How are your solar panels mounted?

[Twistedlarch]

How do you all have your panels mounted on your roof? Does anyone have a set up that allows you to angle in any direction to maximize sun exposure?

Thanks
Brian

[ajriding]

I have done 4 RVs with solar. None did I use screws, I just personally do not like more holes that can leak.

I have had great success with the 3M VHB tape.
The first projects I used more tape than necessary.
On the last project, which is on a steel roof, I assume galvanized, I used aluminum angle iron pieces cut from a long Homedepot piece. They were the width, about 18 inches, of the panel. I taped 4 inch pieces on the ends and stuck that to the roof. I attached the panels off the roof for cooling airflow and room for the cables. I left the sides completely open, the angle iron was only on the ends. *
You will want to screw the panels to the brackets before committing to sticking it down to ensure there are no gaps.
I used self-tapping screws to attach the panel to the bracket.
My panels are similar or exactly like the post before me. Be sure not to put the screws too high and run through the panel itself.
If your surfaces is metal, or gel coat fiberglass then the tape works fine. On rubber, then maybe thats why guys screw to the roof.
I wanted to mount them on a hinge and use a locking pin so I could rotate them up to face south. I had no intention of aiming them constantly, but just to get an angle to capture max sunlight from the south. I would have to park east-west facing one direction as I planned only one hinge - that's if I wanted morning to evening setup.
As is I mounted them flat, two 100 w panels and is enough. In Spring to Fall the batteries recharge by morning. I run a big electric chest compressor fridge, and minimal lights/charging.

The VHB tape will come off with a heat gun and some pulling, or using a scraper, but I have never had any issues with it coming un-stuck otherwise.

* If your roof is not completely flat, few are, then do not screw the panel to the angle iron (L-bracket) with all the screws, just one screw per side to hold it all, then when on the roof this allows for the bracket to lay flat, important for the tape to be perfectly flat, then screw the remaining screws in

[bpounds]

Zee brackets, set in a puddle of dicor, screwed to the roof, one screw per bracket if I could get it over a truss, 2 screws on the few where I couldn't, then dicor covering the screw heads. This is for mounting on a EPDM roof.

[Vintage465]

Mine are screwed down using 2 stainless steel 1/4 screws per bracket(4 per panel)into trusses. Where I couldn't get into a truss I used "Well Nuts" and stainless 1/4" bolts. I don't tilt panels, for the roof's sake, I don't really like unnecessarily getting on the roof. Some day I may set up a tilt set up my set up doesn't meet my needs. I'd have to be more comfortable with the durability of my roof if I set up a tilt mechanism. So far it meets my needs.

[travisc]

I have adapters to tilt mine and for years never used them

[babock]

I made my own brackets out of aluminum angle bolted together. They get screwed into the roof. I was able to get a roof plan so that each mount is screwed through the roof into a wood rafter. Dicor under the foot of each bracket and around the entire foot once screwed down.

Instead of tilting my panels. I just put up a 4th panel to account for the loss that flat panels give. The less I go up on the roof, the less chance I have of falling off the roof.

[pigman1]

I have 8 brackets on each panel that hold to the panel with 1/4" stainless screws/knobs. Since each panel can be raised in any of the 4 primary directions, I've adjusted the brace lengths for summer and winter in the southern part of the US and the same for the northern part of the US. Not exactly optimum for each panel, but by using approximations I'm probably pulling at least 90% out of each panel. Of course this means I have to be aware of the orientation of the bus and need to park it as close to the cardinal headings as possible. Since we boondock a lot and don't put the panels up unless we'll be in one place for 3-4 days or more this method works well for us.

[beemerphile1]

Z brackets and screwed to the roof

[12thgenusa]

Mine are able to tilt in four directions. No running up and down. I just set them at the "optimum" angle for the latitude and month. I generally don't tilt if I'm going to be some place less than three days. It's more advantageous to tilt the further north you are. Some of us don't have the space to just add one more panel.

[Ivylog]

I took advantage of the raised side rails on my DP to tilt 7 of the 9 I installed.

[pianotuna]

Mine are riveted to aluminum angle. The angle is held to the roof by six screws per panel.

[Lwiddis]

Four 2 bolt brackets for each of my three panels. Not interested in tilting...up and down a ladder repeatedly. Three panels sufficient so far. Will add a fourth someday. I wired for four panels. Hint - wire more than sufficiently.

[Ed_Gee]

My panels are mounted flat on roof .... mounting brackets fastened to roof with 3M double sided tape. Mount brackets have option to add tilt bar for the panels if I am parked for extended period.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

That's the reason why I did not mount mine on the roof.

Besides, I want my campsite under trees and tucked in the forest -- I can move my panel and need not the RV.

[CA_Traveler]

I read that 7 times on the roof is the average for panel adjustment. Most just add one additional panel and they are good to go.

[jdc1]

Who wants to climb up there to move it every hour? You'll end up wrecking your roof eventually (retired general contractor). You'll get 6 hours+ of great sunlight even in winter if they are mounted as they should be.