solar panel mounting April 23, 2019, 12:55:14 pm The better half and I where talking about how to mount one or more panels to the room of our 01 MB. When we had Vince check the roof back in Dec, he mentioned just using the same Loctite PL sealant that they use to seal the room seams as an adhesive to stick down the panels. I was thinking about fabricating some mounts to raise the panels a bit and just having some feet to attach to the roof. The wife was thinking about using the existing screw holes in some of the vent covers to secure stuff too, but I'm thinking that might not be necessary. I believe the 3M FC stuff that Larry likes is an actual marine adhesive. My thought was to use that to attach the feet. The wife countered with, how would you remove it? What are the thoughts from the Hive Mind? How do most of you attach panels? I don't want to add any new penetrations to the roof.Sean
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #1 – April 23, 2019, 01:08:53 pm "How do most of you attach panels?" I let AM Solar worry about such mundane issues!
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #2 – April 23, 2019, 01:14:25 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - April 23, 2019, 01:08:53 pm"How do most of you attach panels?" I let AM Solar worry about such mundane issues! If only they wheren't all the way on the other coast. I've heard good things about them. Is there an equivalent here on the east coast?
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #3 – April 23, 2019, 01:22:42 pm Quote from: henness - April 23, 2019, 12:55:14 pmThe better half and I where talking about how to mount one or more panels to the room of our 01 MB. When we had Vince check the roof back in Dec, he mentioned just using the same Loctite PL sealant that they use to seal the room seams as an adhesive to stick down the panels. I was thinking about fabricating some mounts to raise the panels a bit and just having some feet to attach to the roof. The wife was thinking about using the existing screw holes in some of the vent covers to secure stuff too, but I'm thinking that might not be necessary. I believe the 3M FC stuff that Larry likes is an actual marine adhesive. My thought was to use that to attach the feet. The wife countered with, how would you remove it? I have added dozens of solar panels to LD roofs, using the same method as AM Solar, and never had a comeback.The solar panel's feet are embedded in 5200 FC and two #8 x 1" stainless-steel sheet-metal screws are driven through the feet's pre-drilled holes into the roof. The screw heads are then covered in 5200 FC.Solar panels weight little and put little stress on the roof, even when driving.3M 5200 FC is the real deal, a premium marine adhesive/ sealant. Not sure why you would want to remove an already installed panel but it can be done using a vibratory tool with a razor edge cutter.Any new screw holes in the roof, if properly sealed, should not leak. Take at look at your LD's roof and you will find a hundred or more sealed screw holes, provided by the Mothership. It isn't an issue if done right.Larry 2 Likes
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #4 – April 24, 2019, 02:21:39 am I mounted our panels using AM Solar's Rocker feet and VHB tape. No screws. Been on for 10 years so far.Chuck 3 Likes
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #5 – April 24, 2019, 02:48:49 am Quote from: Chuck & Carla - April 24, 2019, 02:21:39 amI mounted our panels using AM Solar's Rocker feet and VHB tape. No screws. Been on for 10 years so far.VHB is strong and long lasting, several forum member have used this method in the past.AM Solar used to do the same, now they screw them down. Guess they had some failures.LD has always screwed the solar panels down, along with bedding the feet in polyurethane adhesive.Larry
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #6 – April 24, 2019, 11:09:37 am Like Chuck, I mounted a 100w solar panel on my daughter's Lance camper with VHB tape and a single stainless screw per foot. I then covered the edges of the foot and the screw head with Dicor. The screw-per-foot was more for my piece of mind than actual strength or bonding. Many miles, years, and outside storage and no leaks or looseness noticed.I've used 3M 5200 on many boat applications and it is REALLY strong and waterproof. It is, however, even messier to work with than Dicor and hard to remove from fingers. Double gloves are recommended and don't use it anywhere that might need to be removed.
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #7 – April 24, 2019, 02:00:35 pm Quote from: Blueox25 - April 24, 2019, 11:09:37 amLike Chuck, I mounted a 100w solar panel on my daughter's Lance camper with VHB tape and a single stainless screw per foot. I then covered the edges of the foot and the screw head with Dicor. The screw-per-foot was more for my piece of mind than actual strength or bonding. Many miles, years, and outside storage and no leaks or looseness noticed.The screw per foot is a good idea and is what AM Solar went to. VHB tape does fail, LD use it for securing end caps for years and we know how well they stay in place.If not using screws, I would be more confident of using 3M 5200, instead of he VHB tape, to glue the panels to the roof, having never seen a failure of the 5200, when the surfaces have been prepped properly. It's tough stuff.Larry 1 Likes
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #8 – April 30, 2019, 05:37:36 pm Quote from: Larry W - April 23, 2019, 01:22:42 pmI have added dozens of solar panels to LD roofs, using the same method as AM Solar, and never had a comeback.The solar panel's feet are embedded in 5200 FC and two #8 x 1" stainless-steel sheet-metal screws are driven through the feet's pre-drilled holes into the roof. The screw heads are then covered in 5200 FC.Solar panels weight little and put little stress on the roof, even when driving.3M 5200 FC is the real deal, a premium marine adhesive/ sealant. Not sure why you would want to remove an already installed panel but it can be done using a vibratory tool with a razor edge cutter.Any new screw holes in the roof, if properly sealed, should not leak. Take at look at your LD's roof and you will find a hundred or more sealed screw holes, provided by the Mothership. It isn't an issue if done right.LarryDo you put the screws anywhere in the roof, where you want the panel, or do you try to hit a wood roof frame under the aluminum? (If you do, how do you find a frame?) When I replaced the bath vent with a fantastic fan, the ply under the aluminum seemed to only be about 1/4 or less, & I could not see what else was there. Maybe foam insulation? Lazymike.
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #9 – April 30, 2019, 08:27:12 pm LazyMike; just lightweight fiberglass material. You should be able to see small white headed brads or nails inside that hold up the ceiling panels. So I would say that's where the wooden cross trusses are. Translate that onto the roof by measuring from openings (vents). RonB
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #10 – May 01, 2019, 11:45:04 am Thanks a lot. We recently purchased our 2000 TK 23.5 & we dry camp a lot, so will start on the panels. LazyMike
Re: solar panel mounting Reply #11 – May 01, 2019, 12:03:41 pm Quote from: LazyMike - April 30, 2019, 05:37:36 pmDo you put the screws anywhere in the roof, where you want the panel, or do you try to hit a wood roof frame under the aluminum? (If you do, how do you find a frame?) When I replaced the bath vent with a fantastic fan, the ply under the aluminum seemed to only be about 1/4 or less, & I could not see what else was there. Maybe foam insulation? Under the sheet aluminum is a layer of half inch plywood. In between the roof joist is fiberglass insulation, in pre March/April 2008 builds, rigs built later were insulated with styrofoam sheets.I use #8 -3/4" stainless steel sheet metal screws to secure solar panes, short because I don't want to hit a joist or any wiring in the roof.The screw primarily ensures the foot of the solar panel is firmly bedded in the 3M 5200 FC, the adhesive is easily capable of holding the panel in place once cured. Larry 2 Likes
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