Lensun Hood Solar Panel

[VoodooRanger]

Last week I installed the Lensun Hood Solar Panel Kit that included a single 45w solar panel, hood vinyl, and solar charge controller. They also sell a three panel kit that comes with the same 45w panel and two 30w panels. Price difference between the two kits is about $200.

Install. Unlike the kits for Tacomas, Land Rovers, etc. that have one large panel, this was relatively easy to install alone. I taped the vinyl backing to my front door, and sprayed it with a water/car wash soap mixture as I slowly peeled the vinyl off. I sprayed the center area of the hood liberally with the mixture which allowed the vinyl to glide on. I eyeballed the placement, and used the supplied squeegee to remove the water. Instructions recommend letting the vinyl set for 24-48 hours. A few days prior to the install I applied 3M VHB Tape from Amazon to the panel so it could set in place. I may have applied more VHB than I needed, but I also didn’t want to put too little, and see the panel taking flight on the highway. Again I eyeballed the placement of the solar panel into place once the vinyl had dried(installed all the same day). Being a single small panel, I started at the front, and slowly laid it back towards the windshield. I taped the area around the panel, as well as above so I could apply a bead of Black Permatex Silicone Sealant(initially purchased for Prinsu Rack install) as recommended in the instructions. With the panel installed I went into the engine bay and mounted the solar charge controller to the fuse box over. I used a few small strips of the leftover VHB. I ran the MC4 cables from the panel under the hood and down towards the drivers side fender using the supplied cable mounts. Connecting the controller to the battery is self explanatory and the controller will perform a self test once power is hooked up to it. I taped off the Pos/Neg wires designated for a load and manually shut off the load feature in the app.

Function. The information you find in the screenshots is from the last nine days. The app works off Bluetooth, but I have to be literally at the drivers side front fender to recognize the controller. The panel as stated is 45w, and prior to the install I held it towards the setting sun, and connected to my Bluetti power bank I was generating 30w. Post install I used the app to register it pulling in 15.7w. I quickly unplugged it from the controller and hooked it up to my Bluetti where it was listing 15w. I know, not exact science, but the best I can do with the tools I had. The last nine days have had a mix of everything. Clear skies. Partly cloudy. Cloudy. Raining. I’m still waiting for the locusts. I would say the panel is working okay. It’s also important to note that the panel does not sit flat. As it reaches the front of the truck it does have a slight bend to follow the shape of the hood. At work I park backed in facing south with no trees or obstructions around the vehicle. I say this because I know how finicky solar panels can be if they are not facing the sun perfectly. Yet it has still generated enough to keep my battery topped off which is something I was looking into.

Is this for you? Depends. I never had any intent to run a load off it, but I do generally take a 12v Iceco in the bed when I take trips. The Iceco does have a low voltage shut off, but I would prefer not relying on that. With this simple panel I can make sure my starter battery stays getting some juice when I’m stopped somewhere for a couple hours. For my use the three panel kit was overkill. Had I really needed to generate that kind of power I would’ve just mounted a larger 200w panel on the prinsu rack. I will say that the panel does look good on the white hood. It really helps the design of the hood stand out more. Though the same effect could’ve been pulled off with just the vinyl.

If you guys have any questions I’ll try to answer them the best I can. I’m not a Solar guru so I would take my opinion with a grain of salt. The numbers I have posted were based off the readings from the app and my power bank.

Mods of this belongs in another section please move it. I was not sure where it was best to post it.

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[got3fords]

That's pretty slick!

 

[chasvs]

Last week I installed the Lensun Hood Solar Panel Kit that included a single 45w solar panel, hood vinyl, and solar charge controller. They also sell a three panel kit that comes with the same 45w panel and two 30w panels. Price difference between the two kits is about $200.

