Solar Panel Mounting

[osubbfan@aol.com]

I am considering mounting 4 HQST 100W solar panels (~20"x40") to the roof of my 5.0 using four Solar Z brackets with 3M VHB tape. I have seen where this is successful in other RV applications but can't find this solution on an Escape. Anyone tried this 3M VHB tape? I really don't want holes in my roof.

[tdf-texas]

Escape used VHB tape to mount their solar panels but went to thru-bolting after some panels blew off for some owners.

AM Solar uses VHB tape on their installations with good success. Here is a quote from their site.

"Fiberglass roofs – We have been using a type of 3M double-sided tape on our mounts since the mid 1990’s, and we have never lost a panel. As long as the tape is properly installed on a clean surface at the correct temperature, it will hold. As an added level of protection, we use a layer of Dicor self-leveling sealant around the entire perimeter of the mount, and cover the screw holes/heads as well. The sealant protects the tape and any potential roof penetrations from water intrusion and decay."

Here is a link to their installation details.

https://amsolar.com/diy-rv-solar-instructions/edmounts

[dstreight]

FWIW/FYI, last summer I installed 4) 8020 profiles onto the front and rear roof area of our 15A using VHB 4959 (full coverage) and then 3M 5200 around the perimeter of the profiles to seal against any water intrusion to the VHB tape. Super solid.

I used the 8020 channels so I could more easily swap out panels if/when. In fact, due to the small area of the 15A roof I'll be adding a couple 200w panels using SS drawer slides mounted to the side slots of the same 8020 to augment the existing 200w panels.

[Ronn]

Originally Posted by osubbfan@aol.com

to the roof of my 5.0

OFF TOPIC

Hi Chuck, could you update your trailer info?

Go to your User Control Panel (UserCP) and then click on Edit Your Details in the left hand column.
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/p...do=editoptions

Thank You

[padlin]

I used 3m vhb tape, z brackets, and 3m 5200 over that. Worked fine for me.

I do not recall where ETI had a vhb job blow off, the original epoxy jobs had a couple instances.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by dstreight

.... using VHB 4959 ....

Thank you for being explicit.

Hopefully folks realize there's a wide range of 3M "VHB" tapes available with a wide range of performance characteristics and application requirements (not all 3M "VHB" tape is 'equal').

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/vhb-tapes-us/

(I'm not commenting at all on the suitability of any of them for any particular application, leaving that for others )

[padlin]

Now that Alan brought up the subject, I used 3m 4950, 3"x4" pads.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by padlin

I used 3m vhb tape, z brackets, and 3m 5200 over that. Worked fine for me.

I do not recall where ETI had a vhb job blow off, the original epoxy jobs had a couple instances.

OOPS! You're right - Escape was using epoxy, not VHB. Sorry about that!

[osubbfan@aol.com]

Thanks, didn't know that about Escape. Guess I missed the AM Solar article.

[h2owmn]

I want to mount a bigger level on the front and side...any suggestions on which tape?
Thanks.

[osubbfan@aol.com]

Ive been reading a lot now people using 3M 5952. Not sure what is best for Aluminum and fiberglass bonding.

[osubbfan@aol.com]

Originally Posted by dstreight

FWIW/FYI, last summer I installed 4) 8020 profiles onto the front and rear roof area of our 15A using VHB 4959 (full coverage) and then 3M 5200 around the perimeter of the profiles to seal against any water intrusion to the VHB tape. Super solid.

I used the 8020 channels so I could more easily swap out panels if/when. In fact, due to the small area of the 15A roof I'll be adding a couple 200w panels using SS drawer slides mounted to the side slots of the same 8020 to augment the existing 200w panels.

I really like your idea. I would like to see pics of your 8020 profile that you used and how your mount looks. I’m thinking I would like a 12.5mm high profile taped directly to roof with angle brackets mounted to bolt directly to panel in four places.

[dstreight]

Originally Posted by osubbfan@aol.com

I really like your idea. I would like to see pics of your 8020 profile that you used and how your mount looks. I’m thinking I would like a 12.5mm high profile taped directly to roof with angle brackets mounted to bolt directly to panel in four places.

Here you go. The brackets were a quick fab right before a coastal trip but not going to be the permanent mounts. I'm actually in the throws of re-configuring the PVs atop our little 15A to include SS full extension drawer slides so we'll have 800w of PV permanent mounted atop the roof. Then be able to augment with 2 Merlin 170w lightweight foldable for shoulder months especially.

[Effie]

Originally Posted by dstreight

Here you go. The brackets were a quick fab right before a coastal trip but not going to be the permanent mounts. I'm actually in the throws of re-configuring the PVs atop our little 15A to include SS full extension drawer slides so we'll have 800w of PV permanent mounted atop the roof. Then be able to augment with 2 Merlin 170w lightweight foldable for shoulder months especially.

I like the idea using the drawer slides, can it survive the weather?

[Centex]

Just for grins, here's a panel mount notion I've been toying with on paper - still a 'work in progress', it's just using materials and methods I'm already comfortable with in my workshop. The referenced aluminum channel is a 'square sharp-corner extrusion' - all sides are uniform thickness and parallel surfaces.

Details of the "Panel Bracket" TBD - probably involve an "L" piece that wraps around the corner of the panel bolting to both the long sides and the ends of the panel extrusion. "Pivots" could be SS bolts with Nylock nuts captive on respective brackets.

This would be using two through-bolts at each mount to load-distributing pads installed inside the shell overhead cabinets ('potted' with Dicor compound per AM Solar method for ensuring no leaks). Yeah, VHB might work just fine but I'm an old-school nuts-and-bolts kinda guy

The notion being that panels would be tilted only when staying at a location during a season and a stay long enough to need the 'help' - not a regular occurrence during most of my summer camping or frequent relocations.

Critique / suggestions always welcome

[dstreight]

Originally Posted by Effie

I like the idea using the drawer slides, can it survive the weather?

I think so as they're 100% stainless steel and designed for outdoor use. Having said that I'm interested to see how they handle dust/grit. We'll see

[Centex]

Originally Posted by dstreight

... I'm actually in the throws of re-configuring the PVs atop our little 15A to include SS full extension drawer slides so we'll have 800w of PV permanent mounted atop the roof. ....

I'm thick as a brick - please help me understand the role of the slides?

[dstreight]

Originally Posted by Centex

I'm thick as a brick - please help me understand the role of the slides?

I need more solar input than there is real estate atop our little 15A. So I will have a total of 4 - 200w panels, situated in pairs with one atop the other. The top or bottom panel of the pair, not sure which as I just received the slides and haven't had time to start modeling/planning, etc., will, when we are in camp, slide out from under/over the other panel.

So, in essence, they'll be stacked pairs with one fixed and the other on full extension drawer slides.

Here's the overall concept:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYkSj8zyxL0

[Centex]

Originally Posted by dstreight

.... So, in essence, they'll be stacked pairs with one fixed and the other on full extension drawer slides...

Ah, gotchya, thanks!

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

I want to mount a bigger level on the front and side...any suggestions on which tape?
Thanks.

AM Solar uses 3M 4950 to bond their panel feet. With their experience probably not worth contemplating what might give a better bond especially given your light duty application.
https://amsolar.com/rv-mounting-accessories/91m-vhb