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Advise on Solar Mounts ....

LifeInsideJack
Explorer
Explorer
We scored three 250w solar panels in exchange for some work. This is great as this is how we like to pay for things.

Before you get all jiggy on that I'll tell you that Cat is an Electrical Engineer that works for a solar company and we've both been in solar for over 9 years. We have the knowledge and experience of building farms and even smaller off-grid set ups.

The problem is that we haven't installed any on RVs.

What brackets have you used? What did you like? What do I need to be aware of?

Our RV, Jack, likes to go fast. He's easily pulling 75 on the freeways when that's reasonable. So that's a consideration also.

We are having the roof resealed next week and while they are up there they are going to attach the panels to the roof and seal the mounts.

I have to order mounts.

What am I purchasing?
Our website: www.lifeinsidejack.com

Our Motto: Love. Joy. Hope. Peace. Freedom.
32 REPLIES 32

Searching_Ut
Explorer
Explorer
The mounting looks good to me. Given your roof design, it appears you'll probably have shading issues on one or more of your panels during parts of the day depending of course on where and how you're parked. To maximize your daily energy harvest you'll want to make sure your wiring and controller is set up to account for that.
2015 Ram 3500 Laramie CTD, 4X4, AISIN, B&W Companion Puck Mount
2016 Heartland Bighorn 3270RS, 1kw solar with Trimetric and dual SC2030, 600 watt and 2k inverters.

LifeInsideJack
Explorer
Explorer
^^^ Yep, that's Jack.

Thank you !!
Our website: www.lifeinsidejack.com

Our Motto: Love. Joy. Hope. Peace. Freedom.

westend
Explorer
Explorer
'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton

LifeInsideJack
Explorer
Explorer
Alright. Well the roof was resealed and the panels were mounted and they are huge up there. I used 6 brackets per panel just because of the physical size of the panels.

As soon as I figure out the photo hosting thing here I'll be happily sharing the pictures.
Our website: www.lifeinsidejack.com

Our Motto: Love. Joy. Hope. Peace. Freedom.

Ductape
Explorer
Explorer
I ran aluminum angle the full length of the panels and screwed it through all the roof trusses and used adhesive. That's the base part. Made my own panel brackets from angle to mount the panels on the base part and connected the two parts on one side with stainless hinges for easy maintenance.

Certified for any wind the MH can stand, LOL.
49 States, 6 Provinces, 2 Territories...

Almot
Explorer III
Explorer III
Snowman9000 wrote:
Solar panels are not flying off RV roofs. Don't overthink it. The airflow over the top is not hugging the roof.

When you say strap it to the AC, I am not following. The AC shell is flimsy ABS plastic. Anything that pulls on it will pull it apart.

Correct on both points. Tying anything to A/C cover doesn't sound like a solution. There are slots in the metal tray of A/C, but I don't think this should be done either. There is no need if you attach the brackets well.

Panels are not flying off RV roofs if properly mounted. Proper mounting implies having rigid enough metal and big enough footprint on each bracket, with at least 12 #10 screws total per 250W panel. Store-bought brackets are rarely big, considering 250W panels, and material is either 1/16 steel or 1/8" aluminum, a lot of flex. 250W panel is a monster. Good luck with those cheap brackets that they have ordered.

Good off the shelf solutions don't exist not because solar on RV is "still a new thing" - older posts on the list of installs here date back to early 2000s - but because manufacturers don't design RV for solar. They don't know how and don't care to. There are no after-market products that would just click in place.

Snowman9000
Explorer
Explorer
Solar panels are not flying off RV roofs. Don't overthink it. The airflow over the top is not hugging the roof.

When you say strap it to the AC, I am not following. The AC shell is flimsy ABS plastic. Anything that pulls on it will pull it apart. They self destruct on their own in 10 years.
Currently RV-less but not done yet.

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
"I'll photo up what I have when it's finished."

