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Forum Index : Solar : Securing Panels (Anti-Theft)

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Art_

Newbie

Joined: 22/10/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 30

Posted: 01:43am 25 Oct 2007

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Hi Guys,
Just chasing some ideas re the topic title.
I realise a lot of you are on farms where a shotgun might
be the best anti theft device, but let's say you go camping,
set up tent/RV, and wander away on a bush walk.

Now you can hardly lock your panels away in the RV because
they're supposed to be in the sun charging a battery.

Frankly, I'm suprised they don't go missing of the side of the
road from those phone and radio installations all the time.

Any ideas? Electronic or physical?
Art.

If not actually, then potentially.

martinjsto

Senior Member

Joined: 09/10/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 149

Posted: 01:27pm 28 Oct 2007

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hi art, thought i would throw a few idears out there, im no expert but have a bit of camping experience.
securing your gear weather fishing gear or solar or whatever during camping expo's is always a problem when not in camp, and the fact is no matter what you do if they want to take it they usualy will.
mechanical securing devises offer potential but again you only realy sustain damage to youe equipment if they still want to get it or try to smash it off.
you could set up a electronic sensor wired to your vehicle alarm i supose... shouldnt be too dificult to design using posably magnetic read swithes atached to items, problem is the hard wiring would be difficult to conceal, i reccon a electric fence unit wired to the pannel should do the trick lol

seriosly, i use to stop pigs and wild animals similar caracteristics to these mongrals, i thought of using a home made unit i put together to stop kids getting into my vehicles to rob my ashtray. might hurt them but and i would get suid

so what do you do, might have to just lock it in your car i guess
martin

free power for all
McAlinden WA

Art_

Newbie

Joined: 22/10/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 30

Posted: 06:15am 29 Oct 2007

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Lol, that is the best solution it appears.

I do like the idea of an extension of your car alarm,
and of course it would be an advantage if the wiring is
visible while it is in use.
I will think about that.

If not actually, then potentially.

Highlander

Senior Member

Joined: 03/10/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 266

Posted: 06:39am 29 Oct 2007

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How about mounting them in a tree and use a fold up ladder that you can lock in your vehicle.

I prefer the 12g or 243 winchester though

Central Victorian highlands

Art_

Newbie

Joined: 22/10/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 30

Posted: 11:56am 29 Oct 2007

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Solution A: No good because after all that work you can pull them down with the power cable ;)
Edited by Art_ 2007-10-30

If not actually, then potentially.

Trev

Guru

Joined: 15/07/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 640

Posted: 08:45am 12 Nov 2007

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Hi Art,
(How exactly do you live in a car??)

I didn't want to hi-jack the solar panel and mirrors thread with camping etc, but you have it here.

My younger brother makes clam shell roof top tents. When the clam is closed the tent folds in automatically. Only minutes setting up and packing up.
Here's a picture of it open.

As for solar panels, they are normally held on to the legs of the tent box with clips and only minutes to unclip and shift to sunlight if needed. When the clam shell is closed the solar panels are on the top, out of sight.

He has travelled all over Australia, including Tasmania and never lost a panel yet.

Trev @ drivebynature.com

Art_

Newbie

Joined: 22/10/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 30

Posted: 11:24am 12 Nov 2007

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Thanks for that.
That is a bit more than a car. I'd rather live in that :)
Like the tent too, do those legs hold you up when you
roll over in it?

Funny this thread comes up again. Following from an idea
posted above I have gotten a panel worth protecting, and
wired both of them with four conductor molex connectors
(same as used in hard disk drives) until I come up with
something better. Two conductors are for power, and the
other two provide for a potential loopback circuit for a
car alarm, or seperate screecher alarm to be biult into my power rig.
Cheers, Art.

ps.. I suppose the next question is How do you make clamshell tents when you live in a car? :D
Edited by Art_ 2007-11-13

If not actually, then potentially.

Wazza

Newbie

Joined: 19/01/2008
Location:
Posts: 1

Posted: 09:50am 19 Jan 2008

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Hi Art

To your question about how do I make these tents when we are travelling.

We have to come back from travelling to be able to make a tent. That sucks when we have to do that because it is always more fun out there exploring new places.

yes the legs do hold up realy well. I am 65kg in weight and I get in there and jump up and down on it to prove to its strength.

Any one who has solar panels wants to protect them. but you don't need to have an alarm system to protect them. In all my travelling, I have never heard of anyone having their panels stolen.

The only thing that was stolen from my car was a $265 UHF aerial while the car left at Bamiga and I was up on thursday island for 4 days. My panels were still on the roof of the car untouched.

Good luck with it,

Trevs Brother, Wazza

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