Attaching Solar Trickle Charge to RV Cover
I want to keep my trailer covered in storage AND I want to keep my batteries charged without having to lug them to and from storage. Wondering what methods, if any, folks have used to attach solar pan...
Forum Discussion
Sam Spade wrote:
Another potential downside is that you may not have ANY magnetic material in the shell of your RV. Mine is all aluminum and fiberglass except for the front fenders and the bumpers.
Yeah, in that case you'd have to attach some steel discs to your RV's shell, using VHB tape or simply screwing them in place. Alternatively, in the past I've also attached my panels by placing additional magnets on the inside of the windshield. That actually worked well, but proved to be unnecessary as placement of the panel on the hood was more than adequate to keep the batteries charged, even during periods of sustained inclement weather.
Since the magnets on the panel would automatically be attracted to the steel plates, the size of the plates wouldn't have to be very large - 1-inch diameter ought to be sufficient. If that wasn't inconspicuous enough, the plates could be painted to match the RV's exterior. Placement of the metal discs is easy enough - just place them on the panel's magnets, remove the backing from the VHB, then hang the panel on the selected surface(s) of the RV.
As far as procuring circular plates, steel washers would work just fine. For something without a hole in the middle, you could saw off the appropriate thickness of round steel bar stock or simply Google "steel circular plates" for numerous pre-fabricated discs of various sizes.
If none of those approaches suit you, try contacting Mexicowanderer and see whether he might be willing to sell you a few of his aluminum magnets. :W
