Rivet Types

[lee]

I've been reading about rivets on this forum and since I will be doing a solar install on my AS I want to attach the brackets to the outer skin. My questions are :

1) Can I use Stainless steel rivets or will I be risking electrolysis for not using aluminum.

2) The load will be about 30 lbs spread on the brackets can I just sink the rivets into the skin or do they need to be attached on the supporting ribs?

If any of you have done this or know the answer please help?
I plan on using olympic rivets .
Thanks

[74Argosy24MH]

Use aluminum rivets and go for the ribs.

The aluminum skin is very soft compared to the stainless rivet. If you have to drill them out and get slightly off center the stainless will push the bit into the aluminum and make an oversized hole. The only way you will get it out then is cutting off the head with something like a die grinder.

The skin is very thin, 30 lbs. is not that much weight but this is a long term installation and vibration and flex will come into play. If there is any movement or cracking it will break the seal and leak. I used 2 pieces of angle across 2 ribs. The panels are longer than the spacing of the ribs so I riveted the skin to the end of the overhanging angle.

John

[lee]

Thanks for your information on the rivet types and your expierence on sinking the brackets in to the ribs. I sure don't want trouble down the road that I can avoid by doing a proper installation.