Solar Panel Mounting on Northstar Pop Up (UPDATE)

Update

I have reached out to Northstar twice this week and got no response. I did send a direct email to Rex this afternoon, also without response. They could have been closed for Good Friday.

I will update when I get any info

Bill

Thanks for all of the replies.
I have reached out to Northstar and am awaiting a response. I will post their answer once I receive it.

SidecarFlip: Don't be a hater on the VHB tape! I have it on my motorhome and it works better than even I imagined. I tried to remove one of the Z brackets after installation and I couldn't budge it! My only concern with using it in this application is that the laminate construction of this type of roof might lead to failure, pulling the outer skin apart!

More to follow

Bill

Fishbreath, do yourself a favor and talk with Rex at Northstar and he will tell you exactly how to mount your solar panels. I always was able to catch him around 3 to 4 o'clock central time. Do it right the first time, talk with Rex.

justafordguy wrote:
What about using the flexible panels with the adhesive back?

A lot problems with the flexible panels when attached directly to the camper roof. No personal experience but many others have here:
http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/10808-ultimate-flexible-solar-panels-successes-and-warranty-replacements/

Problem with tape on a TPO roof is wind resistance on the solar panel can pull the TPO away from the subsurface, plywood in my case. A small tear from there would lead to major roof repairs and loss of panels. If you're sticking directly to an aluminum or fiberglass roof, that's another story.

The flexible panels aren't spaced above the roof like the rigid panels so, if applied correctly, there should be exposed to minimal wind force.

What about using the flexible panels with the adhesive back?

I'm following along as well. I prefer a physical mount over tape however.,

Fishbreath wrote:
Greetings

I just purchased a used Northstar 850SC pop up and I am preparing to mount a solar panel to the roof.
The internet has very little information regarding the roof, although I do know that it is some type of laminate skinned with aluminum. There is also supposed to be a perimeter of solid wood around the roof structure. Some info suggests that the roof interior is foam skinned with aluminum, which would not be a good structure to mount a solar panel.
It appears that Nortstar factory mounts their panels onto roof racks or sport bars that go across the roof.
In past installations, I have used 3m VHB tape with excellent results. I would use tape again if I knew that the roof structure was solid and would not flex under wind load, which could lead to roof failure.
I have reached out to Nortstar and am awaiting a response but would appreciate any input from knowledgeable Northstar owners

Thanks

Bill

The roof of my Adventurer is all plywood, I "thought" all Northstar campers were that way but I'm not certain enough to warranty your solar install. Based on previous experience you will hear back from Northstar, and most likely with all the answers you need. My factory panels, and the panels I've added afterward are all mounted to a bracket and that bracket has stainless wood screws through the TPO directly into the plywood. Eternabond under the screw and mounting feet and Dicor over the screw head.

I am going to use the wood framing around the edges or even going down on the side wood boards at the roof level to use for mounting my solar panels...

Across the front of my POPUP roof I want to mount two 100WATT or 120WATT panels using the aluminum UNISTRUT mounting. This will not be screwed into the roof except on the the very edge or use a bracket to tie to the wood sections just below the roof line... No holes going into the roof area at all...

google image

I also want to do the same thing across the roof at the rear of the POPUP roof and perhaps mount a larger solar panel across the roof... Much like shown here except I will be using Aluminum Unistrut again.


This is the Aluminum Unistrut Mounting Concept. You can loosen the bolts and move the connections anywhere along the unistrut section.


The wiring will be routed to the edge of roof and gain acess inside the trailer using a PVC Electrical box with lid on both sides of the outside wood wall. Drilling a large hole thru the cent of each PVC Electrical will allow to bring in the wiring and be able to use the PVC tubing to route where the wiring needs to go to...

The problem I may run into may be the added weight from the panels will be too much for my 12VDC Powered Roof raise motor to lift the roof. If this is going to be the case then I may have the front two 100W or 120W panels be a portable setup unit which I can use on the ground or place on the roof after it has be raised and locked into position.

In my case I would not hesitate in a heart beat to remove my roof mounted Air Conditioner setup for another Fantastic roof fan mount unit to fill the resulting 8" x 8" hole left by removing the air conditioner. Being we most of the time camp off grid with no hook ups the Air Conditioner never gets used anyway. I can't remember the last time I had it on. Have no idea it even works now or not haha...

This is my panning game plan at any rate for my OFF-ROAD POPUP haha...

Roy Ken

Following..... I too have an 850SC with no roof rack.