About to drill through the roof to mount solar panels- tips?

Ah! The refrigerator vent! Sorry, folks. Still new at this. Yes, it's got that and that would be a perfect spot! Right corner and side. Easy access as I'll be mounting the charge controller, battery bank and inverter inside the deeper cabinet underneath the seating area right by the fridge. Perfect. Thanks, all!

My only advice is I would not drill into my roof. :)

Oh, I thought you already had the wiring run. I agree with the others, refrigerator vent. You can buy combiner boxes that mount to the side of the vent.

I'd also suggest what dadwolf2 said - the roof refrigerator vent

Thanks, guys. Great tips. The Lance 815 doesn't have an A/C unit (but the AC wiring for one), so the only wiring up top going in is for the TV antenna. And that doesn't look to be an optimal entry point- wrong corner.

Here's how I've done mine.

1. Very High Bond tape to the roof
2. L-bracket over the tape
3. Drill hole
4. Insert screw
5. Cover everything with Dicor roof sealant to provide a watertight seal.
6. Repeat for each L-bracket mount.

Most RV shops run the solar wiring through the roof refrigerator vent.

I dipped my screw threads into sealant, applied sealant to roof, installed, then topped them off with more sealant (after photo taken).

2oldman wrote:
Yah.. don't drill through the roof!

I guess that's why I posted here first- I'd have to fill the holes with a sealant like I see around the other stuff up top... but isn't drilling 'through' the roof kinda the only option here? That's what I was planning on.

Or maybe that's not necessary simply because the screws don't go that far... err, wait ok I get it now. Drill shallow. They're simple L brackets. Renogy kit. But what about the wiring? I guess that's what I'm thinking of about having to drill 'through'. Thanks.

:)

Yah.. don't drill through the roof!