Install of 395 watt Qcell panel on RV

[Kcdaniels]

Well with a lot of research and lots of help from people on this forum I have started my solar install...
That first hole in the roof was the hardest..?
Today was mounting unistrut cut 4 sections to 42" ...then mark out locations for the radius of my roof...
I drilled the holes for "well nuts" then cut 4 sections of 3M tape for each of the 4 holes per strut....
Laid the struts down on the 3M tape....filled the holes with Dicor ....install well nuts in holes then add more Dicor ...

Bed washers in the Dicor.. screw down and add more Dicor...lol....
Attach the "adjustable clamps to panel and call it done with the exception of attaching a safety line to the panel...

All of this in about 93 degrees ...?

Tomorrow I'll start the wiring ....here are some pictures.... Thanks guys !

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[Tdevery]

You should put a layer of Etenabond first. Then dicor.

 

[Kcdaniels]

Thanks for your advice.... When I installed the strut down on the "3M" tape I could not remove it....I tried lol....so my belief is with the way I installed this it is not coming up....but time will tell.... I'm also going to make a "wind" deflector on the front edge of the panel....although I think its overkill...

 

[jwelter99]

One thing.... I really dislike those clamps for mobile applications. Over time things will settle a bit, corrode a bit, loosen a bit and if they loosen off it's bad news.

You have done a great install and with 4 clips on either side have reduced the chances of above greatly. But really consider a couple captive strut nuts and bolts as well.

Also you say you put the VHB on the strut and put on the roof and then install well nuts through the strut slots into dicor filled roof holes and then washer and bolt -- does the top flange of the well nut sit above the strut base? Is the washer pulling the strut down onto the VHB or hovering above slightly -- the well nut top flanges are thicker then the strut base in most cases?

 

[Kcdaniels]

One thing.... I really dislike those clamps for mobile applications. One time things will settle a bit, corrode a bit, loosen a bit and if they loosen off it's bad news.

You have done a great install and with 4 clips on either side have reduced the chances of above greatly. But really consider a couple captive strut nuts and bolts as well.

Also you say you put the VHB on the strut and put on the roof and then install well nuts through the strut slots into dicor filled roof holes and then washer and bolt -- does the top flange of the well nut sit above the strut base? Is the washer pulling the strut down onto the VHB or hovering above slightly -- the well nut top flanges are thicker then the strut base in most cases?

First I drilled hole in the roof then with a razor knife cut a small area around hole .....(the 1/8th rubber") at each hole (4) per strut I laid down a 4" long and as wide as the strut 3M tape.....then installed well nut.....then laid strut down on tape.....fill hole with Dicor.... Bed washer in Dicor and screw the washer down tight on strut....more Dicor over the washer and screw.... Fill the 4" area with more Dicor and the 4" area around the holes...
This gives me about 1/8th gap between roof and bottom of strut....
The end clamps are installed with loctite....I thought maybe add a rivet to the clamp to the frame of panel....I did not use the "nut" that came with the clamps.. I did use the "strut nut" for use with unistrut.....

 

[Kcdaniels]

I added the bonding tape as a "wind deflection" and a close up of the uni strut nut used ....not sure where to attach a safety line to ?
I know there is a aluminum frame around the vent....possibly a place to use ?

 

[Kcdaniels]

When I measured the voltage today I got around 40 to 41.7 v ....sun at noon here in central Florida... Is this about the norm ?
Still waiting for delivery of Victron 100/50 SCC and some fuses....then I can connect it all up and hopefully don't burn down the RV... lol