Replaced a bad decal with a flexible solar panel

[bartlettj]

Link

My decals on the front of my trailer went bad from being parked in the sun, so I stripped them off and replaced with this 100W Renogy flexible panel. I need to finish dressing the cables to keep them from flapping in the breeze. The panel was very easy to install with VHB tape. I mounted the charge controller in the front storage compartment.

[bartlettj]

VHB tape can be removed by using thin wire or fishing line to slice through it and then stretching the vinyl to get the adhesive to release. VHB tape is good to 200F continuous and 300F short term as long as you don't exceed 500 lbs static shear force per 0.5 square inches of tape. I used 5 yards of tape. I'd rather lose a $200 panel then add screws to a front cap and risk delamination since there's nothing behind it to anchor it to.

[camperkilgore]

Almot wrote:
Few pounds of weight on semi-rigid layer of adhesive, when placed on a slope, would attempt to slide down. In some places it can be 115F in the shade, can only imagine the actual temperature of the roof. Summer in the South turns unused caulk in the tube into liquid permanently, flexible plastic becomes brittle and crumbles like potato chips, bungee cords fall apart.

I agree on some of the statement. I live in Fla. and the sun can really be tough on materials, but I have used a vinyl roll up P/U bed cover for over 10 years before I replaced it due to it looking bad and getting cracks in the edges....even though it still kept the water out.

UV resistant materials have increased the life of many products, and glues have improved also. I don't know about the stuff the OP used to adhere the solar panel, I'm too lazy to google it.

Eternabond tape seems to hold up well in our heat, so maybe that stuff he used on the panel will hold up also. Even with the downward slope of the front cap.

[Almot]

Few pounds of weight on semi-rigid layer of adhesive, when placed on a slope, would attempt to slide down. In some places it can be 115F in the shade, can only imagine the actual temperature of the roof. Summer in the South turns unused caulk in the tube into liquid permanently, flexible plastic becomes brittle and crumbles like potato chips, bungee cords fall apart.

[westend]

Almot wrote:
I would not put much trust in VHB alone, on a sloped front wall.

The problem isn't holding power but if you ever have to remove the panel. VHB has incredible bond strength.

[Almot]

300W total could keep batteries charged indefinitely, if it's mostly sunny and you don't use a microwave. Even on partially shaded camps. Never bought anything from Renogy, but this type of panels normally have mounting holes for small screws in the corners. I would not put much trust in VHB alone, on a sloped front wall.

[bartlettj]

Almot wrote:
A little more useful than decals. 20-25 AH a day maybe. Black surface attracts more heat, glued straight to the wall heat is transferred into the trailer. But, I would prefer this to clunky portable panels.

I plan to add more to the roof, but this is working really well to keep my batteries maintained in my driveway/storage. I have 220aH storage capacity, and I'm usually only dry camping 3-5 days at a stretch. Renogy has a 200W panel with the same kind of cells and backer as well. They are very easy to attach with VHB tape and very light. It would also be a great panel to add to a truck canopy roof because it doesn't require brackets.

[Almot]

A little more useful than decals. 20-25 AH a day maybe. Black surface attracts more heat, glued straight to the wall heat is transferred into the trailer. But, I would prefer this to clunky portable panels.

[John_Wayne]

Tape the cables down with Eternabond tape

[Lwiddis]

More useful than a decal!