Prototype Solar Panel Installed. First look.

[Hourless Life]

We just installed a prototype 100W solar panel on our Jeep. It's called the VSS and it is made by a company called Cascadia 4x4 I believe we are one of just a handful of folks who currently are running this unit. They will be commercially available in April from what I understand.

This panel is specifically is designed for the Jeep hood. From what I've heard, the production models are going to look almost identical other than the logo placement.

I can't answer too many questions (other than install questions) as we just installed it. So for any technical questions please ask them.

But we'll be heading down to Baja for 2 months in the Jeep in less than a week, so we'll put this unit to the test for sure.

We'll be posting a bunch of Baja photos on our Instagram and Facebook if you have any interest in following. We don't try and be social media stars, by any means. So follow if you want, don't if you don't. For us this is just fulltime life, we'll be starting our 7th year of fulltime travel this year. Yep, that means we own no home or property.

Here are some photos of the panel.





(For the record, and transparency, we paid a slightly reduced rate for the panel, but we did not receive it for free by any means. We don't get paid a commission if you buy one or anything. We just think it's a brilliant idea if it works as advertised. But if you are interested, reach out to Cascadia 4x4 with any questions. They are doing pre-orders now for shipping in April.)

If there are any questions I can answer, I'm happy to do so. ~ Eric

 

[MeHere!]

That's pretty slick....Jeeps get all the goodies!!!

 

[Hourless Life]

That's pretty slick....Jeeps get all the goodies!!!

They have them for 2nd gen Toyota Tacoma (2005-2015) ane 3rd gen Toyota Tacoma (2016 to present) as well but they are 90W and 85W respectively.

But yes, Jeeps get all the goodies first... because Jeep Life

O|||||||O

Eric

 

[USStrongman]

Saw this last week. My only question is the durability to heat dissipation from the hood at slow speeds for long periods of time. With efficiency losses at 10-25% above 75°F, it seems too small a unit to provide long term management unless they have sorted out a way to improve efficiency?

 

[Prerunner1982]

Nifty, but I wonder how heat from the hood will a

Saw this last week. My only question is the durability to heat dissipation from the hood at slow speeds for long periods of time. With efficiency losses at 10-25% above 75°F, it seems too small a unit to provide long term management unless they have sorted out a way to improve efficiency?

I was just typing a response regarding hood temps as well... a dollar short and a day late, story of my life.

 

[OnlyTaco]

Seems like a nice design, but wow is it expensive.

 

[Hourless Life]

Saw this last week. My only question is the durability to heat dissipation from the hood at slow speeds for long periods of time. With efficiency losses at 10-25% above 75°F, it seems too small a unit to provide long term management unless they have sorted out a way to improve efficiency?

Great question. So I reached out to the owner of the company that manufactures this panel and let him know your question since he's not on this platform. This is what he had to say:

"Yes we get that question a lot! Loss of efficiency due to heat build up is always going to be the case when it comes to solar, no way around that. In our couple years of testing there have been no issues due to heat. Another thing to note is our system provides the most benefit when the vehicle is not running (and the alternator is not running) so when this is the case you are not getting engine heat that would reduce the panels efficiency."

After reading his response to me regarding your question, his answer from our perspective as overlanders makes sense. Basically when you are rolling, you don't need the solar panel so reduced efficiency doesn't really make a difference. When you are stationary (and there's sun) the engine cools, efficiency is no longer reduced and the panel does what it is supposed to do.

Now let's just hope there's sun haha.

Hope that helps clarify.

~ Eric

 

[smritte]

It is true, the flush mounted panels loose efficiency due to the fact they cant dissipate heat well. As high as 25% loss in high ambient temps as well as shorter life spans. The bottom line is this, what are you using it for and how much power do you actually need?
I run a 50 watt panel on the roof of my cruiser. It's 3 inch's above the roof for ventilation (fixed panel) and I will still have a small amount of loss in high heat. I also have a ton of accessories that stay powered with the key off. I have more than enough to keep the batteries up. Oh and it takes away from my cargo area on my rack.
My 50 watt will not keep up with my fridge but, my fridge is only used for day trips or constant moving. I have a small trailer if I base camp with 200 watts of solar and its own fridge.

My TJ had the same battery draw as my cruiser. I wish I could have mounted a panel on it. Anything on the roof wasn't practical (soft top). If I mounted a panel to the hood, I may have done something for insulation to help some but not until i saw output numbers.

In comparison, my cruiser panel is giving me half what that nice fitting Cascadia panel is, even with the losses. Shorter life span? I'm sure the panel will live at least 10 years. In that time panels will have evolved a few times anyway. I do wish they would have done something different with the power cables. I don't see an easy solution that doesn't include drilling a hole.

It will be nice seeing how it works out in the long run.