Install. Unlike the kits for Tacomas, Land Rovers, etc. that have one large panel, this was relatively easy to install alone. I taped the vinyl backing to my front door, and sprayed it with a water/car wash soap mixture as I slowly peeled the vinyl off. I sprayed the center area of the hood liberally with the mixture which allowed the vinyl to glide on. I eyeballed the placement, and used the supplied squeegee to remove the water. Instructions recommend letting the vinyl set for 24-48 hours. A few days prior to the install I applied 3M VHB Tape from Amazon to the panel so it could set in place. I may have applied more VHB than I needed, but I also didn’t want to put too little, and see the panel taking flight on the highway. Again I eyeballed the placement of the solar panel into place once the vinyl had dried(installed all the same day). Being a single small panel, I started at the front, and slowly laid it back towards the windshield. I taped the area around the panel, as well as above so I could apply a bead of Black Permatex Silicone Sealant(initially purchased for Prinsu Rack install) as recommended in the instructions. With the panel installed I went into the engine bay and mounted the solar charge controller to the fuse box over. I used a few small strips of the leftover VHB. I ran the MC4 cables from the panel under the hood and down towards the drivers side fender using the supplied cable mounts. Connecting the controller to the battery is self explanatory and the controller will perform a self test once power is hooked up to it. I taped off the Pos/Neg wires designated for a load and manually shut off the load feature in the app.

Function. The information you find in the screenshots is from the last nine days. The app works off Bluetooth, but I have to be literally at the drivers side front fender to recognize the controller. The panel as stated is 45w, and prior to the install I held it towards the setting sun, and connected to my Bluetti power bank I was generating 30w. Post install I used the app to register it pulling in 15.7w. I quickly unplugged it from the controller and hooked it up to my Bluetti where it was listing 15w. I know, not exact science, but the best I can do with the tools I had. The last nine days have had a mix of everything. Clear skies. Partly cloudy. Cloudy. Raining. I’m still waiting for the locusts. I would say the panel is working okay. It’s also important to note that the panel does not sit flat. As it reaches the front of the truck it does have a slight bend to follow the shape of the hood. At work I park backed in facing south with no trees or obstructions around the vehicle. I say this because I know how finicky solar panels can be if they are not facing the sun perfectly. Yet it has still generated enough to keep my battery topped off which is something I was looking into.

Is this for you? Depends. I never had any intent to run a load off it, but I do generally take a 12v Iceco in the bed when I take trips. The Iceco does have a low voltage shut off, but I would prefer not relying on that. With this simple panel I can make sure my starter battery stays getting some juice when I’m stopped somewhere for a couple hours. For my use the three panel kit was overkill. Had I really needed to generate that kind of power I would’ve just mounted a larger 200w panel on the prinsu rack. I will say that the panel does look good on the white hood. It really helps the design of the hood stand out more. Though the same effect could’ve been pulled off with just the vinyl.

If you guys have any questions I’ll try to answer them the best I can. I’m not a Solar guru so I would take my opinion with a grain of salt. The numbers I have posted were based off the readings from the app and my power bank.

Mods of this belongs in another section please move it. I was not sure where it was best to post it.

Looks like a sales pitch to me.

 

[JimJa]

If there is a need for a solar on a vehicle your install is a good way to do it. Never understood why manufacturers (Audi did this for a period) install a solar panel in place of a glass sunroof, a particularly useful option in southern climates to operated a vent fan, and/or keep the battery charged.
However, there is a case to be made for cost vs. benefit, and this is from someone that has solar on his home in Wyoming and a rental in San Diego. For the 15 years we lived in the San Diego house our electric bill averaged $15/year and pay back was 11 years. In Wyoming, I'll never get payback. The point is solar is expensive and each install, regardless of location is an individual decision.

This might be pushing the envelope, but have you considered using the Fed's 30% write off on your taxes?

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Last week I installed the Lensun Hood Solar Panel Kit that included a single 45w solar panel, hood vinyl, and solar charge controller. They also sell a three panel kit that comes with the same 45w panel and two 30w panels. Price difference between the two kits is about $200.

Install. Unlike the kits for Tacomas, Land Rovers, etc. that have one large panel, this was relatively easy to install alone. I taped the vinyl backing to my front door, and sprayed it with a water/car wash soap mixture as I slowly peeled the vinyl off. I sprayed the center area of the hood liberally with the mixture which allowed the vinyl to glide on. I eyeballed the placement, and used the supplied squeegee to remove the water. Instructions recommend letting the vinyl set for 24-48 hours. A few days prior to the install I applied 3M VHB Tape from Amazon to the panel so it could set in place. I may have applied more VHB than I needed, but I also didn’t want to put too little, and see the panel taking flight on the highway. Again I eyeballed the placement of the solar panel into place once the vinyl had dried(installed all the same day). Being a single small panel, I started at the front, and slowly laid it back towards the windshield. I taped the area around the panel, as well as above so I could apply a bead of Black Permatex Silicone Sealant(initially purchased for Prinsu Rack install) as recommended in the instructions. With the panel installed I went into the engine bay and mounted the solar charge controller to the fuse box over. I used a few small strips of the leftover VHB. I ran the MC4 cables from the panel under the hood and down towards the drivers side fender using the supplied cable mounts. Connecting the controller to the battery is self explanatory and the controller will perform a self test once power is hooked up to it. I taped off the Pos/Neg wires designated for a load and manually shut off the load feature in the app.

