Best glue to stick a solar panel to a van roof?

[poot_traveller]

I know VHB foam tape is the best for sticking solar panels to van roofs, but specifically what type/size of VHB foam tape should I use?; because there is so many variants.

 

[maki2]

Just order it from a solar panel company. They are going to stock the correct type.

 

[Cammalu]

I lost two panels that were stuck on with VHB tape last year. Just saying. They stayed up there for a whole year or two then kablooey they were gone..

 

[jimindenver]

Cammula

Look what I did with Lou's trailer. I used 5 yards of tape for two panels.

 

[poot_traveller]

Just order it from a solar panel company. They are going to stock the correct type.

None of them stock tape of any kind.

I wonder if this is the correct type:

https://www.hardypackaging.co.nz/pr...sided-tape-clam-19-13-7-1?variant=39073281101

 

[poot_traveller]

I lost two panels that were stuck on with VHB tape last year. Just saying. They stayed up there for a whole year or two then kablooey they were gone..

The VHB tape on both panels failed at the exact same time??

 

[Cammalu]

The same trip anyway. And when we checked the others were loose

 

[CosmickGold]

I believe in rust-proof, self-locking nuts and bolts myself.
It would be so terrible if a solar panel went sailing through the next vehicles windshield!
Also, there needs to be airflow under the panels to help cool them, since solar panels make less power while too hot.

 

[Gypsy Freedom]

None of them stock tape of any kind.

i would take that as an omen

 

[Weldman]

I have Renogy panels, they make their own brackets which I bolted on with stainless steel bolts then took angle aluminum the length from one bracket to the next and riveted those to brackets with stainless steel rivets. Then glued them on the roof with 5200 which works well cause I have fiberglass roof, might take that idea and try it with whatever tape or glue you use. More surface to hold to the substrate, I then made a air dam to go over the most forward panels which help prevent uplift using vintage drip cap used over windows and doors.

 

[RoadStar66]

I know VHB foam tape is the best for sticking solar panels to van roofs, but specifically what type/size of VHB foam tape should I use?;  because there is so many variants.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-1-x-9-f...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

The widest I've seen is 1". You can cut it down if you need a narrower strip or stick them side-by-side to make a larger patch.

This really is amazing stuff. Used in the auto manufacture industry to put car parts together. Stands up to heat better than anything I've seen short of the most hi-tech epoxies. And a hell of a lot easier to use and can be sliced through if it's necessary to remove it, which you can't do with epoxy.

 

[RoadStar66]

I know VHB foam tape is the best for sticking solar panels to van roofs, but specifically what type/size of VHB foam tape should I use?;  because there is so many variants.

As for panels coming off. Include a backup teather line so that if the panel comes off, the worst that will happen is it will bounce around on top of side of your vehicle and cause a few hundred dollars damage to paint/body.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-1-x-9-f...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

The widest I've seen is 1". You can cut it down if you need a narrower strip or stick them side-by-side to make a larger patch.

This really is amazing stuff. Used in the auto manufacture industry to put car parts together. Stands up to heat better than anything I've seen short of the most hi-tech epoxies. And a hell of a lot easier to use and can be sliced through if it's necessary to remove it, which you can't do with epoxy.

 

[jimindenver]

The same trip anyway. And when we checked the others were loose

The rest of the story is that GS used only the mounting feet with the tape. That is only a area of 1 inch by 3 inches at best and not enough surface area for the tape to hold. The second thing is you two had just been through a car wash and the acid they use does nothing good for adhesive.

Look at the mounts used for VHB tape and you will see that they are 2 inches wide and wrap around the corners of the panel for 3-4 inches each side. Lot of surface area for the tape to hold on to.

 

[poot_traveller]

The same trip anyway. And when we checked the others were loose

I understand you went through a car wash which uses a mild acid.  Given that you lost two panels on the same trip and the other panels were also loose, I'd say the mild acid loosened the tape.

 

[poot_traveller]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-1-x-9-f...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

The widest I've seen is 1". You can cut it down if you need a narrower strip or stick them side-by-side to make a larger patch.

This really is amazing stuff. Used in the auto manufacture industry to put car parts together. Stands up to heat better than anything I've seen short of the most hi-tech epoxies. And a hell of a lot easier to use and can be sliced through if it's necessary to remove it, which you can't do with epoxy.

