About to drill through the roof to mount solar panels- tips?
Just that. :) I've got 200W of solar I'm planning on wiring up today.
Forum Discussion
Hi,
I have installed solar panels both ways. Twice through the refrigerator vent, use a metal coat hanger to help pull the wire from the roof to the area behind the refrigerator, then to the closet where the first controller was mounted, and to the battery in the basement storage compartments.
The other was a Holiday Rambler, with a factory installed solar wiring harness consisiting of 15 feet of #8 wire starting at the battery box and ending 2' from the sidewall and 3 feet behind the antenna on the roof. So I measured this distance, expecting to find a buried electrical box or SOMETHING!. All I found was directions to drill a hole into the roof, reach in and pull out the wire! I drilled a 1" diameter hole into the roof, and was able to locate and draw out the wire through that hole. Then I used some rubber roof sealant and a watertight handy box (like to mount a outdoor receptacle on a house) with a blank cover. The wires are connected with a two screw connector to the back of the box, another connector to the wires coming from the solar panel. Wire nuts inside with black tape. Then I mounted a solar panel OVER the top of this box, so no rain will ever get on top of it.
My brackets are under the corners of the solar panel, made from 6" of 2" angle aluminum. I drilled 3 - 3/16" holes for #10 screws into the roof and a single 5/16" hole for a 1/4-20 bolt into the side of the solar panel. I also used a tamper resistant 1/4-20 bolt to hold it onto the bracket, so it is difficult to remove.
Fred.
I have installed solar panels both ways. Twice through the refrigerator vent, use a metal coat hanger to help pull the wire from the roof to the area behind the refrigerator, then to the closet where the first controller was mounted, and to the battery in the basement storage compartments.
The other was a Holiday Rambler, with a factory installed solar wiring harness consisiting of 15 feet of #8 wire starting at the battery box and ending 2' from the sidewall and 3 feet behind the antenna on the roof. So I measured this distance, expecting to find a buried electrical box or SOMETHING!. All I found was directions to drill a hole into the roof, reach in and pull out the wire! I drilled a 1" diameter hole into the roof, and was able to locate and draw out the wire through that hole. Then I used some rubber roof sealant and a watertight handy box (like to mount a outdoor receptacle on a house) with a blank cover. The wires are connected with a two screw connector to the back of the box, another connector to the wires coming from the solar panel. Wire nuts inside with black tape. Then I mounted a solar panel OVER the top of this box, so no rain will ever get on top of it.
My brackets are under the corners of the solar panel, made from 6" of 2" angle aluminum. I drilled 3 - 3/16" holes for #10 screws into the roof and a single 5/16" hole for a 1/4-20 bolt into the side of the solar panel. I also used a tamper resistant 1/4-20 bolt to hold it onto the bracket, so it is difficult to remove.
Fred.
