Wiring advice - engine bay through to cabin

[SatansLittleHelper]

Hey everyone,

Okay. I've now got my Vectra C in perfect mechanical order, plus added the bits to get it bang up to date in terms of technology. Took me ages, but it looks stock yet there's a lot more to it. It's a lovely car to work with.

I'm now looking at adding a 30W solar panel to keep the battery topped up. If you're wondering why I'm after so much, it's because I live in the very north tip of Scotland, so in the depths of winter, any sunlight is hard to find. A bigger panel will catch whatever might be available, and help starting when it's double digits below zero.

I'm looking at mounting the panel in the rear windscreen then routing the wires just as I did for the camera today. That'll offer optimal charging.

The question is getting it from the cabin into the engine bay, and on to the battery. Does anyone know a simple way to get wires from the cabin into the engine bay?

I've been using the nearside to run all my cables, but if the offside is better, I don't mind tearing it apart.

As a side thought, and I'll probably show my lack of knowledge here, but if it simply provides charge into the system, why couldn't I wire it into the rear fusebox? Probably other components downstream is my guess, but just thinking aloud.

Any advice would be most welcome.

SatansLittleHelper

[Mike_B_C]

If you want it permanently installed then you will require a diode, this will prevent the battery from trying to power the solar cell.
Also available are proper battery conditioners that can control the solar panel.

I'm guessing you don't have a garage.

What you need is something like this https://lowenergysupermarket.com/pro...r-panel-kit-1/

I am looking for something to trickle charge my battery during the summer when I start to use my motorbike for work.