Yeah thanks.  I ordered it in my own country rather than eBay, or else it would take 2-3 weeks to arrive.

 

[poot_traveller]

As for panels coming off. Include a backup teather line so that if the panel comes off, the worst that will happen is it will bounce around on top of side of your vehicle and cause a few hundred dollars damage to paint/body.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-1-x-9-f...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

The widest I've seen is 1". You can cut it down if you need a narrower strip or stick them side-by-side to make a larger patch.

This really is amazing stuff. Used in the auto manufacture industry to put car parts together. Stands up to heat better than anything I've seen short of the most hi-tech epoxies. And a hell of a lot easier to use and can be sliced through if it's necessary to remove it, which you can't do with epoxy.

No tether line, I'm going all in with 100% confidence in VHB tape.  If I used a tether line then that means I'm not confident the tape won't fail and it that case I'm better off bolting it to the roof.

 

[Gypsy Freedom]

that is not a wise attitude. i have never had a trailer come disconnected, nor do i ever expect it to happen. but i ALWAYS use safety chains

but a tether for a solar panel needs to be stronger than one thinks. if you think about it, the solar panels are teathered to the rig from the 2 power cables. those are dam strong, ever tried to break one? yet every time i hear about a taped on panel coming loose, the story is the same. panels are just gone. i never hear about people saying "i heard this loud banging and pulled over to find my panels hanging by the wires and beating up the side of my rig"

lets assume the tape is installed perfectly and the tape bond is strong enough to hold the panels. it is only holding them to the paint? ever seen paint peel off? i sure have, heck i have pulled up masking tape that was left too long and had some paint come with it.

sure the tape is cool stuff, but to count on it to hold something on your roof, that if it comes off at high speed could kill the person behind you. i dont think it is that cool

 

[poot_traveller]

that is not a wise attitude. i have never had a trailer come disconnected, nor do i ever expect it to happen. but i ALWAYS use safety chains

but a tether for a solar panel needs to be stronger than one thinks. if you think about it, the solar panels are teathered to the rig from the 2 power cables. those are dam strong, ever tried to break one? yet every time i hear about a taped on panel coming loose, the story is the same. panels are just gone. i never hear about people saying "i heard this loud banging and pulled over to find my panels hanging by the wires and beating up the side of my rig"

lets assume the tape is installed perfectly and the tape bond is strong enough to hold the panels. it is only holding them to the paint? ever seen paint peel off? i sure have, heck i have pulled up masking tape that was left too long and had some paint come with it.

sure the tape is cool stuff, but to count on it to hold something on your roof, that if it comes off at high speed could kill the person behind you. i dont think it is that cool

Will Prowse does how-to video's for solar panel installation on vehicles and he talks highly about the strength of VHB tape:

My paint job is 20 years old and I can't rely on it to hold a panel.  I'm going to sand the paint back to the steel, use rubbing alcohol to clean it, then apply VHB tape.

btw has anyone ever tested whether a tether line can even hold a flaying solar panel that has come disconnected from it's mounts?. The tether line could just be giving a false sense of security.

 

[highdesertranger]

Will is not the last word in fact I find him to give, lets just say not the best advice at times. there are many people I would listen to before him, Jim in Denver would be my go to expert. Jim has been doing it for years and years, as far as I can tell Will has been an expert for just over 2 years.

don't get me wrong Will does have some good advice. it's just like everything on the internet, take it with a grain of salt.

being against safety cables because it undermines you confidence is just plain silly if you ask me. do you wear a seat belt?

highdesertranger

 

[maki2]

None of them stock tape of any kind.

You need to be more careful about posting such a statement that says none of the solar companies stock tape because that is certain to put egg on your face. What it says to me is you did not actually check to see if what you posted was true or false. In this case you have indeed given false information.

https://amsolar.com/rv-mounting-accessories/91m-vhb

http://www.aurinco.com/mounting-aids_us.html

https://lamatek.com/products/tapes/high-bond-tapes/solar-panel-tape

Also you can contact the companies and ask to purchase tape from them or ask which product number for 3M VHB tape they recommend. Typically to do include tape when you purchase kits. But as many companies sell the brackets you can also request tape when you make a separate purchase of brackets. Just because it is not in their online store front it does not mean they won't sell some to you.