Function. The information you find in the screenshots is from the last nine days. The app works off Bluetooth, but I have to be literally at the drivers side front fender to recognize the controller. The panel as stated is 45w, and prior to the install I held it towards the setting sun, and connected to my Bluetti power bank I was generating 30w. Post install I used the app to register it pulling in 15.7w. I quickly unplugged it from the controller and hooked it up to my Bluetti where it was listing 15w. I know, not exact science, but the best I can do with the tools I had. The last nine days have had a mix of everything. Clear skies. Partly cloudy. Cloudy. Raining. I’m still waiting for the locusts. I would say the panel is working okay. It’s also important to note that the panel does not sit flat. As it reaches the front of the truck it does have a slight bend to follow the shape of the hood. At work I park backed in facing south with no trees or obstructions around the vehicle. I say this because I know how finicky solar panels can be if they are not facing the sun perfectly. Yet it has still generated enough to keep my battery topped off which is something I was looking into.

Is this for you? Depends. I never had any intent to run a load off it, but I do generally take a 12v Iceco in the bed when I take trips. The Iceco does have a low voltage shut off, but I would prefer not relying on that. With this simple panel I can make sure my starter battery stays getting some juice when I’m stopped somewhere for a couple hours. For my use the three panel kit was overkill. Had I really needed to generate that kind of power I would’ve just mounted a larger 200w panel on the prinsu rack. I will say that the panel does look good on the white hood. It really helps the design of the hood stand out more. Though the same effect could’ve been pulled off with just the vinyl.

If you guys have any questions I’ll try to answer them the best I can. I’m not a Solar guru so I would take my opinion with a grain of salt. The numbers I have posted were based off the readings from the app and my power bank.

Mods of this belongs in another section please move it. I was not sure where it was best to post it.

I've seen these on tacomas, this looks slick in that space on the hood.

Good solution for a battery maintenance or in combination with other panels for long term boondocking.

Thanks for the right up, well laid out.

 

[VoodooRanger]

Looks like a sales pitch to me.

Certainly not what I was going for with my post, but if Lensun wanted to send me a bunch of stuff I’m sure I can pitch it a bit better.

“With these three damn panels(slapping hood in the process) you can harness the power of the sun to run NYC during a blackout.”

 

[MountainGoat]

It's cool but I wonder how durable it is. They say they have a 24 month warranty but then say they replace or refund at their own discretion. Does it feel like something that's going to last?

 

[Jhbryaniv]

It's cool but I wonder how durable it is. They say they have a 24 month warranty but then say they replace or refund at their own discretion. Does it feel like something that's going to last?

based on the install directions, it looks like something that when replaced would require the hood to be replaced too. . . .

 

[VoodooRanger]

It's cool but I wonder how durable it is. They say they have a 24 month warranty but then say they replace or refund at their own discretion. Does it feel like something that's going to last?

The panel and wires do not feel cheap. Searching on google though you can find cheap panels and expensive panels. Not sure where the quality of this one is, but so far it feels fine. If I had to worry about something lasting, I would say it would be the charge controller. Mostly because it’s an electronic unit that shits in the engine bay.

 

[VoodooRanger]

based on the install directions, it looks like something that when replaced would require the hood to be replaced too. . . .

That is the reason I put down the vinyl. This way the VHB tape and Permatex Sealant adheres to the vinyl strip instead of the hood itself.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

That is the reason I put down the vinyl. This way the VHB tape and Permatex Sealant adheres to the vinyl strip instead of the hood itself.

Its almost like you thought it through thoroughly...

?

