Strength of Roof and Solar Install question
Hi all, Have been getting the bug to install a solar system on the roof of our Coachmen Chevy based Class C. Was looking to do 300-400 watts (3 or 4 panels). I researched that the roof board ...
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It seems to me if you walked on the roof it has to be stronger than 1/8 inch luan with supports 4 feet apart.
Our MH has a metal roof, less than 1/8 inch I think. I did go up on it when we first got it and I think I broke one of the supports. The metal drooped so a puddle formed when wet. I fixed it by opening the ceiling and putting a piece of wood on top of the too low support oriented front to back and extending from 1 crosspiece forward of the bad one back to the one behind it.. After that when I went on the roof I put a couple of 2x6 planks across the width of the roof and scooted out on a sheet of plywood on the planks.
I meant to work inside the ceiling and run metal joists on each side of that crosspiece but never got around to it.
When installing our one solar panel, I discovered that the rear portion of the roof was stronger built with heavy plywood over the wood crosspiece supports. I ran two of the panel frame screws into that and another two into another cross piece support forward of the plywood. The four good sized screws are adequate - no sign of movement or looseness. I don’t go over 60 mph and go at 55 if traffic permits. I can accommodate another panel the same way but don’t need it - 100 watts is perfectly adequate for our small MH and two of us.
Our MH has a metal roof, less than 1/8 inch I think. I did go up on it when we first got it and I think I broke one of the supports. The metal drooped so a puddle formed when wet. I fixed it by opening the ceiling and putting a piece of wood on top of the too low support oriented front to back and extending from 1 crosspiece forward of the bad one back to the one behind it.. After that when I went on the roof I put a couple of 2x6 planks across the width of the roof and scooted out on a sheet of plywood on the planks.
I meant to work inside the ceiling and run metal joists on each side of that crosspiece but never got around to it.
When installing our one solar panel, I discovered that the rear portion of the roof was stronger built with heavy plywood over the wood crosspiece supports. I ran two of the panel frame screws into that and another two into another cross piece support forward of the plywood. The four good sized screws are adequate - no sign of movement or looseness. I don’t go over 60 mph and go at 55 if traffic permits. I can accommodate another panel the same way but don’t need it - 100 watts is perfectly adequate for our small MH and two of us.
