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01-25-2020, 05:54 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalashnikov
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Your parts list looks great!!! The minor change I would recommend is one additional tube of SikaFlex. I recommend using one-half tube on each panel. Put the SikaFlex on very thickly.
I had the opportunity to remove four panels from my 25' after two seasons. What I found was that the panel mounts where the SikaFlex was thinner came off fairly easily. The ones where the SikaFlex was thicker were difficult to remove. The thinner ones had cracks in the SikaFlex at the edges of the mounts. I could basically grab and twist to remove the the thin ones. On the thick ones, I had to cut the SikaFlex with a razor knife to remove them. On my 600W install, I used three tubes. One tube for every two panels.
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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01-25-2020, 06:38 PM
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#3
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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Looks great. System should serve you well
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01-25-2020, 07:21 PM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member 
2019 25' International
Reno
, NV
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 27
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Thanks for putting the list and links all together. This is a similar set up as I wanted. All the other ancillary components is what I really appreciate having here. I have a 25 ft with two AC's, so I think I'm limited to getting 400 watts on the roof. I think it will be plenty for my camping style.
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01-25-2020, 07:35 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member 
2019 28' Flying Cloud
Dripping Springs
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
Your parts list looks great!!! The minor change I would recommend is one additional tube of SikaFlex. I recommend using one-half tube on each panel. Put the SikaFlex on very thickly.
<snip>
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Done. I appreciate all your solar threads 
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03-01-2020, 08:34 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
2019 28' Flying Cloud
Dripping Springs
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 328
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03-01-2020, 10:13 PM
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#8
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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Very nice!
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03-02-2020, 07:07 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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Nice installation. I too mounted my solar controller, breaker, and switch to a board, then connected all the wires while sitting comfortably upright, and then installed the board into the crawl space while standing on my head. OK, maybe I wasn't quite standing on my head, but premounting everything on a board was a lot easier than mounting all the parts and connecting all the wires inside a small compartment.
I mounted my solar controller so the cooling fins were vertical. I see yours are horizontal. I see some AmSolar installations with the cooling fins not mounted vertically so you are probably OK. https://amsolar.com/solar-panels-for...ng-cloud-fb-25 But I would prefer the cooling fins mounted vertically if possible. This AmSolar blog link shows pictures of the AmSolar installations that I have studied: https://amsolar.com/solar-panels-for-rv
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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03-02-2020, 07:20 AM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
2016 30' Classic
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 344
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Looks great! Good luck with the install. We love our 900w / 600Ah system - knowing you always have power is a real treat. We went with 9 panels - our 30' Classic's roof permitted it - as I wanted more panel wattage than amp hour storage given the inefficiencies of the panels' collection ability given weather and sun angle (season of year, time of day).
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03-02-2020, 07:31 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dhroberts
Looks great! Good luck with the install. We love our 900w / 600Ah system - knowing you always have power is a real treat. We went with 9 panels - our 30' Classic's roof permitted it - as I wanted more panel wattage than amp hour storage given the inefficiencies of the panels' collection ability given weather and sun angle (season of year, time of day).
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Wow - I'll just plug into your outside receptacle when I'm parked net to you! Seriously though, I agree you can never have too many solar panels or too large of battery bank on an Airstream. Put as much as will "reasonably" fit and you'll likely be satisfied with the result.
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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03-02-2020, 09:37 AM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
2019 28' Flying Cloud
Dripping Springs
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 328
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New parts for the controller install:
4ga lugs
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Pair of 4ga wires for breaker and switch (very pliable, recommend)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Pair of 4ga 4ft wires to connect controller to 12v panel
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
As noted before, 4ga will work but 6ga is better for connecting to the Victron.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
Nice installation. I too mounted my solar controller, breaker, and switch to a board, then connected all the wires while sitting comfortably upright, and then installed the board into the crawl space while standing on my head. OK, maybe I wasn't quite standing on my head, but premounting everything on a board was a lot easier than mounting all the parts and connecting all the wires inside a small compartment.
I mounted my solar controller so the cooling fins were vertical. I see yours are horizontal. I see some AmSolar installations with the cooling fins not mounted vertically so you are probably OK. https://amsolar.com/solar-panels-for...ng-cloud-fb-25 But I would prefer the cooling fins mounted vertically if possible. This AmSolar blog link shows pictures of the AmSolar installations that I have studied: https://amsolar.com/solar-panels-for-rv |
Didn't even think of the orientation of the cooling fins. I guess if I were to do it again I would push to keep the unit 'upright.' For me the priority was to make sure that the switch and breaker were at the top. My short wires were fabbed so I didn't have a ton of length to work with. Oh well, it's likely going to be ok, there's much of a breeze under the couch anyway 
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03-09-2020, 09:46 AM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
2019 28' Flying Cloud
Dripping Springs
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 328
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Step 3: Install the Panels
I had purchased Renogy 'curved' mounts. I didn't like how the bottom was full of holes and also rather narrow, only 1" wide. I decided to mount them to pieces of 2" wide aluminum.
