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Subject Topic: Fitting a solar panel Post Reply Post New Topic
Personzzcharlie
06/5/2016 at 7:05am
 Location: Berkshire
 Outfit: Fiat Bessacar View zzcharlie's Profile View Profile   Reply to zzcharlie Reply   Quote zzcharlie Quote  
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Hi all,
so I got my solar panel delivered yesterday in its metal frame, immediate thought was how am I gonna fix it to the roof of the MH? I'll give supplier a ring when they open but would like to ask if any of you can offer any solutions, I don't want to drill the roof for obvious reasons but what adhesive to use? or would you drill?. any thoughts. thanks in advance.     

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It felt good......so I dun it!                     I'm not old I'm .........forgot what I was gonna say.


Personfleck2
06/5/2016 at 1:18pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Elddis accordo Motorhome View fleck2's Profile View Profile   Reply to fleck2 Reply   Quote fleck2 Quote  
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Most sites we use come with hook up but we use the panel at the French and Spanish Aires. I didn't bother fixing it to the roof and just point it at the sun on the floor. I fitted an aluminium stand that folds into it when not in use.
There's a couple of advantages to free standing. One is it's only a 40w panel but becausei it's always pointing at the sun it generates roughly as much as an 80w panel. Also it doesn't weather or corrode up on the roof all year, it still looks brand new and it fits nicely into the locker.


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PersonBuzzy-Beans
06/5/2016 at 2:49pm
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zzcharlie, how big is the solar panel, or rather what Wattage is it?

You might have been better to find out how to attach the darned things before buying one!!!! The reason why I say this is that they can be quite difficult to permanently attach to an already finished van.

If you had bought a flexible panel then they are as easy as easy can be to attach as you simply stick them on, but if it is a large rigid and quite heavy solar panel, these can be somewhat more difficult to attach to a roof of a finished van.

I built my own panel van conversion and I attached my panels long before I furnished and lined the interior and in my case the panels are bolted to the roof.

In your case then I would suggest that possibly one of the only ways to attach it is by sticking the feet on with a specialist adhesive known as Stixall, but only after you have thoroughly de-greased de-polished the roof panel. But personally speaking, although countless dozens of self builders do stick these panels to their roofs, I far prefer the security of a good strong bolt!

Good luck

Phil

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There is a great World to be found out there, but by the very day, to find where it is becomes more of a challenge!


Personzzcharlie
06/5/2016 at 5:54pm
 Location: Berkshire
 Outfit: Fiat Bessacar View zzcharlie's Profile View Profile   Reply to zzcharlie Reply   Quote zzcharlie Quote  
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Firstly thanks for replys, the panel is a 100W = 107cm x 64cm, I spoke to the supplier & didn't get any joy there so I phoned my local caravan dealers (they seem to have a good selection of spares) & seem to know what they're doing, they recommended sticking with "Sikaflex - 512 caravan" adhesive, so much along the lines of what you said Buzz-Beans.
I spent an hour on top of MH this afternoon T Cuting a square to stick it to, so apart from the two 6mm holes for the cables to go inside there's no holes in body. Just have to keep a check on it & any sign of movement then it's gonna have to be screwed.       














t






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It felt good......so I dun it!                     I'm not old I'm .........forgot what I was gonna say.


PersonBuzzy-Beans
06/5/2016 at 8:23pm
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Quote: Originally posted by zzcharlie on 06/5/2016

I spent an hour on top of MH this afternoon T Cuting a square to stick it to, so apart from the two 6mm holes for the cables to go inside there's no holes in body. Just have to keep a check on it & any sign of movement then it's gonna have to be screwed.       


DO NOT USE 'T' CUT, when cleaning the areas you are about to apply any kind of adhesive to as 'T' Cut is polish based and polish is most certainly NOT what you want.

Mark out the areas very carefully that you will be attaching the panel to with your adhesive and then clean these areas with a spirit such as cellulose thinners so as to remove any and all polish etc. residue.

If you don't use the polish residue then the adhesive will not cure/stick properly.

So back up the ladder once again and start again........... SORRY

All the best

Phil



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There is a great World to be found out there, but by the very day, to find where it is becomes more of a challenge!


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Personzzcharlie
07/5/2016 at 2:44pm
 Location: Berkshire
 Outfit: Fiat Bessacar View zzcharlie's Profile View Profile   Reply to zzcharlie Reply   Quote zzcharlie Quote  
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WOW! I always thought T CUT was an abrasive! thanks for the info Buzz-Beans, as you say up the ladder again singing "right said Fred gotta remove the T Cut"
Cheers Mate.


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It felt good......so I dun it!                     I'm not old I'm .........forgot what I was gonna say.


PersonBuzzy-Beans
07/5/2016 at 5:30pm
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Quote: Originally posted by zzcharlie on 07/5/2016
WOW! I always thought T CUT was an abrasive! thanks for the info Buzz-Beans, as you say up the ladder again singing "right said Fred gotta remove the T Cut"
Cheers Mate.







Yes the magical T Cut does have abrasive qualities, but it is also polish based and the last thing you want when applying any kind of adhesive is anything other than clinically clean surfaces to bond together.

All the best

Phil

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There is a great World to be found out there, but by the very day, to find where it is becomes more of a challenge!


Person240duo
07/5/2016 at 6:47pm
 Location: None Entered
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Hi
What is the area made of where you intend to fix the solar panel, you can buy plastic brackets that are specially made for solar panels or you can use anodised aluminium angle iron if you intend sticking, I use pu40 adhesive to fasten things to my van roof but I also use stainless steel screws also, I am a belt and braces man,

Dry fit the panel and work out where you will drill for the wires to enter the van for the connection to the regulator and battery, Mark the area of the brackets then use masking tape around the lines you have marked ( this helps when cleaning the excess adhesive)

Rough the area with emery paper then clean with something like meths, put some small washers or tile spaces on the area you have cleaned, (this makes the brackets stand proud from the roof.) squirt your adhesive on the area and place the brackets in place, it's advisable to fasten the brackets to the panelled lift everything into place press into place, clean excess adhesive away and remove masking tape ( nice clean around the brackets) use a screw if you wish, same thing for your cable gland to provide a water proof entry in to the van, if you do use a few screws make sure to cover the screw heads with the adhesive

Hope that give you a little help



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