GoPower Panel Catastrophic Failure

[gklott]

Originally Posted by Shearwater

A little concerned as we have ordered 2 panels on our 5.0 due in late July. If this is the same sort of failure, it would seem to indicate that ETI has not yet addressed this weakness in the panel frame.

Understand your concern. Recommend reinforcing your front panel as we did.

73/gus

[wolffman]

This is how the front panel came mounted on our 21C from ETI (2/5/2021 production date). Looks like this is how they addressed the issue; it's 3 feet back. Do you think I should still reinforce?

[gbaglo]

Saw on the news the other day whole communities where houses had no roofs, or were totally destroyed, by a wind.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Holy smokes! Well, so - guessing that powerful wind came from behind when parked instead of from the front when on the highway.

it'd sure be interesting to know if this was when underway or when parked.

IF the former, this could be an example of 'uplift' due to extreme low-pressure over the rearward portion of the panel when underway, rather than high pressure from air forced under the panel. Aerodynamics can be tricky stuff.

Personally, after reading about the failure reported by Gus and noting the '50#/sf' wind specs on many panels, methinks that the effort to install a stout AL angle along both long edges of RV rooftop panels (with NO fastener holes at the critical midpoint where bending-moment is greatest) is worthwhile 'anticipatory mitigation'. At least that might help reduce the risk of 'frame-buckling failure', whatever the aerodynamic forces in-play, and the cascade that occurs from there.

[Shearwater]

Originally Posted by Centex

it'd sure be interesting to know if this was when underway or when parked.

Per the owner, happened while they were underway, discovered after pulling into a rest stop.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by wolffman

This is how the front panel came mounted on our 21C from ETI (2/5/2021 production date). Looks like this is how they addressed the issue; it's 3 feet back. Do you think I should still reinforce?

I believe this has occurred on at least two 21NE’s not 21C’s. On the 21NE the configuration makes mounting the panel further back more challenging.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

I believe this has occurred on at least two 21NE’s not 21C’s. On the 21NE the configuration makes mounting the panel further back more challenging.

Yes, and it's an unanticipated design flaw. Mounting a solar panel on the leading edge of the roof is just asking for failure. Trailers shouldn't leave the factory with such a setup IMHO. Escape needs to come up with another solution, or nix the 2nd panel entirely on the 21NE.

[Effie]

For a while now I’m making the point that Escape as well as other manufactures don’t plan for solar panels when designing their trailers. This should be part of the design just like the ventilation devices on the roof, the awning or other factory installed components. Solar is not a rarity as it was twenty years ago, I’m guessing more than half of new owners opting for it. I understand they don’t want to change the shell every year but Escape had a chance to do it few years back when the mold was redesigned, just as they did to accommodate the electric awning.

[TTMartin]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Yes, and it's an unanticipated design flaw. Mounting a solar panel on the leading edge of the roof is just asking for failure. Trailers shouldn't leave the factory with such a setup IMHO. Escape needs to come up with another solution, or nix the 2nd panel entirely on the 21NE.

Nix the 2nd panel entirely on the 19 too.

[thunderworks]

Out of an abundance of caution, I added a 1X 1”, 48” long piece of aluminum angle to the leading edge of my panel on my 19. I only have one, rear panel, so it was probably unnecessary, but for the hour of time and $20, I figured it couldn’t hurt. I throw time and money at increased safety without much thought.

[gklott]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Yes, and it's an unanticipated design flaw. Mounting a solar panel on the leading edge of the roof is just asking for failure. Trailers shouldn't leave the factory with such a setup IMHO. Escape needs to come up with another solution, or nix the 2nd panel entirely on the 21NE.

Our daughter received an email from ETI on April 17, 2021. From that email:

"This is an IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE regarding your trailer if it is an E21NE fitted with a front mounted solar panel. This does not affect rear mounted panels on the E21NE. This does not affect panels installed on the E17A, E17B, E19, E21C (known as the E21 prior to 2020) or E5.0 (also known as the E5.0TA)."
...
"We advise customers with Front Mounted Solar Panels on our E21NE to refrain from travelling until a solution is in place (we expect to have a solution available to mail out within 2 weeks).
If you must travel, please consider removing the panel and await further instruction before reinstallation."...
...
"We are currently finalizing remedies. These remedies include stiffening the solar panel leading/trailing edges and deflecting airflow. We have validated a solution and are in the process of final confirmation testing, after which we will procure and mail out to all affected customers. The solution will not require you to remove the front mounted solar panel but will require a ladder access to the panel."

Glad to hear that ETI is finding a solution. We remain pleased with their support.

73/gus

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by gklott

Our daughter received an email from ETI on April 17, 2021. From that email:

"This is an IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE regarding your trailer if it is an E21NE fitted with a front mounted solar panel. This does not affect rear mounted panels on the E21NE. This does not affect panels installed on the E17A, E17B, E19, E21C (known as the E21 prior to 2020) or E5.0 (also known as the E5.0TA)."
...
"We advise customers with Front Mounted Solar Panels on our E21NE to refrain from travelling until a solution is in place (we expect to have a solution available to mail out within 2 weeks).
If you must travel, please consider removing the panel and await further instruction before reinstallation."...
...
"We are currently finalizing remedies. These remedies include stiffening the solar panel leading/trailing edges and deflecting airflow. We have validated a solution and are in the process of final confirmation testing, after which we will procure and mail out to all affected customers. The solution will not require you to remove the front mounted solar panel but will require a ladder access to the panel."

Glad to hear that ETI is finding a solution. We remain pleased with their support.

73/gus

Good to hear.

[Rossue]

This is how AM solar mounts a panel on the front of a 21C(Claim 2 Fame never had one lost). Notice how it is well back from the front edge of the trailer. If due to differences of the trailer this cannot be done then it probably shouldn't be done. A band-aid on a potentially fundamental engineering mistake may not be the best solution.

[Dcboyd]

We put a proper band aid on our New 21C before it ever left on its first trip. 1 1/2” x1 1/2” x 1/8” alum angle fastened with VHB and 1/8 alum sheet metal screws. Took only a few minutes to install. It’s not coming off.
A real piece of mind, also knowing it’s done correctly and not by some trailer jackleg.
One of many upgrades.

[sherminator]

My brother lost his front panel completely somewhere between Utah and Oregon - I don't know the details because I have only shared a couple of text messages with him, but I do have a couple pictures. He wrote that it was windy, but not any worse than what he had towed in before, and that he heard some rattling that he thought at the time was in the back of the car. He stopped for gas, and the saw two wires hanging off the side of the roof and no panel.

[oldwave]

I suspect the second panel should be a flexible flush mount as it will not catch the wind.. if I were Escape I’d get a wind tunnel evaluation of the design, I suspect it would show the Venturi effect on this panel. This is the second one I’ve heard about.

[M_canada]

Here is the front panel of my 21NE that was delivered a few weeks ago. I think it was out of production and then modified, so I’m not 100% sure if this a new design or a retrofit, but some people might be interested in seeing it.

[cpaharley2008]

M canada,
You can now update your avatar to reflect your Escape ownership........

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by M_canada

Here is the front panel of my 21NE that was delivered a few weeks ago. I think it was out of production and then modified, so I’m not 100% sure if this a new design or a retrofit, but some people might be interested in seeing it.

I see the panel is at an angle. Are the metal reinforcing pieces attached to the front and rear of the panel frame just resting on the roof or do they somehow attach?

[Dcboyd]

Of interest here.