Solar panel on roof?

[FlatBroke]

You guts mount e'm flat or use the angle mounts. PITA to climb on the roof but if you do where do you set the angle, towards the awning? Seems like that is the place my trailer set to the sun the most.

[rocmoc]

RJsfishin wrote:
Quote:
Just think about putting the panels down in a wind storm or during a rain storm should you need to leave
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In a wind or rain storm, leavin wouldn't be on my mind !

Did not mean leave because of the weather but because you HAD to be somewhere. Like work, doc apt and etc.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[RJsfishin]

Quote:
Just think about putting the panels down in a wind storm or during a rain storm should you need to leave
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In a wind or rain storm, leavin wouldn't be on my mind !

[rocmoc]

rjsurfer wrote:
With the cost of panels today if you have enough roof landscape its pretty cheap to over panel the system and not worry about tilting.

It just seems that many people on the forums say that climbing up on the roof chasing the sun gets old quickly.

Ron W.

I agree! Did my install this spring and learned quickly while doing the work I did not want to be going up & down even tho I made tilt brackets out of alum angle. I installed 2 1/2 extra panels to make up for not tilting and cloudy days (720W to 440 amp-hrs). Built the system in three 24v arrays in parallel with two panels in series in each array to offset any possible shading in a campsite (six 120w panels total). Very pleased as the system has tested as designed. With total tree shading & early evening, system was still putting out in MPPT last evening. No more climbing on the roof than necessary for this old guy! Just think about putting the panels down in a wind storm or during a rain storm should you need to leave.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[RJsfishin]

2oldman wrote:
I face east.

Which way does your RV face ??:W

[rjsurfer]

With the cost of panels today if you have enough roof landscape its pretty cheap to over panel the system and not worry about tilting.

It just seems that many people on the forums say that climbing up on the roof chasing the sun gets old quickly.

Ron W.

[FlatBroke]

I have a factory installed 55w panel on roof with a controller mounted inside. I have a 130w, with portable controller, that on prior trailers I bungee to a four foot ladder. Just thought I would mount it on my roof because all wiring and controller is installed. (Yes installed controller and wiring will handle it). Would be nice not to have to set it up each time but I know from experience it works much better if I keep moving it to the sun. Decisions, function over convenience.

[time2roll]

Some tilt is good to shed water and dirt.

[2oldman]

I face east.

[RJsfishin]

Keep in mind, the panels are mounted lengthwise the RV, tiltable to either side, requiring the RV to be parked facing either N or S. If you are forced to park E or W, leave them flat, no biggee, it still works, just not as good.

[RJsfishin]

Correct, for the most part. But on long stays, I leave them in the tilted position while going to get propane and dump & water, They are perfectly solid & safe traveling in the tilted position, but the cables may not like the hi speed travel, and the height may be a problem too.

sch911 wrote:
Always thought they needed to be flat while underway but could be tilted when parked, right?

[RoyB]

My OFF-ROAD POPUP CAMPER roof doesn't support any drilling into the roof area except on the edges.

I will want to do something like these google photos mounting two 100 or 120WATT PANELS on the front of the roof area on either side of the fantastic fan and then a larger 240WATT panel on the rear roof area.

Also my roof use an electric motor to raise the roof when setting up and it already has a 13,500 Roof Mounted Air Conditioner so I will most likely have a weight problem when raising the roof. I am hoping the two smaller front mounted solar panels will be ok and perhaps the larger rear mounted solar panel will have to added after the roof is raise at the camp site. This panel could serve as my portable solar panel to setup on the ground as needed...

I want to mount the ALUMINUM mounted UNISTRUT sections across the roof where needed and bolt these in place on the roof edges or maybe even using a mounting support down the sides of the roof. I have already mounted several things on the side of the roof up near the top with no problems with screws doing damage. I can actually go all the thru the side panel and use bolts with washers and nut on the inside if necessary.

These photos from google search pretty much show what I may have to deal with getting my two solar frames mounted across the roof of my POPUP. Working with the POPUP roof in the down position will make it a piece of cake getting it all mounted.







NOTE The spring loaded sliding nuts inside the UNISTRUT will allow for easy mounting of the panels with their right angle supports.

Roy Ken

[sch911]

Always thought they needed to be flat while underway but could be tilted when parked, right?

[RJsfishin]

There is nothing hard about making them tiltable. The only difference is making some tilt rods, on not making tilt rods.

Yeah, tilting is a pit of a pain. but worth it if not moving for a week or more.

[JiminDenver]

I'll be mounting my solar here soon I hope. I'll squeezed three big panels on the roof trying to avoid the need for tilting.