap sealant is cheap for a reason.
Screws
The Self tapping screws are great, they screw into pretty much anything without the need to pre drill a hole.
Click here to viewCharge Controllers
Don’t go cheap here, spend well as this will give you the maximum power from your panel and safeguard your batteries. You can buy cheap Chinese ones, but they will ruin your batteries over time and are completely inefficient.
Epever are very reasonably priced and will convert 99% of the suns power to energy.
40A Controller
This is for a 40A one, great power creation but if you want to add a panels to your setup in future go for the 60A below this one.
Click here to view60A Controller
This controller should be enough to allow you to fit a number of panels, with a higher maximum input voltage of 150 volts.
Click here to viewCabling
9m/30ft of each red and black cable should be enough for most setups, depending on battery and controller placement.
These cables will run from your panels to your controller and then to your leisure battery
Click here to viewYou may not even need this much cable, so you could save a bit of money by doing a measure up first, estimate how far your cable will need to run between components.
Terminal Spades
Solar panel wires are now needed to go from the controller to your batteries 12v terminals, here you’ll need terminal spades to connect it all up.
Buying a set will allow you to connect other electrics up at a later date and for the price difference well worth it.
Click here to view