Bolting stuff to the inside of the roof - suggestion?

[logicalChimp]

Hi Guys

I\'ve just got myself a nice 12v 12w Solar panel, to help keep my battery topped up whilst i\'m not driving it.  However, it\'s a bit chunky (~1m long).

As i actually use the boot for luggage etc, it was thinking of mounting the panel on a hinge, bolted to the inside of the cabin roof.  The idea being that i can swing it down to sit behind the rear window to charge, and swing it up out of the way when i\'ve got junk in the car / driving.

The rear seats aren\'t used (and will be removed shortly) so headroom isn\'t an issue - but i was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of how i should mount it to the roof.  I don\'t fancy putting bolts through to the outside etc. (although that may be an option - see my other thread)

[Bobbit]

Would you not be better mounting it at the bottom and swinging it up? That way you wont have to drill into the roof and i\'m sure you can get a catch to hold it there, that way you\'ll not have any dangers of it coming loose and it swinging about when you drive.

[SmbFD3S]

alternatively you could just put a quick release connector on it and then mount it to the window with suction cups??

[T11MNM]

I don\'t see the point in this at all, buy a better battery?

[logicalChimp]

I did think about that - but i tend to have to put a lot of bags in the boot (when away for weekends etc).

Unfortunately, due to it\'s width, it can\'t go fully on the parcel shelf (it clips the hatch sides).  Instead, i currently have it balanced on the turret brace bar (when in used), and put it in the boot for storage - but because it is a bit fragile, i don\'t want to put anything on it.

Likewise, i\'m planning on having the rear seats out, to make room for a small suitcase / wheelie-bag thingie (passenger luggage) - on the basis that having a passenger will halve my fuel bills  But this means i don\'t want it to hang down from the turret brace either.

I think my problem is in part due to trying to do too much with the car

[logicalChimp]

alternatively you could just put a quick release connector on it and then mount it to the window with suction cups??

Thats an idea, although it doesn\'t really help with the storage of the panel whilst driving.  It seems to work OK at the moment when balanced on the parcel-shelf/turret brace - it\'s just finding somewhere to put it out the way where it\'s not going to get knocked/cracked/etc.

I don\'t see the point in this at all, buy a better battery?

The problem is that i sometimes don\'t get to drive it for three or four weeks at a time.  The parasitic drain of the alarm/immobiliser + sat tracker is enough to flatten even a large battery.  

More importantly, i don\'t want it to be even slightly low, as I would prefer to avoid any risk of flooding the engine.  Because the alarm is old, disconnecting the battery isn\'t an option (the immobiliser engages, and is a pig to reset). And as i park in an open shared car park, not using the alarm isn\'t an option anyway.

[SmbFD3S]

It\'s a sports car! lol,  it\'s not meant to carry suitcases, big bags and stuff

[logicalChimp]

It\'s a sports car! lol,  it\'s not meant to carry suitcases, big bags and stuff

yeah yeah - i know

But i live in central london - so i prefer to get away for the weekend to somewhere nice (with good roads ) - and then have fun for the weekend.

Which means it has to carry the bags for the out/return trips.

[FD3SNuttah]

just fit it when your not using it and then just put it back into your house when your done with it?!

seriously you realise that you bought probably the most unpractical car you could have?!? lol

[davehg]

heep it on trickle charge like people do with bikes...... problem solved!

[logicalChimp]

just fit it when your not using it and then just put it back into your house when your done with it?!

seriously you realise that you bought probably the most unpractical car you could have?!? lol

Yeah - it\'s not the most practical - but it is serious fun!

Unfortunately, as the car is parked out in an open car park (and i live in a single room on the 18th floor of a tower block) i don\'t really have anywhere to store it - not to mention the hassle of carting it up and down each time i take the car out

I would prefer to trickle-charge it - but big carpark = no power sockets.  Hence the solar trickle-charger.

Maybe i\'ll find a way to strap it to the back of the driver seat, or something...

[SmbFD3S]

Why dont you have a sunroof made and fitted with a solar panel incorporated into it

[deanflowers]

just buy one of these

http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/Solar_car_battery_charger_2W.html

you dont need a maahooosssivvve panel

there are several different companies already making these small ones

[logicalChimp]

Now that is a nice idea!

Any one got any idea of companies that do aftermarket sunroofs?

[deanflowers]

the small one i suggested would also fit on a rear of a the sunvisor