Taping down a solar panel on a PAINTED fiberglass roof?

[Naio]

I learned the hard way that I have a pretty extreme allergic reaction to fiberglass dust. I had a pin hole in the roof of my van, and remediation cost me thousands of dollars and a year of camping.

I'd been thinking that this meant solar was not an option for me, because tying down the panels would involve drilling holes in the roof. But then I read here about a couple people using extreme sticky tape to hold down solar panels. I wonder if that might be an option for me.

The catch is, my roof has been painted with rustoleum.

The roof is also slightly curved in both directions, so I would need supports under the edges of the solar panel. I could screw the panel to the support, but I would need to tape down the supports.

Do you think this is reasonable for me to even consider, with a flat 1 x 2 meter panel?

There's somebody in the place where I am right now who bought a bunch of them for a house and is selling the extras, so I could get a good deal.

Thin film solar might be more practical in conforming to the roof, but I understand it has problems with cupping and overheating. And of course it is quite a lot more expensive.

I'm not sure whether I would be willing to risk having someone remove the paint from the places where the panel supports would tape down. Maybe with a liquid paint remover, the van emptied out and closed up tight, posting it down thoroughly afterwards before opening any doors.... Do you think taping to the rustoleum would work?

I'd love to hear your folks' thoughts on this before I leave the area where the guy has the cheap solar panels :-).

[Naio]

jdc1 wrote:
How do you plan to run the wiring if not through that rooftop fiberglass?

Theres a conveniently-located openable window, and the batteries are right below the window.

[jdc1]

How do you plan to run the wiring if not through that rooftop fiberglass?

[pianotuna]

Naio,

First make sure you are not allergic to the 3 m VHB tape.

Next install so that there will be no "lift" created by air flow over the panel(s).

You may wish to consider Air Tabs to interrupt the air flow.

Have a piece of wood made created that is flat on one side and follows the curve of the roof on the other. Use a LOT of VHB tape to secure the panels.

Use eternabond to secure the wire to the roof.

[Naio]

I'm wondering if I would be able to get the paint off in the vicinity of the brackets without triggering my allergies.

I don't really know how fiberglass works. Does the gelcoat contain glass fiber?

The reason the seller painted my roof was that the gel coat was the wrong color, not so much that it was breaking down, I think.

[Twomed]

Just scratch through the paint where the brackets go. Use 3m 5200...a liberal puddle, place your panel, after it dries cover the top of the bracket and over the edges cover your original puddle. Properly cured...follow directions it will never move. Use the quick set version.

Try a test piece on something first, it also comes in toothpaste tube size...if skeptical. I put a rivet through each of my brackets 12 years ago...waste of time.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Marine-Adhesive-Sealant-5200-Fast-Cure/?N=5002385+3293241048&rt=rud

[bgum]

I suggest you forget the whole thing. Your allergy is the controlling issue.

[TurnThePage]

Maybe pay somebody to fiberglass in some mounts for your panels. This way the panels could be raised a bit to avoid transferring heat to the roof, and no fiberglass to get inside.

[Naio]

I don't mean to sound like I'm not that interested in solar. It has been my plan from day one. But when this happened with the fiberglass, I thought I might have to abandon my plan.

When I say I wouldn't deal with the fiberglass dust situation again for solar, I mean I wouldn't do it voluntarily for anything. And if it happens accidentally I'm more likely to sell the van then to try to clean it up again. I could just sell it to a normal person who doesn't react to microscopic amounts.

But I don't want to sell my beloved van! And I do hope I can put solar on it in some way. Suggestions?

[Lwiddis]

“who bought a bunch of them for a house and is selling the extras, so I could get a good deal.“

These solar panels are nominal 12 volt?

[Naio]

2oldman wrote:
Screwing down works well and keeps hot panels off the roof. You can't wear a mask?

A mask only helps while doing the work. The previous pinhole wasn't even made by me, but the microscopic amount of dust it introduced into the van meant that I had to wash or throw away everything I had in the van. (Putting clothing and bedding through the washer dozens of times didn't work.) I had to open up electronic items and hose down the circuit boards.

I never expected any sort of problem like this. I didn't even know it was possible.

It was a huge amount of work and I'm not willing to repeat it just to get a solar panel.

[2oldman]

Screwing down works well and keeps hot panels off the roof. You can't wear a mask?