 

[JesseS]

I just carry a 250 watt soft folding tri-panel behind the rear seat back. I can unfold and lay it on the bed cover, plugs into a socket in the grill. Plenty of power for charging the battery bank, truck, and running the fridge when needed. Your install looks great but I would worry about how hot the hood gets from the engine bay. Also when camping I like to park the truck under trees to keep the interior from getting so hot.

 

[Cmar]

I have 2x200 watt folding panels I use when camping, if staying in the one spot for a few days off grid, I sit them on the top of the canopy on my truck and feed the cables in through the side window to the 100AH AGM battery in a box in keep in the tub to run my fridge / freezer. Worked like a charm when we were out in the desert last year, keeping the food frozen at -10C for the 2 week trip, although I did wake up to find them covered in ice a couple of times - it was July.

 

[JetEngr19]

It's cool but I wonder how durable it is. They say they have a 24 month warranty but then say they replace or refund at their own discretion. Does it feel like something that's going to last?

I’ve been running mine since June 2022. No problems with it.

 

[Wes Siler]

Last week I installed the Lensun Hood Solar Panel Kit that included a single 45w solar panel, hood vinyl, and solar charge controller. They also sell a three panel kit that comes with the same 45w panel and two 30w panels. Price difference between the two kits is about $200.

Install. Unlike the kits for Tacomas, Land Rovers, etc. that have one large panel, this was relatively easy to install alone. I taped the vinyl backing to my front door, and sprayed it with a water/car wash soap mixture as I slowly peeled the vinyl off. I sprayed the center area of the hood liberally with the mixture which allowed the vinyl to glide on. I eyeballed the placement, and used the supplied squeegee to remove the water. Instructions recommend letting the vinyl set for 24-48 hours. A few days prior to the install I applied 3M VHB Tape from Amazon to the panel so it could set in place. I may have applied more VHB than I needed, but I also didn’t want to put too little, and see the panel taking flight on the highway. Again I eyeballed the placement of the solar panel into place once the vinyl had dried(installed all the same day). Being a single small panel, I started at the front, and slowly laid it back towards the windshield. I taped the area around the panel, as well as above so I could apply a bead of Black Permatex Silicone Sealant(initially purchased for Prinsu Rack install) as recommended in the instructions. With the panel installed I went into the engine bay and mounted the solar charge controller to the fuse box over. I used a few small strips of the leftover VHB. I ran the MC4 cables from the panel under the hood and down towards the drivers side fender using the supplied cable mounts. Connecting the controller to the battery is self explanatory and the controller will perform a self test once power is hooked up to it. I taped off the Pos/Neg wires designated for a load and manually shut off the load feature in the app.

Function. The information you find in the screenshots is from the last nine days. The app works off Bluetooth, but I have to be literally at the drivers side front fender to recognize the controller. The panel as stated is 45w, and prior to the install I held it towards the setting sun, and connected to my Bluetti power bank I was generating 30w. Post install I used the app to register it pulling in 15.7w. I quickly unplugged it from the controller and hooked it up to my Bluetti where it was listing 15w. I know, not exact science, but the best I can do with the tools I had. The last nine days have had a mix of everything. Clear skies. Partly cloudy. Cloudy. Raining. I’m still waiting for the locusts. I would say the panel is working okay. It’s also important to note that the panel does not sit flat. As it reaches the front of the truck it does have a slight bend to follow the shape of the hood. At work I park backed in facing south with no trees or obstructions around the vehicle. I say this because I know how finicky solar panels can be if they are not facing the sun perfectly. Yet it has still generated enough to keep my battery topped off which is something I was looking into.

Is this for you? Depends. I never had any intent to run a load off it, but I do generally take a 12v Iceco in the bed when I take trips. The Iceco does have a low voltage shut off, but I would prefer not relying on that. With this simple panel I can make sure my starter battery stays getting some juice when I’m stopped somewhere for a couple hours. For my use the three panel kit was overkill. Had I really needed to generate that kind of power I would’ve just mounted a larger 200w panel on the prinsu rack. I will say that the panel does look good on the white hood. It really helps the design of the hood stand out more. Though the same effect could’ve been pulled off with just the vinyl.

If you guys have any questions I’ll try to answer them the best I can. I’m not a Solar guru so I would take my opinion with a grain of salt. The numbers I have posted were based off the readings from the app and my power bank.

Mods of this belongs in another section please move it. I was not sure where it was best to post it.

That looks great. Thanks for the solid review.

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