Stick to Lance TPO roof?

My Outfitter roof is also TPO, I think.

I mounted my 120W solar panel with Z-brackets and thread serts into the aluminum box tubing under the skin. The wiring went into a PVC LB fitting inserted into a hole drilled in the roof.
Everything liberally coated with Dicor afterwords and the LB fitting completely filled with Dicor.

No leaks since installed in 2005.

Cool!!!

My inner mother hen got disturbed when I thought 2 of the most helpful, knowledgeable people heareabouts were at odds, for no good reason.

Now I'm happy...y'all happy? Hope so.

Thanks so much to you both for your help.

Joe

okan-star wrote:
:h

bka0721 wrote:
Joe, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having someone else do something like this. While you will have some, chastise you in that "you will save SO MUCH money doing it yourself!" Which in reality, is true. But, connecting something wrong, you can destroy some very sensitive and expensive equipment. What seems simple to some, like swapping an engine, wiring a home, making stock investments, just becomes too much for many. Plumbing is something I can do, but I avoid. I never have the right part or never seem to get that final pipe, sweated without getting a pin hole leak. But I would not hesitate to frame, wire, finish a home or swap out an engine. So bullies take all forms, in grade schools and on forums. Just because it was easy for someone to install their own solar, another might not feel that way.

Just be careful as there are a lot of people that will sell and install solar for more than it is worth and lack quality in their installation. Pay some more, to get a good installation. Going cheaper usually means the same.

b

bullies ? :h

You?

No. You were not even someone I was thinking about.

But there are people that brow beat someone that makes a choice not to do something themselves, often with Solar Installation. More often on the Tech Forum and more often the same people.

The nice thing about the Truck Camper Forum, the typical question is; "How can I do this?" Where on a couple of other Forums, on RV.net, you will see more often the question; "Where can I get this done?"

You see this in all types of projects and businesses. Otherwise Lowes would not have the market they have for supplying the DIY'r and the small contractor helping out the person that might sweat when seeing a hammer.

We all have different skill sets, as well as putting our time into what best serves them. Sometimes it pays to have someone else do it so one can take their limited free time to go and enjoy this time.

b

Thanks
I dont want to ,and I`m sure I cant talk you into something you dont want to do yourslf, but the wiring is this simple
Buy a kyocera kd 140sx-ufbs panel thats 140 watts and has a junction box from somewhere like northern arizona wind and sun , theres a + and a - terminal inside the j box hook up some 2 conductor (like romex) outdoor wire to the terminals , put a plug end from lance on the other end , plug it into the socket on the ref. vent , find the other end of the lance pre- wire , probably at your battery area ,hook one wire to + and one to- on the charge controller like this one marked solar/ battery , and run two wires + and - to the battery . Keep the positive and the negitive wires all the way the same and put a automotive type thermal auto reset fuse 10 amp on the + wire in between to charge controller and the battery,
Not for everybody I`m sure , but maybe you thought it was more involved than that
The guys at northern arizona wind and sun are very helpfull and can sell you what you need ,panel - wire - controller... Ive found there prices to be good when Ive bought from them
Good luck

Nah, Okan-star.

He didn't mean you. Your pics and suggestions were wonderful, and I should have thanked you for them before now.

I'm thinking I will mount my panel myself, following your instructions, but let some smart guy wire it.

Thanks!

Joe

:h

bka0721 wrote:
Joe, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having someone else do something like this. While you will have some, chastise you in that "you will save SO MUCH money doing it yourself!" Which in reality, is true. But, connecting something wrong, you can destroy some very sensitive and expensive equipment. What seems simple to some, like swapping an engine, wiring a home, making stock investments, just becomes too much for many. Plumbing is something I can do, but I avoid. I never have the right part or never seem to get that final pipe, sweated without getting a pin hole leak. But I would not hesitate to frame, wire, finish a home or swap out an engine. So bullies take all forms, in grade schools and on forums. Just because it was easy for someone to install their own solar, another might not feel that way.

Just be careful as there are a lot of people that will sell and install solar for more than it is worth and lack quality in their installation. Pay some more, to get a good installation. Going cheaper usually means the same.

b

bullies ? :h

Another thing you might want to keep in mind is heat. All of the panels I have installed required an air space underneath to prevent overheating. Solar panels are essentially black glass and get very hot in sunlight. At best, this significantly reduces their output, and at worst could cause issues with the soft membrane underneath.

bka0721 wrote:
Joe, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having someone else do something like this. While you will have some, chastise you in that "you will save SO MUCH money doing it yourself!" Which in reality, is true. But, connecting something wrong, you can destroy some very sensitive and expensive equipment. What seems simple to some, like swapping an engine, wiring a home, making stock investments, just becomes too much for many. Plumbing is something I can do, but I avoid. I never have the right part or never seem to get that final pipe, sweated without getting a pin hole leak. But I would not hesitate to frame, wire, finish a home or swap out an engine. So bullies take all forms, in grade schools and on forums. Just because it was easy for someone to install their own solar, another might not feel that way.

Just be careful as there are a lot of people that will sell and install solar for more than it is worth and lack quality in their installation. Pay some more, to get a good installation. Going cheaper usually means the same.


b

2X - Pick your battles know your limits! I'm personally debating/researching solar and really don't know If Im willing to take it on myself…..may go the windmill route!!

T

Joe, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having someone else do something like this. While you will have some, chastise you in that "you will save SO MUCH money doing it yourself!" Which in reality, is true. But, connecting something wrong, you can destroy some very sensitive and expensive equipment. What seems simple to some, like swapping an engine, wiring a home, making stock investments, just becomes too much for many. Plumbing is something I can do, but I avoid. I never have the right part or never seem to get that final pipe, sweated without getting a pin hole leak. But I would not hesitate to frame, wire, finish a home or swap out an engine. So bullies take all forms, in grade schools and on forums. Just because it was easy for someone to install their own solar, another might not feel that way.

Just be careful as there are a lot of people that will sell and install solar for more than it is worth and lack quality in their installation. Pay some more, to get a good installation. Going cheaper usually means the same.

b

Thanks, Okan-star!

Again, that which seems simple to you (ignoring plug and installing heavier wiring), does not seem simple at all to me.

Reckon I will have to have it done.

Again, thanks all.

Joe