Solar Panel mounts

[K7WMC]

And the Lord saidith unto thee, (and I'm quoting loosely), "let anyone who harms the body of another by taping sht on to their vehicles or by otherwise being careless dummass's, have their aforesaid dummassiths righteously handed to them in a basket". Amen.

Offgriddle, I can tell you for a fact the Lord never said that. God Bless you.

 

[offgriddle]

Offgriddle, I can tell you for a fact the Lord never said that. God Bless you.

LMAO, I said loosely quoted gimme a break. And speaking of loosely, don't forget, let us not make another person pay the price with their physical self because we were too stubborn to properly secure accessories to moving vehicles. Amen

 

[Mars]

..."Will Prowse" himself mounted his solar panels with white ABS plastic mounts and uses just construction adhesive in a tube to hold them down to the white rubber roof of his Class C RV. Which is no different than 3M VHB tape.

Wow, that is not good.

RV roofs are commonly built by gluing an EPDM membrane to a plywood roof decking using Poly Vinyl Acetate (PVA) glue. Since PVA is not waterproof, it will delaminate if it gets some moisture in it (like from a roof leak). Another potential failure point is EPDM is commonly coated with an acrylic coating that may peal off, creating another potential weak point.

Mars

 

[MrNatural22]

Key words “safety tethers” if done right nothing is sailing off your roof.
They are put in place for ANY failures. Even drilled mounts fail. VHB mounts or any other panel attachments on your roof that is subject to high winds during transport. A very inexpensive and very easy method for everyone’s piece O mind. ?

 

[K7WMC]

LMAO, I said loosely quoted gimme a break. And speaking of loosely, don't forget, let us not make another person pay the price with their physical self because we were too stubborn to properly secure accessories to moving vehicles. Amen

Offgriddle, perhaps you forgotten. Many that die in this life. Will pay the price. And it will have nothing to do with the way there solar panels have been mounted. ?

 

[offgriddle]

Offgriddle, perhaps you forgotten. Many that die in this life. Will pay the price. And it will have nothing to do with the way there solar panels have been mounted. ?✝✔

There are thousands of religious practices all claiming to be correct. Neither one of us can prove or disprove anything regarding the possibility of life after life, so that leaves us with the personal choice to either have faith or not. Personally, there's at best case and at worst case a 50/50 chance of the existance of a life after life and that what we do in the here and now matters in any possible hereafter. Those are pretty good odds and the wise will choose accordingly. ~ Please don't glue or tape objects to your vehicle that are large and heavy enough to dislodge at traveling speed and harm others. ~ Even though our moderators are ok with continuing our off topic discussion of religious connotation, and because I choose to love, learn and teach rather than hate and admonish, I believe that it would be more considerate to the other members of the forum to continue this discussion on the personal matter of faith and spirituality using the forum's personal message feature and I would be more than happy to do so. Amen.

 

[Pooroldplowboy]

After seeing a few YouTube videos advocating the mounting of solar panels with VHB tape, I wrote to 3M and asked them if they would recommend this type of mount using their VHB tape. Their answer was a resounding "NO". You need a strong mechanical mount due to the strong forces caused by wind. Just think of the gusts when a semi goes by you. It will rip the panels right off the roof. I have heard people say they saw solar panel lying on the side of the road where they just "blew" off from a tape installation. The panels can kill someone. For everyone's safety, do not mount panels on a moving vehicle with any kind of tape or glue. Use metal mounts with solid attachment points.
'

 

[K7WMC]

There are thousands of religious practices all claiming to be correct. Neither one of us can prove or disprove anything regarding the possibility of life after life, so that leaves us with the personal choice to either have faith or not. Personally, there's at best case and at worst case a 50/50 chance of the existance of a life after life and that what we do in the here and now matters in any possible hereafter. Those are pretty good odds and the wise will choose accordingly. ~ Please don't glue or tape objects to your vehicle that are large and heavy enough to dislodge at traveling speed and harm others. ~ Even though our moderators are ok with continuing our off topic discussion of religious connotation, and because I choose to love, learn and teach rather than hate and admonish, I believe that it would be more considerate to the other members of the forum to continue this discussion on the personal matter of faith and spirituality using the forum's personal message feature and I would be more than happy to do so. Amen.

