Our solar panel blew off!! - Page 2 - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Escape Systems | Water, Waste, Charging & Propane
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-02-2015, 12:04 PM   #21
Commercial Member
 
tractors1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 - "Felicity"
Posts: 2,945
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daubsy View Post
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.
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
tractors1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 12:11 PM   #22
Member
 
Patrol35's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: N. River, New York
Trailer: April 2015, 21 classic
Posts: 29
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.
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_1173.jpg  
__________________
“I may not have gone where I intended to go,
but I think I ended up where I needed to be.”
Douglas Adams
Patrol35 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 03:44 PM   #23
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Our solar panel blew off!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrol35 View Post
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.

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."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 04:16 PM   #24
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrol35 View Post
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.
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
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 07:14 PM   #25
Senior Member
 
FMLNM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: none
Posts: 737
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....
Attached Thumbnails
20150602_171829.jpg   20150602_171707.jpg   20150602_171943.jpg  
__________________
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
FMLNM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 07:16 PM   #26
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 07:28 PM   #27
Senior Member
 
drpaddle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Gig Harbor, Washington
Trailer: Escape 21 'Toto'
Posts: 301
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?
__________________
doug, sooz & the furfoots
www.followtoto.com
drpaddle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 07:35 PM   #28
Senior Member
 
MyronL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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
MyronL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 07:40 PM   #29
Senior Member
 
FMLNM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: none
Posts: 737
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
FMLNM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 07:49 PM   #30
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin View Post
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.
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
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 07:57 PM   #31
Senior Member
 
FMLNM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: none
Posts: 737
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
FMLNM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 08:17 PM   #32
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
Quote:
Originally Posted by FMLNM View Post
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....
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
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 08:29 PM   #33
Senior Member
 
FMLNM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Trailer: none
Posts: 737
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
FMLNM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 08:33 PM   #34
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
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
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 08:57 PM   #35
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by Floating Cloud View Post
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.
I have already spoken to Tammy about adding the solar and she told me they would need 3-4 hours to install . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 09:09 PM   #36
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
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
Loren & Cathy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 09:16 PM   #37
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
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
Loren & Cathy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 09:16 PM   #38
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patandlinda View Post
I have already spoken to Tammy about adding the solar and she told me they would need 3-4 hours to install . Pat
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
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 11:26 PM   #39
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
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
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2015, 11:35 PM   #40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ,, Oklahoma
Trailer: 17
Posts: 840
Scarry If the gel coat pulled off.
gocamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:13 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.