Mike Schriber
San Diego, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I'm going to be mounting up an aluminum framed solar panel soon. I bought a set of generic "Z" brackets for the job. These brackets have a pretty big hole (about 1/4") and I'm looking for advice on how to attach them to the roof. I'm thinking I'll need to use a bushing and washers to reduce the size or drill a pair of smaller additional holes.
I'd love to hear what others have done and what sort of fasteners you used.
Thanks!
Mike
2006 Damon Daybreak 3276 37' bunkhouse
2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited
SoCal Family Campers
|
Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
Hi,
I cut some 2" angle aluminum into 6" long brackets, and drill 3 each 3/16" holes in one side, and 1- 5/16" in the other side for a 1/4-20 bolt into the solar panels. I put in 1/4-20 Nutserts into the solar panel, and then loosely attach the bolt, figure out where the mounts need to go, then secure them one at a time. I used lots of rubber roof sealant below each mount, put in the 3 #10 screws, then put more sealant over each screw head and anyplace else you might get water into the RV.
I ran my #10 UV rated gray Romex down the refrigerator vent, with a little help from a coat hanger to help pull in the wire. You can get the aluminum angle and gray romex from Home Depot. IT is called direct burial wire.
On one set-up, my closet is right next to the refrigerator, and I was able to mount the solar controller in that wall, so when I open the closet door and it's light comes on, the controller is back lit, kinda neat. Then I replaced that controller with a 50 amp model, mounting the controller's remote display in the closet wall, and the controller in a basement compartment.
For tilt arms, I used 3/4" angle aluminum that is really thin material, 18" long will tilt my panels about 45 degrees.
Fred.
|
Almot
Vancouver BC
Senior Member
Joined: 03/02/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Fred, did you use knurled rivet nuts 
or standard rivet nuts (same but without knurl)
or rivet nut inserts? 
I can't figure out the difference between nut inserts (nutserts) and standard rivet nuts. It looks like nutserts have thinner flange on the surface (then rivet nuts) after they are installed, but I can't be sure.
|
Mike Schriber
San Diego, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/29/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
So, just #10 screws right into the roof? No worries about finding studs or using molly bolts? I guess I'll just drill two additional holes in each bracket and ignore the existing hole. My panel is going to be mounted flat with no provision for tilting it towards the sun.
How did the solid core Romex work for you? I was planning on using stranded wire.
Thanks!
Mike
|
Almot
Vancouver BC
Senior Member
Joined: 03/02/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
I thought about Romex, but...
If you buy 60 ft single-conductor stranded welding cable #6 to run 30ft from panel to controller, @$1.20 per foot it will cost you $72. Solid core Romex #6 will cost $80 per 30ft roll, double conductor so 30ft roll works for 30ft run. And I am not sure that they sell 30ft roll in Home Depot. Unless you happen to have some free Romex at you workplace  ...
It could be #8 or #10 of course, - depends on the panels and length to controller.
|
|
|
smkettner
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I used a stainless #10 deck screw. I think they hold better than a regular wood screw. Is that wrong?
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675 watts solar
Send a PM if I missed something
|
hypoxia
Arizona
Senior Member
Joined: 04/29/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I use Strongtie A23 2"x3" angle from Lowes or Home Depot @ $0.93@, put Proflex under them & use #8 screws. Nothings blown off yet.
A23
Jim
2003 Fleetwood Revolution 40C
|
renoman69
Edmonton Alberta
Senior Member
Joined: 02/09/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Don't know what your roof is made of but just a number 10 or 12 wood screw with a good blob of Dicor to seal will work. A #12 shouldn't be a problem with a 1/4 inch hole.
2009 Jayco Eagle Superlite 25.5RKS
2008 Silverado 2500HD Z71 4x4 Duramax/Allison
Reese 15K slider
Honda EU2000I,
270 watts of Kyocera solar
Blue Sky 3024i MPPT controller
450 AHs of Trojan power
Iota DLS-75/IQ4 converter
|
renoman69
Edmonton Alberta
Senior Member
Joined: 02/09/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
If you haven't already go HERE for some real good ideas.
|
Almot
Vancouver BC
Senior Member
Joined: 03/02/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
smkettner wrote:I used a stainless #10 deck screw. I think they hold better than a regular wood screw. Is that wrong?
It is not any better than wood screw, for this application. Deck screw head provides better support in wood than regular wood screw, but in this case the head is in the metal.
With mere 3/8" thickness of the roof plywood I think what is holding the bracket down is mostly Dicor - or whatever sealant you use under the bracket, rather than screw  ...
|
|
|
