Step one. Bought the van.
Hello Everybody, First post. I camp a lot in tents but after spending three days straight in a tent in the rain at Dolly Sods I swore I'd make a change. Here it is. Bought it Wednesday. Dro...
Forum Discussion
Thanks for the epoxy tip. I don't think in this instance it's that critical but good to know.
Solar Panels continued -
The brackets that will go between the two panels will have to be made a bit different. Instead of the panel being bolted to holes drilled through the square tube I'll weld 1" angle iron to each side of the tube. Then the mounting holes will be drilled through the angle iron. Figure out what will be the best length and placement for the angle iron.
Tack weld on the angle iron and check how it fits.
Weld up the two middle brackets.
At this point I realized there was simpler design for the bracket. Instead of adding a length of angle iron on each side I could have just added it to one side and mounted the second panel through the tube like I'd done with the outside brackets. Since I'd already welded on the angle iron went ahead with the original plan. One advantage of the wider bracket is that the larger gap between the panels should help with cooling. Solar panels become less efficient as they heat up so the cooler the better. Might be better this way.
Get all the mounting holes drilled.
Bolt on the four brackets to one of the panels.
Put the panel with brackets on the roof.
Bolt the other two end brackets to the second solar panel and put it on the roof.
Bolt the second panel to the middle bracket.
Using a couple bolts and the first set of holes drilled through the top to position the front panel. Didn't tighten down the panel so it could be moved a bit. Lined up the two panels so that they where in the middle of the roof.
Double check then check again. When I'm absolutely sure I got it right start to drill the other four mounting holes using the hole in the bracket as a drill guide. Just start the holes but don't go all the way through the top since it's down.
Remove the panels from the top of the van then raise the penthouse. Finish drilling the holes through the top.
continued
Solar Panels continued -
The brackets that will go between the two panels will have to be made a bit different. Instead of the panel being bolted to holes drilled through the square tube I'll weld 1" angle iron to each side of the tube. Then the mounting holes will be drilled through the angle iron. Figure out what will be the best length and placement for the angle iron.
Tack weld on the angle iron and check how it fits.
Weld up the two middle brackets.
At this point I realized there was simpler design for the bracket. Instead of adding a length of angle iron on each side I could have just added it to one side and mounted the second panel through the tube like I'd done with the outside brackets. Since I'd already welded on the angle iron went ahead with the original plan. One advantage of the wider bracket is that the larger gap between the panels should help with cooling. Solar panels become less efficient as they heat up so the cooler the better. Might be better this way.
Get all the mounting holes drilled.
Bolt on the four brackets to one of the panels.
Put the panel with brackets on the roof.
Bolt the other two end brackets to the second solar panel and put it on the roof.
Bolt the second panel to the middle bracket.
Using a couple bolts and the first set of holes drilled through the top to position the front panel. Didn't tighten down the panel so it could be moved a bit. Lined up the two panels so that they where in the middle of the roof.
Double check then check again. When I'm absolutely sure I got it right start to drill the other four mounting holes using the hole in the bracket as a drill guide. Just start the holes but don't go all the way through the top since it's down.
Remove the panels from the top of the van then raise the penthouse. Finish drilling the holes through the top.
continued
