Search for "solar panel weather damage" returned zero results.Both my dad and I have TT's with solar charging systems. His came with his TT and was installed by the dealer on that TT when it was new. Dad is the 2nd owner. Mine was researched, purchased, and installed myself. He has been having some battery issues lately and recently inspected his panel. He found it to be quite damaged with many cells shorted out, he says he sees black burn marks. He also sees lots of condensation and cracks. His panel is mounted flat on a flat roof and he associates what appears to be weather damage from our cold Montana winters and freeze/thaw cycles. My panels are also mounted flat, but my roof has a slight camber so the panels are not parallel to the ground. He recommended that this slight tilt may not be enough to avoid weather-induced damage and that I should consider covering the TT in the winters. I prefer to leave it uncovered so that the panels maintain the batteries all winter. I do plug in to shore power when the panels are covered in snow and the battery voltage starts to sag so the converter will charge them. I prefer to leave it uncovered, but what do some others think of Dad's advice with respect to the solar panels' ability to cope with weather and freeze/thaw cycles? Thanks.

Searching for that 'exact phrase' is likely to return nothing, yes. I used 'all words in any order' and got some hits, but nothing appeared relevant.I think your dad is right. Continual freezing and thawing, especially with snow to form a dam, will ruin most anything. Panels may have a warranty..perhaps 5 years on physical damage. At 5 years old I had a BP panel short out and reveal a burn spot on the back. I found it as I was wiping the panels down one day, and noticed a really hot spot. The panel was reduced to 50% capacity. BP replaced it, no problem. All they needed was the serial number.Were I to be in your position, I'd tilt the panels to 45 degrees.

I have had mine on my trailer since 2002 and no problems like you are describing so far. But my roof does have some camber to it. Also it might also depend on the quality of the panel, I know there are differences.

You could cover with plexiglass to allow sun but reduce standing water.Or tilt the RV a bit to exaggerate the slope that you already have. Tilt toward the sun for best results. Possibly update the mounts to allow tilting.Anyway put some water up there and see how much pooling you get. Maybe even a rag in the corner would wick away most of the water before it froze.Or maybe your dad's panels had a defect or no bypass diodes?

Thanks for the responses.When I first mounted my panels I kept going back and forth between tiltable or flat and fixed. I settled on flat and fixed since we don't winter camp. But now having dealt with a couple winters and the occasional need to plug in while parked despite having solar has me considering changing the configuration to tiltable. Sounds like a need to protect the panels from weather might be another reason to tilt them.What are some folk's favorite easy methods to change over to tiltable? Currently they are mounted with 6 Z-brackets each. My thought is I just need the ability to tilt in one direction since I only plan on tilting for winter storage. And since it is for winter storage only I just need one tilt position. 45 degree tilt?

Hi,Panels are supposed to be installed 6 degrees from flat so that water will drain from them.Your Dad's panels are done, unfortunately.

Solar panel weather-resistance w/ permanent flat mounting

20 Replies

Almot
Explorer III
May 01, 2014
Most so-called "flat" installs have a few degrees permanent tilt. This is necessary to drain water, but may not be enough to prevent snow accumulation.

Big 200W-250W panel mounted on 4 brackets at 45 deg (one bracket per corner) with a couple of #10 deck screws per bracket in 3/8" plywood CAN be ripped in heavy winds. The effort should be made to locate the rafters and drive screws into rafters, wherever possible. In plywood alone with 2 tilt legs at 45 deg I would use at least 4-6 screws per each of 2 North brackets, and 3-4 screws per each of 2 lower brackets (those at the South end).
2oldman
Explorer II
May 01, 2014
ralphnjoann wrote:
. Unfortunately there were some strong winds that year which ripped the panel from his roof.
I've never had that problem, and I've been through some horrible wind with 6 panels up.

Sounds like there were some mounting "issues."
ralphnjoann
Explorer
May 01, 2014
2oldman wrote:
Searching for that 'exact phrase' is likely to return nothing, yes. I used 'all words in any order' and got some hits, but nothing appeared relevant.

I think your dad is right. Continual freezing and thawing, especially with snow to form a dam, will ruin most anything. Panels may have a warranty..perhaps 5 years on physical damage.

At 5 years old I had a BP panel short out and reveal a burn spot on the back. I found it as I was wiping the panels down one day, and noticed a really hot spot. The panel was reduced to 50% capacity. BP replaced it, no problem. All they needed was the serial number.

Were I to be in your position, I'd tilt the panels to 45 degrees.

I had a friend leave his at 45 degrees +/- for the winter. Unfortunately there were some strong winds that year which ripped the panel from his roof.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 01, 2014
ewarnerusa wrote:
Something like this?
I've not seen any tilting mechanism quite like that.

Panels are usually flat mounted with the support hardware at the ends of the panels.
ewarnerusa
Nomad
May 01, 2014
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CWLEUBA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=38DCPZPLWKJAB&coliid=I8GTXRL6KL5ZA

Something like this?

I thought that the curve of my TT roof would provide adequate tilt to allow water to run off. But now my dad's issue has me worried that my panels are vulnerable to the same type of damage, especially if snow accumulation prevents any liquid water from draining.

Pianotuna, I know you're located up North. Do you have flat mount and/or concern about this type of issue?
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 01, 2014
Hi,

Panels are supposed to be installed 6 degrees from flat so that water will drain from them.

Your Dad's panels are done, unfortunately.
ewarnerusa
Nomad
May 01, 2014
Thanks for the responses.
When I first mounted my panels I kept going back and forth between tiltable or flat and fixed. I settled on flat and fixed since we don't winter camp. But now having dealt with a couple winters and the occasional need to plug in while parked despite having solar has me considering changing the configuration to tiltable. Sounds like a need to protect the panels from weather might be another reason to tilt them.

What are some folk's favorite easy methods to change over to tiltable? Currently they are mounted with 6 Z-brackets each. My thought is I just need the ability to tilt in one direction since I only plan on tilting for winter storage. And since it is for winter storage only I just need one tilt position. 45 degree tilt?
time2roll
Nomad
May 01, 2014
You could cover with plexiglass to allow sun but reduce standing water.
Or tilt the RV a bit to exaggerate the slope that you already have. Tilt toward the sun for best results. Possibly update the mounts to allow tilting.

Anyway put some water up there and see how much pooling you get. Maybe even a rag in the corner would wick away most of the water before it froze.

Or maybe your dad's panels had a defect or no bypass diodes?
campinghut
Explorer
May 01, 2014
I have had mine on my trailer since 2002 and no problems like you are describing so far. But my roof does have some camber to it. Also it might also depend on the quality of the panel, I know there are differences.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 01, 2014
Searching for that 'exact phrase' is likely to return nothing, yes. I used 'all words in any order' and got some hits, but nothing appeared relevant.

I think your dad is right. Continual freezing and thawing, especially with snow to form a dam, will ruin most anything. Panels may have a warranty..perhaps 5 years on physical damage.

At 5 years old I had a BP panel short out and reveal a burn spot on the back. I found it as I was wiping the panels down one day, and noticed a really hot spot. The panel was reduced to 50% capacity. BP replaced it, no problem. All they needed was the serial number.

Were I to be in your position, I'd tilt the panels to 45 degrees.

Forum Discussion

Solar panel weather-resistance w/ permanent flat mounting

20 Replies

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