 |
05-16-2018, 07:54 AM
|
#1
|
Rivet Master 
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,750
|
Solar panels and hail
What are your thoughts about protecting rood mounted solar panels from hail damage?
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
|
|
|
05-16-2018, 07:59 AM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master 
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,726
|
Quality panels are tempered glass and designed for hail events. I am sure that VERY large hail may break, but the AS is probably totaled in that case anyway.
Look at your panel website for specs and/or call them. This question also supports consideration of agreed value insurance, as an appraisal includes add-ons such as solar panels.
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
|
|
|
05-16-2018, 08:43 AM
|
#3
|
Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 17,102
|
Hi
Hail comes in a lot of sizes. If you get into the basketball sized stuff, the roof on your house may not be up to withstanding it. A flat panel will be more vulnerable that the roof on a house. Unless you are going with 1" steel plates, I'm not quite sure what you *could* fully protect them with.
At some point on the list of "rare once in 1,000 years" events ..... you just make sure the insurance policy is paid up.
Bob
|
|
|
05-16-2018, 09:28 AM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master 
1974 27' Overlander
Baltimore
, Maryland
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,042
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lumatic
What are your thoughts about protecting rood mounted solar panels from hail damage?
|
My thoughts are: my panels are rated for larger hail than any other part of the coach, and they're easy to replace if broken. The solar panels are the least of my worries in a hail event.
|
|
|
05-16-2018, 10:59 AM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master 
Kensington
, Maryland
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 586
|
If you are close to the trailer and KNOW this is about to happen than a couple sheets of good old cardboard will help. No promises.
|
|
|
10-26-2018, 09:23 PM
|
#6
|
2 Rivet Member 
2018 27' Tommy Bahama
Orange
, California
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 25
|
Protect Solar panels
I am wondering if they make any type of solar covers. Then my next question is how the heck do you put them on the panels when needed. Throw a rope over and climb up and over to cover them? Hum better have another glass of wine and pray for sun.
|
|
|
10-26-2018, 10:17 PM
|
#7
|
4 Rivet Member 
2017 27' International
Lake Havasu City
, Arizona
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 310
|
"my panels are rated for larger hail than any other part of the coach, and they're easy to replace if broken. The solar panels are the least of my worries in a hail event."
Exactly. Before the panels break, the aluminum roof will have been damaged to the point where your insurance company may total the RV. As I recall, standard tests for solar panels include one inch hail at 50 mph, baseballs, and so on.
The only time I've ever seen a solar panel break was when one of mine was right next to a radio antenna that was struck by lightning. Even with the glass shattered across the whole panel (but held together by its bonding layers), the panel still put out about 90% of its rated power. Insurance paid for a new replacement panel, so I gave the damaged one to a friend. As far as I know, it's still in use eight years later.
|
|
|
10-27-2018, 07:24 AM
|
#8
|
Living Riveted since 2013

2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Winter Garden
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,255
|
My cheap plastic Airstream skylights will shatter from hail long before my solar panels suffer damage. [emoji6]
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
|
|
|
10-27-2018, 10:16 AM
|
#9
|
Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 17,102
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy Goosy
I am wondering if they make any type of solar covers. Then my next question is how the heck do you put them on the panels when needed. Throw a rope over and climb up and over to cover them? Hum better have another glass of wine and pray for sun.
|
Hi
I believe it's called a barn and you pull into it before the hail starts ....
I'd bet you will see damage to the outer skin of the RV before you have significant damage to the solar panels.
Bob
|
|
|
 |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|

Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|