Solar Panel Mounting

[BarnacleBill]

I want to install some new solar panels on our 30' Land Yacht. I would like to make sure they are fastened to the roof beams.

Does anyone know how to locate the beams from the roof?

[drboyd]

Look for the lines of rivets on the roof; the aluminum roof is riveted to the beams. You'll see it immediately when you get up there.

You also want to stand only on the roof beams.

Don't worry - you'll see 'em.

[lewster]

If you have a smooth fiberglass roof, you can use AM Solar's proprietary mounting system and avoid putting ANY HOLES IN YOUR ROOF !!!!

3-M VHB tape and cover sealant is all you need.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally certified Master Tech
Master Tech RV Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[BarnacleBill]

30' Land Yacht Motor Home textured fiberglass roof...

[lewster]

VHB tape will not hold properly on a textured roof. In your case, cover the bottom of the mounting foot with butyl tape, use #10 or #12 stainless sheet metal screws at least an inch long and pre-drill a hole about 1/2 the width of the screw. Cover with a quality sealant like SikFlex 221 or their self leveling 715.

The area where the mounting foot is placed should be cleaned with a good RV roof cleaning solution like Eterna Clean from Eterna Bond or mineral spirits. Don't use alcohol if you intend to use SikaFlex or any other one part polyurethane or silane terminated polymer sealants.

[Meddle]

This is probably a dumb question, but how does one know whether they have a smooth fiberglass roof or not. As you can probably tell, I've never been up there to look at it. I can tell it's white and it looks fairly smooth but that's about all. 2012 27FB International.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[lewster]

Smooth is totally flat like a metal sheet. Textured has little bumps on it which prohibit the VHB tape from properly bonding to the roof.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally certified Master Tech
Master Tech RV Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[is.chowa]

Barnacle, try using one of those stud finders with settings for metal studs and shallow depth.

Steve

[BarnacleBill]

Steve, I'll try that, but I thought the beams where aluminium.

[JamuJoe]

Lew, which VHB tape do you recommend for aluminum solar frame to airstream roof?
4951 looks like the correct product to me.

[lewster]

I actually use two. Primary is 4950 in 1". I also have a roll of 4941 in 3" that I use for other bonding applications.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[lonestranger]

Originally Posted by BarnacleBill

Steve, I'll try that, but I thought the beams where aluminium.

Would that they were, then there would not be the significant problem of them rusting away if you have a leak. They are apparently rather thin steel box tubing (bought on the cheap by AS, I would suppose.)

[is.chowa]

Barnacle, I was referring the ultrasonic stud finders, set at shallow depth and metal studs. I too thought they were aluminum. There are photos here way back when someone was redoing the roof showing the bare skeleton of the coach.

Steve

[jimmini]

Why would anyone want to mount solar panels on the roof?
When mounted on roof you have to park trailer so panels are facing South to get best results of the panel,you can not park under trees ect.
Make a stand of PVC 1/2 "pipe that folds up and mount panel on it,make legs so panel is about 45+ % in the Winter and about 10+ % in the Summer. (This set angle is found by what Latitude your at.I use 50% and 10 % on mine for year round us where I camp),
With a stand you can park any where and move the panel to the sun,Like now here in Quartzsite AZ in the Winter my trailer is facing North and panel is facimg South,I move it 3 times aday so it faces the sun all day.I top out my batteries about noon.
When I move I fold up the stand and put it and the panel on the bed.
I use one 190 watt 18V panel

[indy]

I to made a frame of aluminum angle to support my two 100 watt panels.
I made up different 10 ga wire leads 8', 10' and 12' giving varied options to get the panels in the sun.