Rooftop Solar Charging

[JustChris]

I haven't seen this specific setup covered in this forum. Apologies if I've missed it.

I'm very seriously considering installing a collapsible solar panel array (500-600 watts) on the roof of the Slate, and collecting the power in a stand-alone battery generator, with the intent of dumping the stored charge into my Slate via Level 2 charging every day or two.

I'm not an engineer, but I am a technician, and pretty good at electro-mechanical DIY. I also acknowledge that there's a wealth of smart people in this forum, and I would love to hear any thoughts or suggestions about this idea.

Use-Case: My daily commute is about 16 to 20 miles, mostly freeway. I'm thinking about attaching the solar panels in a collapsible or folding configuration, using Slate's roof rack, either with or without SUV kit. I haven't decided what standalone generator to use, and I'm open to a piecemeal approach if that's more economical or efficient. I'm thinking of putting the equipment in the frunk.

Tell me your thoughts! Any and all comments are welcome and appreciated.

 

[Adam W]

Someone will be along shortly to do the math, I'm sure, so I'll leave that to them.

My only question is, is there an advantage to putting the gear on the truck and driving it around all the time, vs keeping the same setup at home and optimizing the solar orientation of the panels? My gut says the extra weight & drag of the array and battery generator is likely to offset any net benefit. I could see it being a worthwhile setup if you were going off-grid for a while though.

 

[AeroWolf]

I recently saw this idea

EV Solar Charger – GoSun

Not sure, how serous the company is, but I have been thinking about this kind of idea recently. And it seems similar to yours.

 

[AeroWolf]

As far as use cases.

Owners whose residential circumstances limit home charging capability, but have a secure outside location at home or work to enable useful solar energy collection.

 

[pineapple]

Interesting!

 

[pineapple]

Check out this video, "how to set up a solar panel system to charge my eb"
https://share.google/tTfQe4WtjjNtcjMe2

 

[pineapple]

I’m very interested in the off grid solar charging much less expensive and more DIY friendly

 

[JustChris]

My only question is, is there an advantage to putting the gear on the truck and driving it around all the time, vs keeping the same setup at home and optimizing the solar orientation of the panels?

I totally agree, and I would prefer a stationary setup, but I don't own my own my home, and therefore can't establish a semi-permanent setup.

My hope is that I can accumulate enough, passively parked in full sun everyday, that it substantially reduces my need to use Level 3 charging, which would otherwise be my primary source of power.

If it even just made it so that I could just fast-charge less often, that would still be something. Ideally, it's a self-contained solar-powered car, which feels like I'm set free from the grid, to a limited extent.

Maybe it's pie-in-the-sky.

 

[pineapple]

Towards the end of the video, the guy mentioned something about an email address to inquire about his system and he’d be willing to advise you or send you somewhere where you could get advice on our particular application

 

[pineapple]

With the “portable set up “you can probably skirt the code permit. and if you really wanted to, you could move the system anywhere you wanted, it is portable somewhat

 

[pineapple]

Without getting into any big details right now, since the trucks aren’t available, some of the resources online are staying for a 52 kW battery 6 to 10 panels and of course, an inverter, depending on your driving range

 

[pineapple]

*saying

 

[sodamo]

Without getting into any big details right now, since the trucks aren’t available, some of the resources online are staying for a 52 kW battery 6 to 10 panels and of course, an inverter, depending on your driving range

You do realize the number of panels is less relevant than the number of what size (watt) panel. And likely physical size is related to watts as well.

 

[pineapple]

Yes

 

[pineapple]

I guess once I own a truck, we’ll get into more details but just briefly if my memory serves me right they’re 400 W panels. If you watch the video you can see what he’s doing. It’s really interesting.