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06-02-2015, 12:04 PM
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#21
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Daubsy
Out of curiosity, does anyone know how ETI typically mounts these panels? Are they angled or flat? Raised or flush? After reading about this, mounting becomes a very important design consideration.
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Solar panels need to have backside clearance for cooling of the cells; the efficiency drops off quick it their temp is too high.
__________________
Charlie Y
Need custom storage to your design? Don't drill holes!
www.RVWidgetWorks.com
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06-02-2015, 12:11 PM
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#22
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: N. River, New York
Trailer: April 2015, 21 classic
Posts: 29
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Yes sir, I stand corrected. The 4 bolts are attached to two rails that are epoxied to the top. I certainly typed before my mind was engaged at breakfast this morning. Sorry.
__________________
“I may not have gone where I intended to go,
but I think I ended up where I needed to be.”
Douglas Adams
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06-02-2015, 03:44 PM
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#23
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Our solar panel blew off!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrol35
Yes sir, I stand corrected. The 4 bolts are attached to two rails that are epoxied to the top. I certainly typed before my mind was engaged at breakfast this morning. Sorry.
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Thought so Larry. Thanks for clarifying. For a moment there I thought someone at ETI was drilling through that beautiful shell to mount it.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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06-02-2015, 04:16 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrol35
Yes sir, I stand corrected. The 4 bolts are attached to two rails that are epoxied to the top. I certainly typed before my mind was engaged at breakfast this morning. Sorry.
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So if I get this straight - the rails that the panel is bolted to are now epoxied on roof ? No more 3 m tape ? And the rails are almost now part of the fiberglass ? Pat
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06-02-2015, 07:14 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: none
Posts: 737
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Where our solar panel used to be...
Here is what is left after the solar panel blew off. It LOOKS like the rails were in epoxy...or some kind of goop....
__________________
Fran & Dave Albuquerque, NM
2013 to 2022 had a 2008 Escape 5.0 Classic
2011 Frontier Crew Cab Short Bed Pro4x
Sold both 7/22
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06-02-2015, 07:16 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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That is correct Pat.
Don't think tape would get a solid bond due to the curvature of the roof. The square tube they use doesn't sit flat, epoxy fills in the gap where tape wouldn't. At least for the bigger panels mounted in the rear.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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06-02-2015, 07:28 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Gig Harbor, Washington
Trailer: Escape 21 'Toto'
Posts: 301
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I'm not sure, but it looks like maybe the rails were very successfully bonded to the gelcoat--but the gelcoat pulled away from the fiberglass underneath it. Is that possible?
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06-02-2015, 07:35 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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If that's true it is a clear argument favoring a mechanical attachment over any adhesive one.
__________________
Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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06-02-2015, 07:40 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: none
Posts: 737
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Can't really tell yet. Took the photos standing up through the escape hatch...need to get a ladder and go up to get a closer look....don't have a ladder....
__________________
Fran & Dave Albuquerque, NM
2013 to 2022 had a 2008 Escape 5.0 Classic
2011 Frontier Crew Cab Short Bed Pro4x
Sold both 7/22
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06-02-2015, 07:49 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
That is correct Pat.
Don't think tape would get a solid bond due to the curvature of the roof. The square tube they use doesn't sit flat, epoxy fills in the gap where tape wouldn't. At least for the bigger panels mounted in the rear.
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Now I am concerned . Looking at comments after ours and seeing pictures of his roof . Originally this was my concern for not having panel installed on my roof . Now I have to rethink this - maybe not getting solar on roof . Really don't want holes either for as Myron suggested - installing that way - I believe chances for water intrusion . Now I don't know what to do . Pat
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06-02-2015, 07:57 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: none
Posts: 737
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We have not contacted Reace yet so perhaps folks thinking about getting solar should not get too upset until we find out what was used on our trailer. There might be a new technique...ours was installed in summer 2013...
Will try to call tomorrow....assuming they are back in the office after the rally last weekend...
__________________
Fran & Dave Albuquerque, NM
2013 to 2022 had a 2008 Escape 5.0 Classic
2011 Frontier Crew Cab Short Bed Pro4x
Sold both 7/22
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06-02-2015, 08:17 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FMLNM
Can't really tell yet. Took the photos standing up through the escape hatch...need to get a ladder and go up to get a closer look....don't have a ladder....
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Are there any stickies around you? They are very likely to have ladders. They will gladly loan one when you say you lost your panel.
Yes, without a closer look, hard to tell what is there. Did they do this in one day or two and you left with it? Wonder about set-up time.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
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06-02-2015, 08:29 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: none
Posts: 737
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We don't know what the setup time might have been. The previous owners had brought it to eti for routine maintenance and then decided to buy a new one. We bought it sight unseen from NM. We asked Reace to add a few things..including solar...and we picked it up a month or so later...
__________________
Fran & Dave Albuquerque, NM
2013 to 2022 had a 2008 Escape 5.0 Classic
2011 Frontier Crew Cab Short Bed Pro4x
Sold both 7/22
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06-02-2015, 08:33 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
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This is the first time we have heard about an epoxied panel lost, I believe. Wonder if there are others. This is definitely something to look at.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
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06-02-2015, 08:57 PM
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#35
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Floating Cloud
Are there any stickies around you? They are very likely to have ladders. They will gladly loan one when you say you lost your panel.
Yes, without a closer look, hard to tell what is there. Did they do this in one day or two and you left with it? Wonder about set-up time.
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I have already spoken to Tammy about adding the solar and she told me they would need 3-4 hours to install . Pat
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06-02-2015, 09:09 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Trailer: 2015 21ft Escape "Spirit of the Plains", 2014 GMC Sierra with max tow package
Posts: 1,100
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I would have assumed that it was screwed to a filler strip embedded in the fiberglass. I buy epoxy and hardener by the gallon and it has never failed. But what it is fastened to has and will fail. It looks like the outer layer that it was glued to failed. I suppose that would be the gel coat. Would adding the panel after the fact have anything to do with it instead of having it installed during the initial build? It will be interesting to see what Reace's opinion is on this. Keep us posted. Loren
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06-02-2015, 09:16 PM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Trailer: 2015 21ft Escape "Spirit of the Plains", 2014 GMC Sierra with max tow package
Posts: 1,100
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Just read the label on the epoxy and slow hardener that I use and it says give it 24 hours. I have other additives for it and have done fiberglass repairs with excellent results. Loren
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06-02-2015, 09:16 PM
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#38
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patandlinda
I have already spoken to Tammy about adding the solar and she told me they would need 3-4 hours to install . Pat
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If the gel coat pulled off, that's a whole different thing. Wonder if anything can be done and whether there have been other panels lost that way. They will have to find out from Reace.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
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06-02-2015, 11:26 PM
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#39
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,545
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I am thinking that maybe removing the gelcoat in the area to be bonded might help, with the resin adhering to the resin, but really, the resin should bond to the gelcoat quite good.
Interesting to hear Reace's take.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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06-02-2015, 11:35 PM
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#40
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ,, Oklahoma
Trailer: 17
Posts: 840
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Scarry If the gel coat pulled off.
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