After having driven around Canberra for a few months with the PVs on the roof we got hit with an Unroadworthy ticket, much to our chagrin. The Defect Notice was issued in February 2024 for having a dangerous overhang on the roof, greater than the width of the vehicle. Drove to the Vehicle Inspection Station in Hume and went over the pits. Following a long philosophical discussion as to interpretation of rules and judgement on whether the 200mm overhang was dangerous, the inspector questioned whether it could fly with the stubby wings, haha, tres drole. Finally we eventually agreed it could be a bit dangerous (Rod had banged his head a couple of times) and we had to design smaller roof fittings and use smaller panels.
On the left is the 3 x 510W version and on the left the newer slimline 3 x 440W assembly.
A couple of weeks of web surfing turned up some 22% efficient ASTRONERGY ASTRO N5s N- Type Mono Dual Glass 435W with dimensions: 1722(L) x 1134 x 30 mm. The present Longi panels have dimensions: 2093(L) x 1134 x 35mm, so we gain 371mm across the van roof. Back to the drawing board for a complete redesign of the rack, moving it forward to reduce rear overhand and decreasing the width.
It was then in late May that we got back into the Kangoo with some trepidation and not a little angst, and a 1 day temporary rego, and trundled back off to Hume and the dreaded pits. Freude, schöner Götterfunken, Joy, beautiful spark of the gods, the new improved Kangoo passed with flying panels, and we all agreed that this was a better design (now looking for a buyer for 3 x 510W Longi panels, hmmmmmm). Back to Motor Rego to renew the papers and make sure we still have the same number plate.
Connected all the electrics up and tested the PV into the MPPTs thence the battery: all hunky dory cap’n. Plug in the charging cable (8A) to the inverter and the Type 2 at the front of the Kangoo and hooray, the traction battery is getting charge.
Now for some serious testing re range and reliability and finding out that there are not too many public Type 2 charging stations, à suivre.