What Solar Panel Mounts?

[allen8106]

As I continue down my path of adding solar to my 5ver I bought 4 used 130 watt Kyocera panels today. I would be interested in hearing about mounting systems you have used with success on your RV. I have a 2010 Jayco 5ver with the typical 3/8" plywood roof.

[westend]

A lot of guys don't know this but a screw fastened through Eternabond tapes seals itself as it is turned through the tape. If you use an electric tool (impact driver, drill) to turn the fastener in fast, the material of the tape will even encapsulate the head of the screw. There's a video on the Eternabond website showing this feature.

[Strabo]

Thanks so much for the ideas, I wondered what was best.

[Joel_T]

I mounted AMSolars taped feet with well nuts and laid eternabond over that. It can't leak, I can tilt either way and the panels aren't going anywhere.

[unbob]

Ed_Gee wrote:
More and more people are using 3M double sided tape instead, though. This precludes having any holes at all in the roof. I have never heard of a solar panel mount failure in using double sided tape, either.

I had mine attached with 3M VHB tape - and it failed. But for a very good reason - F5 tornado with winds clocked at 210mph. Everything on the roof blew away - PV panels, vents, everything. The only reason the entire rig didn't blow away was that the wind was hitting from the front - if side-wind, it would have tipped-over and rolled until totally destroyed. I was very lucky to have survived that one!

So, yes, 3M VHB is great stuff - but it can and will fail given the worst conditions.

[Ed_Gee]

AM Solar uses 3M VHB 4950 tape for Solar panel mounts.

AM Solar panel tape

[CA_Traveler]

Ed_Gee wrote:
AM Solar also points out that they have been using double sided tape for panel mounts since the mid 90's and have never lost a panel. They also use a nice custom cut stainless steel bracket instead of aluminum..... much stronger and more versatile, too.

There are a variety of tapes so which one or ones? How do they clean and prepare the roof?

I used 3M 4941 VHB on painted aluminum and #10 SS screws and Dicor. Cleaned with alcohol.

[Ed_Gee]

AM Solar also points out that they have been using double sided tape for panel mounts since the mid 90's and have never lost a panel. They also use a nice custom cut stainless steel bracket instead of aluminum..... much stronger and more versatile, too.

[hedge]

If you read the instructions on Am-solar's page they say they say they include screws with their mounts for rubber roofs, they use 'tape-only' on fibreglass roofs.

AM Solar Mounts

[nkgunner]

AM solar uses 3M tape for their mounts with no screws..I plan on using that method of mounting my panels..

http://amsolar.com/

[RJsfishin]

Never fear,.....photo above shows the pre dry install. After all holes drilled and SS screw loosely installed, then brackets were removed, debris swept away, and Dicor installed. Takes more time, but a clean install.

[hypoxia]

I just use galvanized L shaped Strong Ties from Lowes, Home Depot or wherever.
Strong Tie

[Johnny_G1]

ktmrfs wrote:

RJsfishin wrote:
Its as simple as this....and tilted to either side

nice install, but in Oregon, well for anywhere for that matter, I'd be concerned about the exposed screw heads. from experience they are NOT watertight, so it is highly likely that water will get underneath.

Personally I put dicor or similar on the screw heads and all the way around the bottom of the bracket.

Dicor under the bracket before you tighten them down is sufficent,it will squeeze under the bracket and around the screws and will be water tight,installed 100s that way and never seen one leak yet and you need very little Dicor.

[ktmrfs]

RJsfishin wrote:
Its as simple as this....and tilted to either side

nice install, but in Oregon, well for anywhere for that matter, I'd be concerned about the exposed screw heads. from experience they are NOT watertight, so it is highly likely that water will get underneath.

Personally I put dicor or similar on the screw heads and all the way around the bottom of the bracket.

[westend]

Aluminum angle pieces are de rigueur for mounting panels. Most guys use two angle pieces in each location, one attached to panel and one attached to RV roof. This allows for easier removal and installation. The "Z bracket" is an alternative. Some of the better installations I've seen use aluminum struts and the modules are attached to the struts.
If attaching hardware into 3/8" plywood, it's a good idea to fasten through plywood into a roof truss, if possible. Toggle bolts also work but you'll have bigger holes and more work to use them. Inserts are another alternative.

FWIW, I have a bigger 235 module and a 4-way tilting mechanism on my aluminum roof. Besides the sealants, it is attached with 3 fasteners through 2 X "U" channel, each fastener through the roof and into a truss.

The examples of member installations that CA Traveller is kind enough to maintain a list of, pretty much cover the different types of installations.