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Old 01-24-2013, 01:29 PM   #1
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Solar panels and 3M VHB tape

Howdy All,
Has any one had problems when 3M VHB tape was used to mount the solar panel ?
Thank you, Jubal
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Old 01-24-2013, 02:20 PM   #2
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None here nor over on Fiberglass RV.
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Old 01-24-2013, 03:18 PM   #3
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I asked Tammy about that last summer as she said they did have one customer that lost a panel and since then they have been using epoxy to hold the mounts on. They used epoxy on mine .
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Old 01-24-2013, 04:11 PM   #4
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What was the date your unit made Dave?
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Old 01-24-2013, 04:21 PM   #5
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Ours was the 1st solar panel that Escape used the 3M vhb tape to mount it with back in Sept 2009. To date, we haven't experienced any issues with it adhering to the roof.
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Old 01-24-2013, 07:13 PM   #6
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We picked our trailer up Aug 10, 2012. had the solar panel mounted that day. I had a 80 panel from our old trailer and had escape prewire our trailer and then install it when we picked it up. I regret not just getting a new set up as I have to replace my charge controller now as its acting up. they used the opxoy on the mounting rails and indicated that is how they were doing it now .
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Old 01-25-2013, 07:17 AM   #7
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No problems on ours at one year.
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Old 01-25-2013, 09:06 AM   #8
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3M tape or similar

Double sided foam tape like 3M Brand will dry up over time. I suggest:
Always use double sided tape ONLY to keep something in place until the glue dries.
Temperature, moisture, UV rays all shorten the life of any doublesided tape reguardless of brand.
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Old 01-25-2013, 12:29 PM   #9
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According to 3M, their tape is super-durable. http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawe...709-3862-9.PDF

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Old 01-25-2013, 12:44 PM   #10
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3M

Bruce, It's up to you if you want to rely on 3M or similar tape to hold your valuables in place. But, 32 years in the industry of adhesives and VHB tape sways me different. I mean, why not as a precautionary measure use an epoxy or silicon glue in conjuntion with 3M tape just to be sure.
By the way Escape used an epoxy on my solar panel las year. A glue recomended by the solar panel supplier
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Old 01-25-2013, 01:38 PM   #11
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Yeah, I'm not using tape for any stressed apps, just thought it was interesting to see their testing.

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Old 01-25-2013, 01:59 PM   #12
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3M

3M is a good product don't get me wrong but it should be used only for sticking something light weight to a wall or window, ie. static. Affixing a solar panel on a roof of a trailer that may exceed 50 or 60 mph (in a head wind) with 3M tape is not advisable.
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Old 01-28-2013, 07:48 PM   #13
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My solar panel was mounted with 3M tape, and the panel blew off about a month after the trailer was manufactured. I had the trailer prewired for solar and told them to install the panel about a week before picking up the trailer.

The panel was installed and set out in the cold a couple of days after installing, as production was complete (December 2011). They thought this may have contributed to a weaker bond possibly?

The panel blew off in Wyoming when pulling the trailer 55-65 mph with wind gusts of 55 mph and temperatures in the 20's F. So the wind hitting the solar panel could have been 120 mph!!!

They sent me a new panel with epoxy to mount it. I have pulled the trailer in similar conditions, and have not had any problems.
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Old 01-28-2013, 11:47 PM   #14
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Three seasons, no problems.
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Old 01-29-2013, 08:58 AM   #15
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But it just takes one problem to injur a Motorcyclist.
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