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09-05-2020, 02:42 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Elkhorn
Posts: 15
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Rafter locations for solar panel install
Posts: 3
With the installation of solar being discussed, where can I get information on locations of rafters? I believe they are spaced 16 inches on center, but I'd like to have measurements from a vent to find starting point.
2021 HC 331RL
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09-05-2020, 03:16 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
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Of the hundreds of solar panels I have installed on RV roofs, location of rafters hasn’t mattered. Point of entry for the cables seems to be more important IMO.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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09-05-2020, 03:24 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Elkhorn
Posts: 15
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Thank for your quick reply. My 2021 HC 331rl is basically plug and play with Jaboni system. Mount panel, plug into roof port, connect charge controller to wires behind basement bulkhead, install remote display in pre drool opening and connect plug in wire. Your done. I know with the 7/8" took decking it should be fine. Just wanted to hey a rafter toward the front of the panel for security.
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09-05-2020, 03:54 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
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If it helps, I haven’t had or heard of a failure yet.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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09-05-2020, 05:48 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,836
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainDave
Thank for your quick reply. My 2021 HC 331rl is basically plug and play with Jaboni system. Mount panel, plug into roof port, connect charge controller to wires behind basement bulkhead, install remote display in pre drool opening and connect plug in wire. Your done. I know with the 7/8" took decking it should be fine. Just wanted to hey a rafter toward the front of the panel for security.
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I don't know of any Keystone RV that has 7/8" roof decking (I think that's what you meant to say with the "took decking" in your post)...
The Montana HC line is built with 5/8" floor decking and 3/8" roof decking. There's not any 7/8" decking anywhere in the construction.
As for the roof decking, all of the solar panel installations that I've seen are done with components that span the spaces and "hit or miss" the rafters. All of them have had no failures due to panels separating from the mounts. As Chuck stated, I'd be more concerned with routing of the electrical connections than with finding rafters to secure the panel arrays.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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09-05-2020, 06:07 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Elkhorn
Posts: 15
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Thank you, sorry about my spelling, and I meant to say 7/16" decking. That is what I have on my paperwork. The new 2021 are fully solar preped as a docking port is installed on the roof and the wires are strung to convenient locations to ease in instillation. Jaboni partnered with Montana over that last 1.5 years to improve in "solar preped". Jaboni has some nice YouTube videos on their products featuring Montanas.
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09-05-2020, 06:16 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
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Jaboni was putting solar prep on Grand Design units when I left that dealership. 95% of the solar installs I did were from scratch using mostly GoPower components.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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09-06-2020, 06:53 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,392
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Is this the tech you are talking about?
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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09-06-2020, 06:57 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,664
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Use a Stud Finder and then you'll know. Stud finders work on aluminum framing as well as wood.
__________________
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Duramax HD 6.6 - 3500 Diesel Dully Long bed Crew Cab
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09-06-2020, 07:54 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Elkhorn
Posts: 15
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Thank you, great idea
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