I look forward to reviewing your photo ups upon completion of your solar project and particularly to the strapping of the AC unit to the roof so you can hear something even if it started to go loose thus risking a lawsuit.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

LifeInsideJack
Explorer
Explorer
hypoxia wrote:
I just use Strong Ties type L brackets. Cheap & available at Lowes, HD, Menards etc.. Home made are fine also, not rocket science.

Your speed isn't that important, you may be driving into a 50 knot headwind so not a good idea to mount them vertically.:B


That's a good point. I found some less expensive brackets online so I ordered them up. The roof is that typical plywood with snow coat on it. Nothing really sexy.

What I think I might do is screw these down into the roof, seal them up real good and then cable strap them to the A/C unit. This way should something want to get loose it will won't leave the coach. I'm certain I'd hear something if it even started to go loose but I never want to risk a lawsuit.

IT seems that solar is still a "new thing" and there isn't much of a standard on it yet. I'll photo up what I have when it's finished.

Thanks,
Our website: www.lifeinsidejack.com

Our Motto: Love. Joy. Hope. Peace. Freedom.

hypoxia
Explorer
Explorer
I just use Strong Ties type L brackets. Cheap & available at Lowes, HD, Menards etc.. Home made are fine also, not rocket science.

Your speed isn't that important, you may be driving into a 50 knot headwind so not a good idea to mount them vertically.:B
Jim

2007 Monaco Signature Noble III ISX 600HP

Almot
Explorer III
Explorer III
This site is about technical answers to technical questions. Mostly.

Without details of the roof structure it will likely be shooting in the dark though. One thing I am sure of, is that people doing roof re-sealing in RV shop don't usually know much else. I wouldn't trust them with mounting panels on my cheap trailer.

Almot
Explorer III
Explorer III
The best (IMHO): 2 piece Z-bracket, similar to that of ColoNative but a 2-piece. One piece of alum angle is bolted to the panel bottom, another piece is bolted to the first piece back to back, to make a Z. Adjust it to height by drilling the hole (between two pieces) where needed.

The easiest - buy a 2-piece Z-bracket online (don't remember where, google it up). Though they are often mere 1/8" thick (you might need 1/4", see notes below), with inadequately small footprint, and only one bolt holding 2 pieces together.

The foot of the lower bracket is attached to the roof with 2 or 3 sheet metal stainless screws #10. 3 screws if you don't hit the rafter, 2 screws if you use 6 brackets per panel vs 4 per panel. Put plenty of Dicor self-leveling sealant under the brackets and cover the screws heads as well.

I designed my system to be tiltable and used single-piece alum angle bolted to the side of the frame - not to the bottom. Into the frame I installed stainless rivnuts, so that the locknut under the frame becomes unnecessary.

Tilt is not as popular as it used to be, because panels are cheap and you can get more wattage instead. I would not bother with tilt, considering 750W array in CA.

AM Solar products are expensive. Have a look at their single-piece brackets in the link above, to get an idea how a Z-bracket looks like - and then make it RIGHT, of 2-pieces.

Sometimes brackets have to be 4"-5" tall, to clear plumbing vents - in this case, and considering monstrous size of 250W panel, I used 1/4" thick alum angle.

Places like onlinemetals.com will sell you any size and any length alum angle and will cut it for you for a nominal fee.

EDIT:
You failed to mention but it looks like your "RV" is a motorhome. On a of motorhome the shape, placement and attachment of brackets to the roof becomes quite different. In this case, disregard 60-70% of the above info, including mine.

Joel_T
Explorer
Explorer
Check out AM Solar for the tiltable mounting feet.

http://amsolar.com/rv-solar-panel-kit/mounting-accessories
Lance 15.5 2285 w/rockers Ram2500 4x4 CC 6.4 hemi 6spd w/3.71
Two 6v Crown 260ah / TM-2030 monitor / SC-2030 controller / Two 160w panels / EMSHW30C surge protector / 2000w inverter / TST507 TPMS

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
I have the standard 4-corner mounts sold by solar suppliers. I don't make my own anything. My advice is to get those.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

BPRescue
Explorer
Explorer
No help here, but I have thin film and use mastic. No roof penetrations and no wind sheer at all...