Solar panel mounting on RV

[Firetodd]

My camper is scheduled to be delivered next week. So since I am loaded will all kinds of equipment, I thought I’d mock up my install to see what I am missing.

I will be mounting Unistrut on the roof and then securing the 10 panels to the Unistrut.

 

[Firetodd]

I put together the base brackets and unistrut and then put two panels on them.

 

[Firetodd]

The panels sitting on the unistrut are getting me excited! But the way I had planned on mounting them is not going to work….. I cannot tighten down the brackets because the panels are too thin!

 

[Firetodd]

So group, what is a solution? I have a week to order materials or make this work!

 

[JeepDaddy]

The classic General Motors credo - "If it doesn't fit, shim it." Hard rubber spacers either on top of or under the panel at the clamps - in whatever thickness that makes sense. It looks like you don't need much.

 

[Peterbylt]

On the clamping piece that slots into the bolting piece, Trim it shorter with an angle grinder.

Peter

 

[Supervstech]

I used drillbit tip #10 stainless screws and drilled into the frame on my 3/4” windy nation panels... holds great.

 

[Supervstech]

On the clamping piece that slots into the bolting piece, Trim it shorter with an angle grinder.

Peter

I would use a band saw... aluminum is REALLY hard to trim with a grinder...

 

[HighTechLab]

I like the idea with the unistrut brackets for mounting to the roof. If you wanted a lower profile you could put them over top of the strut and attach to the strut with a spring nut. Also spring nuts are a real pain on shallow strut, so you may be better off cutting the springs off and using your fingers to hold them until you start tightening the bolts. I always cut the springs off or use top-mount strut nuts.

 

[Sillyputty]

I'm not familiar with these clamps, but if you can remove the dovetailed (feathered looking) portion by tapping it out of the aluminum it's set into, (as seen in the picture) and then [cut off a portion of it as @Zwy noted below] then reinsert it into the top bracket a bit lower it may shorten it enough to clamp properly.

Edit in brackets.

 

[Zwy]

The panels sitting on the unistrut are getting me excited! But the way I had planned on mounting them is not going to work….. I cannot tighten down the brackets because the panels are too thin!

Cut the christmas tree male bracket bottom off. This allows you to reinsert it lower in the female part, these are designed for this.

 

[Firetodd]

I used drillbit tip #10 stainless screws and drilled into the frame on my 3/4” windy nation panels... holds great.

Are you suggesting drilling a hole in the frame and just using a bolt through entire frame into the spring nut? Sounds interesting and easy

 

[jwelter99]

Do your panels have mounting holes in the bottom? Rec usually does.

 

[Firetodd]

Yes. I just don’t know how I’d be able to tighten the nuts.

 

[jwelter99]

Yes. I just don’t know how I’d be able to tighten the nuts.

Cut a 2 inch wide * 2.5 inch by 0.125 inch aluminum strip. Bolt it to the mounting hole in the panel. Have another hole out past the panel to mount to the strut-channel nut.

That way you can access the hardware to remove panels from the strut channel as needed.

 

[Firetodd]

Cut a 2 inch wide * 2.5 inch by 0.125 inch aluminum strip. Bolt it to the mounting hole in the panel. Have another hole out past the panel to mount to the strut-channel nut.

That way you can access the hardware to remove panels from the strut channel as needed.

That’s a very easy simple idea!

 

[jwelter99]

That’s a very easy simple idea!

Yes, I saw it done somewhere and was elegantly simple.

 

[gelmjw]

Yes. I just don’t know how I’d be able to tighten the nuts.

You will be able to tighten enough to secure the panels.

Fasten these to your panels using the existing mounting holes on the bottom of the panels. Don' tighten them yet. The bolts will go downward through the holes. The plastic of side of the nut will face the bottom of the panel.

Superstrut 1/4 in. Nylon Strut Cone Nut - Gold Galvanized (5-Pack) ZCM1001/4-10 - The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

Space the unistruts apart so that the cone nuts will slide into the rails. You must leave the nuts just loose enought to slide on the rails, but tight enough not to rattle. At this point, the nuts cannot spin loose. If, after sliding, you cannot tighten the cone nuts by reaching the bolts, you place these at the ends of rails.

SuperMag 1/4 in. Square Strut Washer Silver Galvanized with Magnets - Strut Fittings - (5-Pack) ZAB2411/4MEG - The Home Depot

The SuperMag 1/4 in. Square Washer is made of SilverGalv steel with magnets and can be used with Superstrut metal framing. This fitting adds convenience and safety to strut assembly by eliminating the

www.homedepot.com

I am traveling today and cannot enhance this right now. If you can wait until Sat-Sun, I can answer any questions then or provide pics.

HTH;
John

.

 

[HRTKD]

The vendor doesn't have a shorter bracket?

 

[Firetodd]

After considering my options, and buying materials for every eventuality…. I tried trimming one bracket.