Too many holes in solar panel frame?
My bad. Changed the design of PV mounts after had already drilled holes in the frame. So the panel is a lot lighter now, and plenty of ventilation :)... Big panel, 60x40", 40 lbs. I can see how it fle...
Forum Discussion
Thanks guys. Sounds like a board under the long side of he panel won't hurt.
Westend, I saw your design long time ago on that list of completed projects here. There wasn't as many pictures in that thread though. Aluminum stock in a small Mexican town is unrealistic, I bring all the supplies with me every time when coming here, same as other fellow gringos. Damn customs this time confiscated all my supply of buckwheat, they have never seen it before and there was no label on the 10-pound bag. Have to eat their rice now.
After looking at many projects I decided to do install similar to Bigfootford and Mr. Wizard (and I think Golden HVAC) - aluminum brackets anchored to the roof, with sides of the brackets bolted to the sides of the frame via nutserts. Check their pics, then it will be easier to understand what I'm talking about.
I am using - as anchoring brackets - 4x4 pieces of aluminum angle, 6" long, 1/4" thick. Each bracket is attached to the roof with 5 or 6 tapping screws #10, and plenty of sealant under the bracket foot. The tilt legs - angle 2x2x1/8" are then attached to the vertical side of the bracket via 1/4" machine screws or pins. Will post the pics when figure out how to link pics from Skydrive.
OTH, your rig seems like a flat roof. My TT is a typical crowned EPDM over 3/8" plywood over rafters, and it's arched side to side and front to middle. Imagine a dome, stretched lengthwise. So any long channels or angles laid on the roof wouldn't conform to the arch.
If I decide later that need more support for brackets on the roof plywood, I can still lay out "struts", channels like yours (or angles) onto the roof from bracket to bracket, and anchor channels between the brackets. But after driving 5-6 screws #10 per each of 5 rackets (4 corners + 3rd tilt leg), that's 25-30 screws per panel, 60screws for 2 paanels - I am afraid that my roof has now more metal in it than wood :)...
Yes, I too was told not to drill anything, never ever, not only in solar panels but also in the roof because all the bad things will happen.
Westend, I saw your design long time ago on that list of completed projects here. There wasn't as many pictures in that thread though. Aluminum stock in a small Mexican town is unrealistic, I bring all the supplies with me every time when coming here, same as other fellow gringos. Damn customs this time confiscated all my supply of buckwheat, they have never seen it before and there was no label on the 10-pound bag. Have to eat their rice now.
After looking at many projects I decided to do install similar to Bigfootford and Mr. Wizard (and I think Golden HVAC) - aluminum brackets anchored to the roof, with sides of the brackets bolted to the sides of the frame via nutserts. Check their pics, then it will be easier to understand what I'm talking about.
I am using - as anchoring brackets - 4x4 pieces of aluminum angle, 6" long, 1/4" thick. Each bracket is attached to the roof with 5 or 6 tapping screws #10, and plenty of sealant under the bracket foot. The tilt legs - angle 2x2x1/8" are then attached to the vertical side of the bracket via 1/4" machine screws or pins. Will post the pics when figure out how to link pics from Skydrive.
OTH, your rig seems like a flat roof. My TT is a typical crowned EPDM over 3/8" plywood over rafters, and it's arched side to side and front to middle. Imagine a dome, stretched lengthwise. So any long channels or angles laid on the roof wouldn't conform to the arch.
If I decide later that need more support for brackets on the roof plywood, I can still lay out "struts", channels like yours (or angles) onto the roof from bracket to bracket, and anchor channels between the brackets. But after driving 5-6 screws #10 per each of 5 rackets (4 corners + 3rd tilt leg), that's 25-30 screws per panel, 60screws for 2 paanels - I am afraid that my roof has now more metal in it than wood :)...
Yes, I too was told not to drill anything, never ever, not only in solar panels but also in the roof because all the bad things will happen.
