Adhesive for bendable panels on Chevy Express roof?

[Duramax Express]

Hello everyone!

I keep seeing everyone online installing these flexible 100w solar panels on the roof of their vans using "heavy duty adhesive".

However no matter how much I search I can't find a good answer on which kind. Can someone reccomend which one to use?

The vehicle is a 2007 Chevrolet Duramax Express 3500

Thank you!

 

[Konaexpress]

HI and welcome!

The boys and girls with this kind of knowledge should be around shortly. Just hang in there.

John

 

[TMG51]

If I were going to glue a flexible panel directly to my roof, I would use E-6000. That stuff conforms to rigid and semi-rigid surfaces and never lets go.

That being said, I would never choose to glue flexible panels directly to my roof.

 

[SternWake]

I wonder how long before we start seeing a high failure rate of these bendable panels.  Renogy had issues already with them.


They do have the grommets that one could use to attach panel, and be able to remove it if/when it fails:

http://www.weldmountsystem.com/

Not sure how this adhesive deals with UV light in the long term.

 

[MikeRuth]

I wonder how long before we start seeing a high failure rate of these bendable panels.  Renogy had issues already with them.


They do have the grommets that one could use to attach panel, and be able to remove it if/when it fails:

http://www.weldmountsystem.com/

Not sure how this adhesive deals with UV light in the long term.

I would think there would be zero UV concern as the adhesive would be under the panel out of the sun. 

Agreed on longevity of the panels,. I happen to be out checking my system today with conventional panels and those babies were HOT! I have about a 2.5" air gap between the roof and the panel bottom.

 

[TMG51]

That "UV concern" is for the panels, not for the adhesive; the concern for the adhesive is permanently affixing a panel which may be affected by sunlight! They all need some sort of flexible plastic in them and sunlight loves destroying plastic. I like panels made of glass and aluminium.

 

[B and C]

I mounted mine with industrial strength velcro found at you local building center (Lowe's).  Mine are spaced above the roof by about a 1/2 inch with little 1 inch squares scattered in the middle and the velcro is around the perimeter.  Leave some gaps in the velcro for air movement.  I have only had mine installed for about 3 months but I WILL be able to remove them if needed.  Just checked them this week and they are still stuck good and tight.  I cleaned the roof with windex before adhesion.

 

[GotSmart]

I mounted mine with industrial strength velcro found at you local building center (Lowe's).  Mine are spaced above the roof by about a 1/2 inch with little 1 inch squares scattered in the middle and the velcro is around the perimeter.  Leave some gaps in the velcro for air movement.  I have only had mine installed for about 3 months but I WILL be able to remove them if needed.  Just checked them this week and they are still stuck good and tight.  I cleaned the roof with windex before adhesion.

That is what renogy was recommending, then they were trying to find a way to raise up the panels to get air flow for cooling, then they stopped selling the panels all together probably to reduce potential liability issues.

 

[Duramax Express]

Thanks for the honest feedback everyone.

I have 4 (100w) monocrystalin panels by Allpower off of Amazon if it's of any help.

I'm willing to ride it until the wheels fall off I just don't want the wheels flying off haha

 

[Duramax Express]

I mounted mine with industrial strength velcro found at you local building center (Lowe's).  Mine are spaced above the roof by about a 1/2 inch with little 1 inch squares scattered in the middle and the velcro is around the perimeter.  Leave some gaps in the velcro for air movement.  I have only had mine installed for about 3 months but I WILL be able to remove them if needed.  Just checked them this week and they are still stuck good and tight.  I cleaned the roof with windex before adhesion.

Do you mean little 1" squares of velcro in the middle? Thanks!

 

[B and C]

Not velcro in the middle.  I used some of the packing foam they used to ship the panels cut into ~1 inch squares and then used packing tape to fasten them to the bottom of the panels in several locations (not near the edges) to support the panel above the roof.  I do not know the longevity of doing it this way.  I guess it is an experiment at this point.  I have two 100 Watt panels on the roof and 2 remote panels.

 

[Duramax Express]

I wonder how long before we start seeing a high failure rate of these bendable panels.  Renogy had issues already with them.


They do have the grommets that one could use to attach panel, and be able to remove it if/when it fails:

http://www.weldmountsystem.com/

Not sure how this adhesive deals with UV light in the long term.

Awesome information Sternwake, which size did you go with?

 

[skyl4rk]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000..._QL70&keywords=industrial+strength+velcro

 

[SternWake]

Awesome information Sternwake, which size did you go with?

I have no personal experience with that product.

I would go with the biggest diameter that will fit the Grommet and just long enough to get a few threads above the nut.

My flexible panel is a unisolar pvl-68, no longer made, which is adhesive backed, my other is a framed panel attached to my fiberglasss roof, with fiberglass reinforced wood corners/feet