A few modifications to my 19

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Notable is this replacement is identical except it’s lights are all LED.

The lights on the original board were all LED, too. They just changed from devices (LEDs, resistors, transistors) with pins to surface-mounted devices (SMD).

[MyronL]

I bought a 190 watt solar panel for permanent attachment to the roof and have been busy designing a frame for it. Plan is to attach with 3M VHB #4622 double sided tape.

[MyronL]

It will lie flat but can be angled at 30 degrees when necessary.

[Tin]

Originally Posted by MyronL

I bought a 190 watt solar panel for permanent attachment to the roof and have been busy designing a frame for it. Plan is to attach with 3M VHB #4622 double sided tape.

Looking good Myron be careful next thing you know you'll want a second battle born.

[MyronL]

My solar panel frame support project is nearly ready for install on the trailer roof. Today I decided to do a field test to actually see what kind of road vibration the solar unit will be subjected to. Having serious second thoughts about attaching it strictly using that 3M USB double-sided tape. It would be the 3M #4950 tape. Really don't want to drill holes for bolts in my roof, but now wondering if taking that chance is worth it.

I attached a GoPro to the AC shroud and filmed the back end of the trailer on dirt and on the Interstate. My first impression is that's a hell of a lot of constant vibration for any attachment to withstand over time. I also have learned that Escape is bolting down all their solar panels.

Still putting together my video of the test run. But...
Expert opinions needed.

[FMLNM]

You may recall that ours was the solar panel that blew off and caused Escape to start bolting the panels on.
It was a crosswind that tore the epoxy off the roof...taking along some of the fiberglass..
It might work for a while but....
We were glad we were not in traffic as the flying panel might have caused injury to someone nearby...
Food for thought...

[Patandlinda]

No worries with the semi flexible panels that are still working great and are taped down on the roof . Nothing sticking up to catch any wind . Do not understand anyone ‘s hesitation . Pat

[FMLNM]

Flexible panels taped on the roof with no space between the roof and panel are not an issue. Rigid panels on a raised frame are where the problems start.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by FMLNM

Flexible panels taped on the roof with no space between the roof and panel are not an issue. Rigid panels on a raised frame are where the problems start.

Lensun are semi flexible on a fiberglass backing about 1/4 in thick . Yes rigid panels can be problematic. Reason didn’t go that route especially after reading what happened to you . I was also afraid of the stress on the fiberglass because working on our trailer found really thin area’s on the roof , rigid panels maybe pulling on the roof fiberglass even if bolted through . Pat

[MyronL]

I remember reading about your panels, FLMN. Really bad news there.

I took this picture off the Escape website. It shows the L brackets they use at four corners are the only attachments to the roof. I don't see any bolts there. Can that be possible? Oh, wait, just looked closer and think I now see the bolt-thru. Now wondering how do they make the headliner inside look clean?

My framed panel is a few inches larger and weighs 26 pounds. I decided against those thin, light flexible panels mainly because have read they have a way much shorter lifespan than the framed ones, and, of course, you can't tilt them.

[Centex]

Methinks that (em)bedding with Dicor reduces the risk of through-bolted leaks to an absolute minimum for a very long time. There is the challenge of providing some 'load spreading' plate or washer on the inside of the shell, but as long as the mounts fall inside the OH storage spaces that can be handled with IMO acceptable aesthetics.

I empathize with you having concerns about the pros and cons of various attachment methods, Myron .... robust-ness, longevity, leak potential, aesthetics, etc, etc. We can find reports of both 'success' and 'failure' for virtually any system, and no shortage of proponents for most all of them.

Methinks it finally gets down to what one's personal judgment ('gut feel'?) is when considering the whole challenge from installation effort to long-term use - at some point we just gotta 'pay our money and take our chances'.

Personally, I'm heading down the path of mechanical fasteners (through-bolting bedded in Dicor). But that's just the 'gut feel' that makes me most comfortable - YMMV.

Good luck and Have Fun with your project, following with interest

[cpaharley2008]

If my memory serves me right, back in 2014 Escape sent out bolt kits for the solar panels and owners had to drill holes for attachment. I remember retro fitting my 2014 E21......

[Centex]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

If my memory serves me right, back in 2014 Escape sent out bolt kits for the solar panels and owners had to drill holes for attachment. I remember retro fitting my 2014 E21......

Jim, do you happen to recall what that entailed for the inside of the shell (a washer of some size, or ...)?

Just curious, thanks in advance.

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, washers and bolts were used ........

[Centex]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Yes, washers and bolts were used ........

Thank You, Sir!

[Chris R]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Yes, washers and bolts were used ........

When I did the bolt down fix, I turned the brackets 180 so the holes lined up with the upper cabinet framing. So instead of the bolts just going thru the fibreglass, they also went thru the 1x2 cabinet framing, spread the load better. No visible holes in the headliner outside or inside the cabinets. The hardest part was measuring.

[MyronL]

Here's my short U-tube video of the roof vibration recorded on the road yesterday.

https://youtu.be/X8tyU-2wqqo

[Centex]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Here's my short U-tube video of the roof vibration recorded on the road yesterday.

https://youtu.be/X8tyU-2wqqo

Yep, it's obvious that even with Dexter suspension road-shocks are 'real' and they do get transmitted to every part of the wonderfully rigid shell.

But I gotta wonder how much of the vibration in that video was exacerbated by mounting the cam on the somewhat flexible / resonating AC shroud?

I'm sure I didn't learn anything particularly surprising or unexpected from that interesting test (VMMV).

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Centex

Jim, do you happen to recall what that entailed for the inside of the shell (a washer of some size, or ...)?

Just curious, thanks in advance.

Just for information Oliver uses 1/4 thick Aluminum plate under the outside shell . A good size backing plate . Pat

[Centex]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Just for information Oliver uses 1/4 thick Aluminum plate under the outside shell . A good size backing plate . Pat

Thanks for that interesting bit of info, Pat