But then... it became clear that this would be a nightmare for sealing! I'd need to seal the screws and the perimiter of the renogy mount. What a PITA. So I decided to not go in that direction. A couple hours of work lost, these are going in the trash.
Ended up buying some 2x2" aluminum from HD and cut it into 4" long segments. After drilling a couple holes these replace the lower portion of the renogy mount.
Renogy mount
My brackets installed
Cleaned the roof of the AS with soap & water, then with Acetone. Also cleaned the feet with Acetone.
The 3M tape is very easy to apply to the feet
The renogy feet do allow matching the curvature of the AS roof. Ended up having them all at the same height however, didn't try to make the panels flat.
Buried in Sikaflex! The 221 is rather easy to work with
Panel mounted
Marshmallow stick? No - it's a special tool I created in order to install the bolts on the far side of the panels. I didn't want to climb on the roof, this allowed me to poke the bolts through the brackets easily. (Yes it's ghetto but it worked)
Final Result
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03-09-2020, 09:52 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,101
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what about getting the victron 3kw converter /inverter
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03-09-2020, 09:54 AM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
2019 28' Flying Cloud
Dripping Springs
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waninae39
what about getting the victron 3kw converter /inverter
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So what about it? Looks like it's another $1k. The AS already comes with a 1kW inverter, is that not good enough? (We don't really use AC power)
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03-09-2020, 09:58 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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Very nice! I'd bury those mounting locations with more SikaFlex. I used 1/2 tube of SikaFlex per panel, but I think my feet were only 1" wide. I put the SikaFlex on about 1/4" deep across the whole mounting area.
What I found when I removed a two season old solar installation was that the SikaFlex is what really holds the panels on the roof. The brackets with a thin layer of SikaFlex were easy to grab, twist, and remove. The brackets with a 1/4" thick layer of SikaFlex required me to cut the SikaFlex, then grab, twist, and remove. On my second installation, I made sure all brackets had a 1/4" deep layer of SikaFlex over the entire mounting area. I don't want my panels coming loose if I drive down the Interstate into gale force winds.
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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03-09-2020, 10:08 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalashnikov
So what about it? Looks like it's another $1k. The AS already comes with a 1kW inverter, is that not good enough? (We don't really use AC power)
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I just use the 1kW inverter and use my generator for the microwave and A/C. Without Lithium batteries, a 3kW inverter would not be useful. With my pair of 6V golf cart batteries, I could probably only run that 3Kw inverter for 10 minutes with my microwave anyway. Installing that big inverter is going down a rat hole. Then you need bigger 12V cables, bigger fuses, a large Lithium battery bank, a sub-panel and labor to connect to 120V . . . I'd say that will easily cost over $5k just to run the microwave? Not for me. And I'd still need to carry a generator for A/C use.
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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03-09-2020, 11:03 AM
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#18
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4 Rivet Member
2019 28' Flying Cloud
Dripping Springs
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
Very nice! I'd bury those mounting locations with more SikaFlex. I used 1/2 tube of SikaFlex per panel, but I think my feet were only 1" wide. I put the SikaFlex on about 1/4" deep across the whole mounting area.
What I found when I removed a two season old solar installation was that the SikaFlex is what really holds the panels on the roof. The brackets with a thin layer of SikaFlex were easy to grab, twist, and remove. The brackets with a 1/4" thick layer of SikaFlex required me to cut the SikaFlex, then grab, twist, and remove. On my second installation, I made sure all brackets had a 1/4" deep layer of SikaFlex over the entire mounting area. I don't want my panels coming loose if I drive down the Interstate into gale force winds.
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Really? Ugh, I get what you're saying but there's no way I'm pulling those panels at this point. (They are removable only in a theoretical sense. Kind of like your teeth - you could pull them, but don't want to )
Maybe I'll smear more SF on the feet I can easily get to and leave the back set alone. I thought the 3M tape did most of the heavy lifting in terms of adhesion. I have 8 square inches of tape on each foot, compared to 4 square inches on the renogy stock mounts. That's 32 square inches per panel, they certainly felt rock solid.
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03-09-2020, 12:38 PM
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#19
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalashnikov
Really? Ugh, I get what you're saying but there's no way I'm pulling those panels at this point. (They are removable only in a theoretical sense. Kind of like your teeth - you could pull them, but don't want to )
Maybe I'll smear more SF on the feet I can easily get to and leave the back set alone. I thought the 3M tape did most of the heavy lifting in terms of adhesion. I have 8 square inches of tape on each foot, compared to 4 square inches on the renogy stock mounts. That's 32 square inches per panel, they certainly felt rock solid. |
I’d pull-um and add the Sika. You really need the extra bond to insure no problems.
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03-09-2020, 02:49 PM
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#20
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4 Rivet Member
2019 28' Flying Cloud
Dripping Springs
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMFL
I’d pull-um and add the Sika. You really need the extra bond to insure no problems.
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I'll think about it. Really not excited about removing panels 
Anyone happen to have pics of their panel brackets Sikaflex coverage?
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)
I already measured with a cardboard template, 6 panels will fit without interference from roof vents. There will be some shading from my 2x AC units but I'm building a 600W system so I should be covered.
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