Figuring out the roof

[VanKitten]

I have another thread on the beast and the renovation.   But, now I am at a point where I need to know what to do.

I plan solar panels up top.   I picked our 2 Panasonic 345w panels.  The description is that they are 63.5" X 41.5".     This works with the space I have. 8' x 8'.  

I need to understand the actual size and the actual method of mounting them...because I have to put all the mounting hardware on that roof now...but it will be a month or more before the panels are put up.  (Given the budget..I won't be able to purchase them before then anyway). 

The situation is this.   The roof is a total disaster.   Water damage.  I found a place in AZ that will put a waterproof roof up...flex armor..www.rvroof.com.  Deal is, I have to have The roof ready and all the hardware up there when I take this to them.     So, I plan to just screw in place pieces of scrap aluminum to cover the gaping holes from the AC I removed...and the other holes.   Then use a fairing compound for aluminum to level it out.   Install the two vents...the clips to hold the passive solar hotwater..and the brackets for the solar panels.  Then take it to AZ.

My question is.   Do I buy the flush mount brackets and place them exactly at these diamensions?   Then later..how is this screwed to the panel?  Can I plan on drilling holes in the frame of the panels to screw to?   If not...how is the bracket attached to the panel?   Is the diamension the OD or the panel before frame?

The local solar installers do not know anything about putting these on RVs..their "specialist" will be back from his trip to Equador in April.   I hope to be well past this point in the project long before then.

 

[masterplumber]

If was me, and I had to have the mounts installed without having the panels to measure exactly, I'd mount some kind of track on the roof, and then mount the panels to the tracks later. Posted dimensions aren't very accurate in my experience. And by having adjustability you can change things later as different products come and go. You could use Unistrut, or even Yakima rack tracks. Or even just a piece of aluminum angle down each side.

 

[VanKitten]

If was me, and I had to have the mounts installed without having the panels to measure exactly, I'd mount some kind of track on the roof, and then mount the panels to the tracks later. Posted dimensions aren't very accurate in my experience. And by having adjustability you can change things later as different products come and go. You could use Unistrut, or even Yakima rack tracks. Or even just a piece of aluminum angle down each side.

Yes, I considered this.   But...as I need 8 feet...this would mean 2 four foot racks on each side.   The cost of 4 racks, then the rail along them is cost prohibitive.  Nearly $600 ? Just for that.    Versus $20 in brackets.   So......

 

[VanKitten]

What is the model # of the panels? Have you tried to find an online installation manual? A manual should answer mounting questions I would think.

Guy

The panels are Panasonic vbhn325sa16

Every online install guide I have seen involves having the panels in hand...and mounting them.

Not installing the mounting independent of the panel.     For me to do that, I need to wait a couple months till the budget allows for both the panels and the roof.

 

[DangerBird]

I just had my 18ft 5th wheel roof coated for less than half what rvroof in mesa quoted . Roof was stripped to bare wood (no leaks after 25 yrs) and all new vents, ac cover and ac seal for $1800. Rvroof quoted me $4k! The place that did it is creative coatings in san tan valley. Rick, the owner was great to work with and gave me a lifetime warranty. 480 242 7392 the stuff is like liquid steel and snow white... currently at thr rtr.

 

[masterplumber]

Galvanized Unistrut is available at Home Depot in 10' lengths in the electrical aisle also.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I think it would be a mistake to try mounting the hardware without the panels.  The Kyocera panels I have, you screw the mounts to the pretapped holes in the panels, set them on the roof, and then drill through the mounting brackets into the roof.  There is no way you could mount the brackets first, and then put the panels in later.

 

[galladanb]

That "Unistrut" material sounds like it would be very cool for mounting panels on the roof.

BUT.....?

How would I go about mounting the Unistrut to the van?
I've seen the rack systems and they are NOT cheap...

I also seen rack mount systems at Home Depot and other outlets...
Again not cheap.

I kinda like a McGyver approach... Any DIY type Ideas?

 

[masterplumber]

I've used Unistrut twice, once on a fiberglass topper and again on a pop up truck camper. On the topper I bolted through the roof about 4 places on each run and used large fender washers on the bottom side. Of course I silicones the holes before bolting it all down.

One the pop up it had an aluminum framed roof. I basically did the same thing, but instead of bolting through the roof, I used large self tapping screws into the framing. I used a few more than 4 as I was a little concerned about uplift when hauling a canoe.

Both ways worked well and I never had an issue over many 10s of thousands of miles.