GotSmart
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2014
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Today I got clearance from my Dr. to become active again, so I installed my panel properly. I had previously thrown a sheet of plywood up and bolted the panel to it using the Z brackets.
I started out with a cheap set of roof racks.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-Ladder-...612?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae962b31c
I bought two aluminum 1 1/2 inch angle 6 foot long. I cut curves in them with a long lip to mount under the roof rack bars. I cut them to fit. My panel is 2 X 4 foot, and the space between the bars is about 5 foot.
I marked the bars for where the angle will cross them, and removed them for ease of handling. I drilled the channel to fit the panel mounting holes and the center of the bars. I drilled the bars for the bolts.
The panel was mounted to the channel, and the channel was mounted to the bottom of the bars. The bars with panel installed was put back on top of the van.
You can tell by the before and after pictures what a difference this makes visually. I was able to use exclusively the power from my batteries to run my saws and drills. It is currently at 13.39v. At no time did it drop under 12.87 under full load.
All bolts have nylock threads to keep them from backing off.
Any questions?
I started out with a cheap set of roof racks.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-Ladder-...612?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae962b31c
I bought two aluminum 1 1/2 inch angle 6 foot long. I cut curves in them with a long lip to mount under the roof rack bars. I cut them to fit. My panel is 2 X 4 foot, and the space between the bars is about 5 foot.
I marked the bars for where the angle will cross them, and removed them for ease of handling. I drilled the channel to fit the panel mounting holes and the center of the bars. I drilled the bars for the bolts.
The panel was mounted to the channel, and the channel was mounted to the bottom of the bars. The bars with panel installed was put back on top of the van.
You can tell by the before and after pictures what a difference this makes visually. I was able to use exclusively the power from my batteries to run my saws and drills. It is currently at 13.39v. At no time did it drop under 12.87 under full load.
All bolts have nylock threads to keep them from backing off.
Any questions?
