Our solar panel blew off!!

[dfandrews]

Here is what ETI installed on my new 17 (based on the photo they sent; I haven't seen it yet):


150 W Solar Panel & 30 Amp Charge Controller| SRV-150-30A


$620 on Amazon for the whole kit: controller + panel + acc.
Amazon.com: Samlex America SRV-150-30A All-In-One Solar Charging Kit with Controller: Automotive

[Jim Bennett]

Remember to factor the exchange rate when comparing costs. Just sayin'.

[Klem]

I bought this set plus 2 sets of mounting brackets. Very happy with it. Amazon

Renogy 200 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Bundle Kit
by Renogy
132 customer reviews | 60 answered questions
Price: $324.99 & FREE Shipping


Renogy Solar Panel Mounting Z Bracket 4 Units

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Yes, if it is not too hard to do, may help me decide on which way to proceed.

Here ya go...

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

Here is what ETI installed on my new 17 (based on the photo they sent; I haven't seen it yet):


150 W Solar Panel & 30 Amp Charge Controller| SRV-150-30A


$620 on Amazon for the whole kit: controller + panel + acc.
Amazon.com: Samlex America SRV-150-30A All-In-One Solar Charging Kit with Controller: Automotive

That is a good price . Escape quoted me 800. . I already paid 50 . In build for per solar . So total would be 850 from Escape . So even with exchange 620 is good and you can install how you want . Pat

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

That is a good price . Escape quoted me 800. . I already paid 50 . In build for per solar . So total would be 850 from Escape . So even with exchange 620 is good and you can install how you want . Pat

$620 USD is $817 CAD. Unless you wanted to put in the effort for some special type way to mount, for me it would be a no brainer to go with the Escape installation.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

$620 USD is $817 CAD. Unless you wanted to put in the effort for some special type way to mount, for me it would be a no brainer to go with the Escape installation.

For me 620 is a great price for same product . Also it has already been discussed there are a lot of other options even cheaper out there . As for the installation I do not feel comfortable with the installation . I feel there are better ways to install those panels .I have been investigating this subject for some time now . I really don't want to go into it . For now I have chosen to just forget installing panels on my roof . My money , my trailer , my choice . Pat

[Ron in BC]

Karen's original comment was that it was an $850 upgrade to go from the 95 watt to the 160 watt panel.

My comment was that there are less costly ones available and at $215 there's a lot of room for the exchange rate and still coming out far ahead.

Ron

[cpaharley2008]

Thanks Charlie, I'll measure tomorrow.

[cpaharley2008]

Well in preparation for Niagara I pulled BlackJack out and washed and while on the ladder checked the solar mounts. My street side was about to pull off, the curb side was tight. So and hour later I have now installed the "fix" and have 4 pretty caps inside my liner. The bolts included in the kit were not quite long enough to use the washers, but it is a lot stronger now than it was an hour ago.

[MyronL]

"My street side was about to pull off..."

Holy cats... on a relatively new trailer? Just got a feeling really happier with my smaller, portable, solar unit I keep on demand in the truck bed.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Well in preparation for Niagara I pulled BlackJack out and washed and while on the ladder checked the solar mounts. My street side was about to pull off, the curb side was tight.

Wow, that was close considering the amount of damage one would do coming loose and smashing into the vehicle windshield behind.

Good on you for checking before you set off. I hope people get their panels mechanically fastened before a major unfortunate incident occurs.

Ron

[FMLNM]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Well in preparation for Niagara I pulled BlackJack out and washed and while on the ladder checked the solar mounts. My street side was about to pull off, the curb side was tight. So and hour later I have now installed the "fix" and have 4 pretty caps inside my liner. The bolts included in the kit were not quite long enough to use the washers, but it is a lot stronger now than it was an hour ago.

Sounds like you managed to get in on the tail end of the problem installations...glad you caught it in time!!

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Well in preparation for Niagara I pulled BlackJack out and washed and while on the ladder checked the solar mounts. My street side was about to pull off, the curb side was tight. So and hour later I have now installed the "fix" and have 4 pretty caps inside my liner. The bolts included in the kit were not quite long enough to use the washers, but it is a lot stronger now than it was an hour ago.

Wonder if the traffic side had loosened up due to big rigs blowing by? ETI said that of the 3 of 500 installed none of them were on a 21.............

[sturski]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

The bolts included in the kit were not quite long enough to use the washers, but it is a lot stronger now than it was an hour ago.

Mine were just the opposite (on a 19), the shoulder on the bolt extended above the bracket. I bought 4 shorter bolts and everything is fine.

My trailer is fairly new (2015) and the mounting looked very solid. I'm fine with overkill, having it glued and screwed works for me.

[berickso]

Mine has started to separate on the passenger side, back end.

[LeonW]

Our solar panal is as solid as a rock on our 1 year old 21. None the less, yesterday I screwed up my courage (drilling holes in the trailer shell is a scary proposition for me), put on my official Escape Trailers Industry cap, and installed the brackets. Everything went fine, and per the instructions I covered the tops of the bolts and the horizontal part of the brackets with liberal amounts of the caulk ETI provided.

We have spent just over 100 nights in the trailer, and 30 to 40 of those nights have had temps below freezing. I am a bit concerned that on cold nights the bolts will sweat as the cold bolts come into contact with the warm air in the trailer. I happen to have a small can of 'brush on electrical tape' so I have been thinking about brushing it on the fender washers, and the nurses that are on the inside of the trailer.

Does anyone with more knowledge than me have an opinion about this? I don't know if it would make any difference as far as condensation in the trailer. And it would make it harder to check if the bolts start to loosen. On the other hand, the nuts are nylock, and I couldn't hold the top of the bolt steady anyhow (unless I remove copious caulk I put on the top)

I wonder if on newer trailers ETI puts bolt in from the inside before they install the headliner? That way this wouldn't be an issue.

[Ron in BC]

I think the chance of the bolts loosening is somewhere between slim to none.

Anything on the interior ends would help with condensation to some degree. The thicker, the better. If they're inside the cabinet I'd use a heavy dollop of caulk.

Ron

[tractors1]

If it turns out to be an issue, I'll buy some foam weatherstripping tape from Loews. That has adhesive on the back side. Used to use it between the cap and bed on my pickup truck, about 1 1/4 inches wide by 1/4 inch thick.

[LeonW]

Originally Posted by LeonW

I happen to have a small can of 'brush on electrical tape' so I have been thinking about brushing it on the fender washers, and the nurses that are on the inside of the trailer.

Dear lord sometimes I hate "spell check". I meant to say "nuts" but I probably mistyped a letter and spell check "fixed" it for me. I don't have any nurses in my trailer, and if I did, I wouldn't cover them with "brush on electrical tape".