Religion or being religious has nothing to do with what you're talking about or this thread. You're fully entitled to believe what you want as an atheist. You are entitled to your opinion which is off topic. In fact a lot of your responses have been off topic. If I happen to bring up my faith well it's because it's part of who I am... But there are many people in this world who cannot handle any of it like yourself. You truly sounds like you have a personal problem. I really have no desire to have a private message with you since it seems to be a personal matter for you. Have a great day mr griddle... I'm not here to talk about your religious beliefs. Thanks again for your biased opinion.

 

[Rider]

After seeing a few YouTube videos advocating the mounting of solar panels with VHB tape, I wrote to 3M and asked them if they would recommend this type of mount using their VHB tape. Their answer was a resounding "NO". You need a strong mechanical mount due to the strong forces caused by wind. Just think of the gusts when a semi goes by you. It will rip the panels right off the roof. I have heard people say they saw solar panel lying on the side of the road where they just "blew" off from a tape installation. The panels can kill someone. For everyone's safety, do not mount panels on a moving vehicle with any kind of tape or glue. Use metal mounts with solid attachment points.
'

Thank you for contacting 3M.

 

[K7WMC]

Poor, I don't believe you did call 3M. Because others have done the same and called them and received a resounding yes. I guess it depends on who you talk to right... Some people refuse to believe.

 

[K7WMC]

Poor, you better make sure you're not behind me... I have an ejector button for my solar panels. Missiles away! ?

 

[Supervstech]

After seeing a few YouTube videos advocating the mounting of solar panels with VHB tape, I wrote to 3M and asked them if they would recommend this type of mount using their VHB tape. Their answer was a resounding "NO". You need a strong mechanical mount due to the strong forces caused by wind. Just think of the gusts when a semi goes by you. It will rip the panels right off the roof. I have heard people say they saw solar panel lying on the side of the road where they just "blew" off from a tape installation. The panels can kill someone. For everyone's safety, do not mount panels on a moving vehicle with any kind of tape or glue. Use metal mounts with solid attachment points.
'

That is indeed odd, because VHB tape is used on many skyscraper windows certified to withstand hurricane winds. Now, they are installed by trained professionals and likely have a certified installation procedure, but...

 

[Supervstech]

That is indeed odd, because VHB tape is used on many skyscraper windows certified to withstand hurricane winds. Now, they are installed by trained professionals and likely have a certified installation procedure, but...

https://www.tapesolutions.saint-gobain.com/resources/technical-articles/safe-secure-how-glass-reliably-adheres-skyscrapers

 

[Supervstech]

I bet if 3m said no it is due to a D.O.T. REGULATION somewhere, and they are unwilling to accept responsibility for potential improper install failure.

 

[MrNatural22]

I bet if 3m said no it is due to a D.O.T. REGULATION somewhere, and they are unwilling to accept responsibility for potential improper install failure.

I’m sure they can’t advocate and take responsibility for the use of their product on solar panels or any thing, but I also spoke with 3M about uses and strength concerning this possibility. They sent me two different rolls to do my own tests. Proper surface prep is crucial.
As I mentioned in a previous post fail safe tethers are always used.

 

[K7WMC]

Yes concur, I actually said that in one of my earlier posts that proper surface prep is crucial... I also don't think 3M wants to take responsibility for people who improperly install with VHB tape. I wouldn't want to advocate that either.

 

[gglave]

And here comes a novice with an opinion- The point here is not whether or not the glue provides tremendous holding power or not; no Sir! The glues ability to keep the two surfaces connected is also dependent on the condition of the surfaces to which the glue is to be applied. Some auto paints grip better than others and some paints oxidize and age faster than others. If you improperly apply your glue to an eroding surface (on vehicle or panel frame) it may do you a favor and let go your fly in the driveway of your own property. However, if you mark the areas where the glue will connect the surfaces, then remove the paint, etc. therefrom and properly prepare the surface to be glue (according to the manufacturers recommendations) you may then be ready for other aerodynamic experiments. God bless you and those in your path.

