Roof solar panels - How are they fixed? - 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 03-11-2023, 01:42 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: St Eustache, Quebec
Trailer: 2023 Escape 5.0TA
Posts: 3
Roof solar panels - How are they fixed?

Hello,

I am wondering if Escape Trailer is drilling holes in the roof and then screw the 4 legs or the legs are glued? Not a fan of drilling holes in fibreglass.
Any water infiltration or damages experienced with the way they are installed?

Thanks!
Tundra19 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2023, 01:59 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Ron in BC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,728
ETI experienced a number of failures in units bonded on and switched to bolted on brackets.

Some folks are still installing panels by bonding them on.

Personally I'm a fan of through bolted brackets. The trailer has countless holes for the installation of equipment and hatches etc. Properly sealed they're a non-issue.

Spanning the interior space and having the bolts come through in the overhead bins eliminates having to look at them.

I now prefer flexible panels held on by Eternabond tape but that's just a personal preference.

Ron
Ron in BC is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2023, 03:01 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Iowa Dave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Benton County, Iowa
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic Number 6, pulled by 2018 Toyota Highlander
Posts: 8,217
Holey Moley

As long as the holes are encircled with butyl tape and compressed by the pressure of the screw or bracket I don’t think you’ll have any leaking. As observed, there are lots of holes in the fiberglass. We installed the snaps for the screen room on the E21 a couple years ago. 22 new holes with butyl tape on each. No leaks.
Iowa Dave
Attached Thumbnails
E70D7B66-2DDE-4210-A367-B6286CD8EB6B.jpg  
__________________
Ain’t no trouble jacking a double Burma Shave
Dave
Iowa Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2023, 03:10 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
MyronL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
What Ron said -- except for liking those thin flexible panels. Wouldn't trust them to last more than a few years and, if necessary, bigger pain to replace than what I bolted on my roof.
Attached Thumbnails
solarUPrear.jpg  
__________________
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 online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2023, 03:37 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Ron in BC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,728
Well, I never put all my eggs in one basket.

Longevity, their's or mine.

Ron
Attached Thumbnails
IMGP0033_resize.jpg   03-01-2007 11-06-08 PM_0003_resize.jpg  
Ron in BC is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2023, 06:30 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Mike G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Trailer: 2012 E19
Posts: 1,724
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC View Post
Well, I never put all my eggs in one basket.

Longevity, their's or mine.

Ron
How many stations can you pull in with that pole-mounted panel? I mean, it really makes me think of an antenna! Interesting idea.
__________________
Losing weight puts one at much greater risk of becoming thin.
Mike G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2023, 09:23 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
HABBERDABBER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Madison area, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19 Chevy 2012 Express 3500 Van
Posts: 1,723
It all works, to varying degrees

Thru bolts are no issue if sealed properly, and those seals are maintained. Boats, trailers, all manner of items have bolted on items, with no issue, some immersed and under the waterline. But a bolted, raised panel a top a roof becomes an airfoil in travel down the road, with it's potential "fly-away" hazard. It's best to thru-bolt that for maximum security, and not rely on an adhesive.

Taping a flexible solar panel has numerous advantages. The only disadvantage I'm aware of is the panel may be subjected to higher temperatures, with panel performance and panel materials degraded. Having an empty space below a raised panel can allow cooling . I assume all that matters in 10-20 years of use, if ever.

6 of 1, and half a dozen of the other. It can come down to esthetics, costs, preferences, needs, convenience and faith.
HABBERDABBER is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2023, 09:33 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Mike Lewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,096
I wonder if professional RV solar installers ever install mounting rails the length of the RV, then mount the panels on the rails. That way you can expand or change the panel configuration without drilling additional holes. Hmm..
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
Mike Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2023, 10:33 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Ron in BC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,728
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike G View Post
How many stations can you pull in with that pole-mounted panel? I mean, it really makes me think of an antenna! Interesting idea.
No, no, no. If you want a good OTA signal go up, way up.

Ron
Attached Thumbnails
26-05-2022 2-10-25 PM_0022_resize.jpg  
Ron in BC is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2023, 11:09 PM   #10
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,104
I installed a larger panel on mine, which required raiising it a few inches to clear the body fiberglass...

here, you can see the original silver rails for the 2014 vintage 160W panel, and the black extrusion pieces above that hold my larger 350W panel



side view, where you can see my panel extends farther forward than the original (in fact, I had to remove the rooftop vent chimney for the old absorption fridge)



top view of new panel:


this 350W panel coupled to a Victron MPPT 100/30 controller, has made upwards of 2400 watt*hours per day in the summer.

edit: oh, the original panel was mounted on standoffs from that silver rail
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2023, 12:06 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Chasing Trials's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Near Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2013 E19
Posts: 471
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC View Post
No, no, no. If you want a good OTA signal go up, way up.

