3M's respnse to VHB tape for mounting brackets on vehicle?

[poot_traveller]

Haven't the people at 3M done far more extensive testing and research than your are capable of doing? Their conclusion was not to do it.

I await your white paper with the conclusions of your trials which I am sure will contain all necessary environmental data, equipment used before, during, and after which was used to record such data. And any pertinent factors to provide proof that you are better equipped to test the product versus the manufacturer.  

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I'll establish the fail point of 3M VHB tape by doing various test trials and have all necessary data available.

 

[geogentry]

I'll establish the fail point of 3M VHB tape by doing various test trials and have all necessary data available.

Are you going to remove the tape, clean the surfaces, reapply the tape after each trial? If you do not will this not invalidate your findings? Without a controlled environment how are you going to factor the environmental factors into your findings? Are you going to remove the paint on the vehicle surface? If you do not won't the brand, type, age, and condition of the paint be a factor?

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[poot_traveller]

Are you going to remove the tape, clean the  surfaces, reapply the tape after each trial? If you do not will this not invalidate your findings? Without a controlled environment how are you going to factor the environmental factors into your findings? Are you going to remove the paint on the vehicle surface? If you do not won't the brand, type, age, and condition of the paint be a factor?

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The only test I plan to carry out using the solar panel mounted on the van roof is a 100km per hour drive down the highway for 20 minutes.  I think we all know how that test is going to work out, given that won't put nowhere near enough pressure on the mounts to make the tape fail.

The paint on the van roof will be removed and the tape will be applied directly to the steel. 

I've ordered some extra Z brackets which I'll mount to various steel objects for the test trials. 

What environmental factors are you referring to?  Just so you know; rain, sun, high temperatures, extremely low temperatures, etc don't effect 3M VHB tape.

 

[Wabbit]

... Just so you know; rain, sun, high temperatures, extremely low temperatures, etc don't effect 3M VHB tape...

Where did you get that information?

 

[poot_traveller]

Where did you get that information?

From the manufacturer's test results:

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/98989O/3m-vhb-tape-durability-technical-bulletin.pdf

 

[Wabbit]

From the manufacturer's test results:

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/98989O/3m-vhb-tape-durability-technical-bulletin.pdf

Why do you believe them on this statement, but not on the other statement of don't use this with solar panels on roof thingy?

 

[poot_traveller]

Why do you believe them on this statement, but not on the other statement of don't use this with solar panels on roof thingy?

I suspected you were going to walk me into a trap lol

To answer your question; With the white paper they are using test results to show that environmental factors won't affect the tape.  

Roger the support guy is simply advising against using the tape to secure solar panels to the roof of vehicles.  He doesn't explain his reasoning behind this, he doesn't show test results to show this can cause the tape to fail when used in this way. And no I don't expect him to show test results, he probably has to answer 100 emails per day.  But with no form of proof to back up his statement, I have to take his suggestions with a grain of salt. And I can't find any background information on the guy to even suggest he has even used 3M AHB tape before personally, or has been involved in testing the product.

 

[Wabbit]

Ok. Keep in mind that Roger is speaking for the Company, not himself. And to be fair, the support guy wasn't asked for any supporting data in the email. The company that makes this tape is saying it's not recommended(I imagine safety issues), not that it's impossible to do. Try to get in contact with their engineering department(or whatever department) that would have the kind of data you're looking for. I think if they could recommend\sell it for this purpose, they would. They are covering butt for some reason. I have seen a few videos of people saying their panels blew off(videos shows aftermath, not separation event). I also know one person personally that lost a panel(s) off their vehicle roof. Best of luck and try to keep it safe!

 

[poot_traveller]

If solar panels that have been mounted using VHB tape happen to separate from the roof of vehicles due to people not following instructions on how to use the tape, then they will blame the VHB tape.  People will never admit it was their own fault the tape failed due to applying the tape incorrectly.  All you'll hear is; "Yeah I mounted the panel with 3M VHB tape and the panel went flying off."  They'll leave out the part where they applied it to an old paint job, or didn't clean the area properly before using the tape.

Yes 3M are covering butt, and who can blame them when there are people out there that apply the tape incorrectly, then blame 3M when the panels separate.  So yes, it's a very good idea not to recommend the tape for mounting solar panels, even when the tape is perfectly fine for doing so.  That is their motivation behind their recommendation - it's a butt covering exercise.

I was going to contact some 3M Industrial specialists on Linkedln about this debate but my Linkedln account locked up on me and I no longer have access.....frustratingly enough.