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 might see using tape if you've got a solid material roof, like sheet metal or fiberglass."

yes, might? no. 100% the VHB tape is effective on a fiberglass or metal roof. rubber roof, then you have to use other methods. The tape may or may not stick to rubber, but issues arise as to how well the rubber is stuck to the roof. I have not used any method on a rubber roof and don't claim anything about rubber roofs, just fiberglass and metal, nothing more.
Clean the surface before applying. It will take up to 24 hours for the bond to reach full strength.

If someone has not used VHB tape and just has opinion, then take it at that.

Having used VHB tape for a lot of applications, I can attest that it is quite adequate. I have removed it many times also; it takes a lot of force to pull it free. I bet you could hold the panels on with as little as two thumb size pieces. I have always had to use a 1500 degree heat gun to melt the chemical bond to remove pieces, and then it takes a scraper or a lot of pulling.
If you drove down the road at 110 mpg with a person hanging on the panel for dear life it would probably still hold just fine. I think the roof would rip off before that tape let go.
I'm not sure why there is opinions of its strength, but I just wanted to clear it up, as it is a great resource for RVers. Tuck it away in your bag of tricks.

Of course, other times might call for screwing things in, and many here seem to be big fans of screws into fiberglass or metal, and that is fine. Each has his preference.

[cowolter]

Used the Renogy mounting kit along with well nuts and some rv sealant.

[FoldPV]

bpounds wrote:

here it is.

Thanks this is the panel,
I uploaded with your Imgur link!


It's not the best way to put them.. it isn't aerodynamic but neighbors are always friends!

[deltabravo]

Twistedlarch wrote:
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?

The panels are screwed to my roof with Dicor sealant under and over the feet (mounts)

I'm running panels and mounts from a company in Oregon: www.amsolar.com

They have the best mounting system I have seen, and they have stuck with that mounting system for many years. I had them install my panels in 2011. This video shows my system.

[Twistedlarch]

Thanks! I've got lots of ideas to work with! 🙂

I think I'm going to mount them flat with the ability to easily remove them in case I'm in a situation where the sun won't hit the trailer.

Most of my camping is done in Oregon's High Desert, so the tree canopy's usually allow for plenty sunlight.

[babock]

ajriding wrote:
Yes, all those holes. All roof penetration points are potential leak points.

The tape, if applied correctly, will not fly off.

I am guessing you never did this on a rubber roof have you?

[Old_Days]

I also put a lot of non self leveling dicor under the renogy brackets and use 2 screws per bracket. We travel in Wyoming and Montana and it seems we always have very strong cross winds. Have seen semi trucks tipped over a few times.

[bpounds]

FoldPV wrote:

BTW Can I post the photo of my neighbor's RV

You can post photos. There is a sticky around here somewhere that explains exactly how. I just use a link to my photos storage account elsewhere, but the forum does have a storage solution that works too.

On edit: here it is.
Forum hosting help and pics FAQ

[FoldPV]

bpounds wrote:
Zee brackets, set in a puddle of dicor, screwed to the roof

My neighbor set 1 PV over the roof in the same way of your photo, but a little higher.. I prefer your solution for aerodynamic traveling noise!
I think that you can also use Portable and Foldable Photovoltaic solution instead.

BTW Can I post the photo of my neighbor's RV

[campigloo]

I mounted mine using the supplied Z brackets on a crowned roof. I couldn’t find well nuts and didn’t really like the looks of them anyway. I used the crimp style hollow wall anchors and lots of Dicor. That was 3 years ago and probably 35,000 miles and they’re still rock solid.

[Huntindog]

I have towed a few times in high wind. A 45 mph headwind + 65 mph towing speed in those conditions = 110 mph... Not sure any tape would work

[Yosemite_Sam1]

3M tape may not work on some RV roofs that have rubber coating that deteriorate over time or from extreme sun exposure.

Yup, my former RV's roof rubber coating peeled off when I use my pressure washer.

[bpounds]

I might see using tape if you've got a solid material roof, like sheet metal or fiberglass. I think that is a small percentage of RV's, but maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, if you've got any kind of rolled out roof, like EPDM, using tape will only be as secure as the bond between the rubber roof and sub-roof. Which as we all know, from seeing bubbles and even sails when that bond fails, it is not a reliable bond over the entire surface.

Also don't think your only concern is the wind created by travel. You may see high lift forces any time the wind blows, while parked, as well as side winds while under way.

[ajriding]

Yes, all those holes. All roof penetration points are potential leak points.

The tape, if applied correctly, will not fly off.
It is the perception that the panels are getting hit with highway-speed winds at the leading edge, but this is not so. The actual turbulance on the roof does not work like that fortunately.

3M describes the VHB tape as a chemical bond, not just a really sticky tape. It works and works well.

I am not a big fan of more holes in the roof. I have done repairs on leaky roofs so that has swayed my opinions. It is miserable replacing rotten wood in a ceiling or roof.

Pet peeve is the RV factory using all 36 holes on a simple tiny roof vent and screwing in 36 screws into the roof just to hold the little thing on. Use 8 screws and some Lap sealant. Lap sealant is magic stuff.

[babock]

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

You mean like the AC, the fridge vent, the TV antenna, the two or more flip up vents...those holes?

A few holes for the solar panels are nothing in comparison. And, you won't be having the solar panels fly off and embed themselves in somebody's windshield.