Ron

.......
Chasing Trials is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2023, 11:11 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Canada's East Coast, New Brunswick
Trailer: 2022 E19
Posts: 385
Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post

side view, where you can see m

top view of new panel:



I'd love to have that truck in the background!
Fender is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2023, 12:40 PM   #13
Site Team
 
John in Santa Cruz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Mid Left Coast, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21
Posts: 5,104
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fender View Post
I'd love to have that truck in the background!
1965 F100, inline 6, 3-on-a-tree, absolute base model, I used to use it for dump runs, but it sagged badly with even a modest load in the back. hadn't started it for 10 years, tires were 25 years old. sold it to a guy who's going to restore it, my wife got $3000 for it.
John in Santa Cruz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2023, 04:47 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: St Louis, Missouri
Trailer: 2021 21NE F2
Posts: 232
Mike, Mounting rails on each side from front to back seems like a good idea to me as well. Something like a long piece of aluminum unistrut on each side. Then you can come off that with cross pieces to hold the solar panels if needed. The rail solution seems much stronger than small separate brackets.
mfschu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2023, 09:45 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Mike Lewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,096
Quote:
Originally Posted by mfschu View Post
Mike, Mounting rails on each side from front to back seems like a good idea to me as well. Something like a long piece of aluminum unistrut on each side. Then you can come off that with cross pieces to hold the solar panels if needed. The rail solution seems much stronger than small separate brackets.

That's what I was thinking. I guess weight could be a drawback, though. In addition to panels I could put other stuff on it, like antennas, of course.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
Mike Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2023, 09:45 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Mike Lewis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,096
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron in BC View Post
No, no, no. If you want a good OTA signal go up, way up.

Ron

As the VHF/UHF guys say, "height is might."
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
Mike Lewis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2023, 10:54 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
Ron in BC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,728
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis View Post
In addition to panels I could put other stuff on it, like antennas, of course.
And yours is now 2' higher than mine. Should have listened to your advice about those locking rings.

Ron
Ron in BC is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2023, 11:34 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Trailer: 2021 21NE
Posts: 471
Quote:
Originally Posted by mfschu View Post
Mike, Mounting rails on each side from front to back seems like a good idea to me as well. Something like a long piece of aluminum unistrut on each side. Then you can come off that with cross pieces to hold the solar panels if needed. The rail solution seems much stronger than small separate brackets.
I installed a rail on each side bolted through the roof where the bolt heads are hidden under the ceiling covering inside cabinets. If I was doing it over again I would have left the rails longer instead of cutting them off. They could be replaced with longer rails. I have thought about adding cell antennas to them for the MiFi and have thought about larger panels in front and back.

Front and back panels are 220 watts and the side panels are 160 watts.

I also used adhesive tape for intermediate brackets placed at the location of the manufacturer's mounting holes on the front and back panels.

I think others have done the same.

So far this has worked in the desert until sometime in May when the air conditioning has to run longer hours.
Attached Thumbnails
DSC_9605.jpg   PXL_20220327_145957516.MP.jpg  
BobG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2023, 11:58 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Perry Butler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lanesboro, MN, between Whalan and Fountain, Minnesota
Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ - (2018 Escape 5.0 sold)
Posts: 2,141
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobG View Post
I installed a rail on each side bolted through the roof where the bolt heads are hidden under the ceiling covering inside cabinets. If I was doing it over again I would have left the rails longer instead of cutting them off. They could be replaced with longer rails. I have thought about adding cell antennas to them for the MiFi and have thought about larger panels in front and back.

Front and back panels are 220 watts and the side panels are 160 watts.

I also used adhesive tape for intermediate brackets placed at the location of the manufacturer's mounting holes on the front and back panels.

I think others have done the same.

So far this has worked in the desert until sometime in May when the air conditioning has to run longer hours.
1080 watts! And I thought we were in overkill at 463 watts!

You do want to run AC though, where for us AC is not a requirement.

Great mounting job!

My disagreement with ETI was mounting the panels at the ends, so the wind could force the panel up, either bending the panel in the middle or losing the panel entirely. AFAIC, all 60” east/west panels need a center mount. I mounted our 5.0’s shorter 100 watt panels 1/4 of the way in, but they were only 42” long. You’ve put in two more mounts inboard, so more mounts to absorb the wind.

Again, great mounting!

Are your middle mounts glued or are you using screws or through bolts?

Enjoy,

Perry
Perry Butler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2023, 12:14 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Centex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: East of Austin, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 SuperCab
Posts: 2,849
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobG View Post
I installed a rail on each side ....


Bob, can you post a source link for the rail extrusion you used? Thanks!

(nice installation!)
__________________
Alan E.
2021 Escape 5.0 / 2022 F150 Lariat SuperCab 6.5' box / Centex's 2021 5.0 Modifications
Centex 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 09:03 PM.


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