 

[Aussiecroc]

Six mounts per panel (200 watts) three on each long side. Screwed and Glued on epdm roof with dicor sealing of the screws.

Many here are only glued (sikaflex ployeurethane or saudal fixall from Belgium) but you must use the prep and primers. I have two friends who glued their ENTIRE desert campers with only a few screws on hinges (fibreglass foam sandwich).
One guy had glued his to the truck but the inspectors made him add four bolts that hold it to the chasis. They have both done over 100 000km on mostly desert roads (rocks and sand) plus with no joints failing. This will NOT happen if you dont clean prep and prime all surfaces right.

 

[K7WMC]

And here comes a novice with an opinion- The point here is not whether or not the glue provides tremendous holding power or not; no Sir! The glues ability to keep the two surfaces connected is also dependent on the condition of the surfaces to which the glue is to be applied. Some auto paints grip better than others and some paints oxidize and age faster than others. If you improperly apply your glue to an eroding surface (on vehicle or panel frame) it may do you a favor and let go your fly in the driveway of your own property. However, if you mark the areas where the glue will connect the surfaces, then remove the paint, etc. therefrom and properly prepare the surface to be glue (according to the manufacturers recommendations) you may then be ready for other aerodynamic experiments. God bless you and those in your path.

gglave, God only knows, maybe the aerodynamic experiment and failure could be "you" with a random rogue solar panel flying in the path of your windshield. Remember what Forrest Gump said: "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get"!
So many times in life irony prevails.

 

[c3auto]

Any suggestions for a 'safety tether'?
I've put in 8x m8 stainless steel couplers/coupling nuts into the roof gutter of my van.
I was originally going to install crossbars and mount my solar panel in the traditional way, however - due to the curvature of the roof, the solar panel will be quite high due to cross beams, brackets, and the panel itself.

I've instead thought of using ABS plastic solar mounts and installing the solar panel that way. The solar panel im using is a common size so should be able to easily replace new (or find a second hand replacement). It's also a common solar panel.
Anyway. I'm thinking of using a sikaflex or similar to bond the brackets to the roof of the van, and utilising some of the coupling nuts (maybe 4?) as a safety tether.
What would be the best way for this?

I was thinking one at each corner of the panel. I'd appreciate some help in terms of what material (I imagine it'd have to have a significant capacity to absorb a sudden force of the jerk of the solar panel if it were to come off). And if it should be attached to the underside, side or top of the solar panel frame.

Thanks

 

[Supervstech]

Any suggestions for a 'safety tether'?
I've put in 8x m8 stainless steel couplers/coupling nuts into the roof gutter of my van.
I was originally going to install crossbars and mount my solar panel in the traditional way, however - due to the curvature of the roof, the solar panel will be quite high due to cross beams, brackets, and the panel itself.

I've instead thought of using ABS plastic solar mounts and installing the solar panel that way. The solar panel im using is a common size so should be able to easily replace new (or find a second hand replacement). It's also a common solar panel.
Anyway. I'm thinking of using a sikaflex or similar to bond the brackets to the roof of the van, and utilising some of the coupling nuts (maybe 4?) as a safety tether.
What would be the best way for this?

I was thinking one at each corner of the panel. I'd appreciate some help in terms of what material (I imagine it'd have to have a significant capacity to absorb a sudden force of the jerk of the solar panel if it were to come off). And if it should be attached to the underside, side or top of the solar panel frame.

Thanks

I plan to drill into the crossbeams of my sprinter to teather my panels. I’m still in the surface prep stages on the van, but I’m working on clearing all rust spots, and failed paint areas with strong cleaned steel and primer and painted surface.
I will be bonding my aluminum superstrut rails to the final surface, applying the vhb, then bolting them front, middle and rear. I will also employ a front air ram to dissuade the air from building up under the front edge.