1800BH solar panel fastening

[msctech]

Hello. 3 questions.

First question is for anyone who has an 1800BH who installed solar panels: what screw length did you use as I want it to be strong however not to penetrate into the ceiling inside?

Second question is anyone who installed solar panels, did you fasten the panel directly to the roof or used angle iron (or aluminum tubing) and fasten at either end then fasten the solar panels to the angle iron?

Also my Heliene 72m-320 solar panels didn't come with mounting brackets. Is there a generic bracket that would work with them or do I need to measure as there may not be a standard from one solar panel manufacturer to another?

 

[jxnbbl]

The panels I used came with 'feet' brackets that you attach directly to the roof. I basically used screws that would be just long enough to penetrate the roof deck entirely +1/4 inch for the thickness of the feet + the sealant that I used to "glue" the feet to the roof membrane.

 

[440scout]

Hello. 3 questions.

First question is for anyone who has an 1800BH who installed solar panels: what screw length did you use as I want it to be strong however not to penetrate into the ceiling inside?

Second question is anyone who installed solar panels, did you fasten the panel directly to the roof or used angle iron (or aluminum tubing) and fasten at either end then fasten the solar panels to the angle iron?

Also my Heliene 72m-320 solar panels didn't come with mounting brackets. Is there a generic bracket that would work with them or do I need to measure as there may not be a standard from one solar panel manufacturer to another?

The mounting brackets are called Z brackets. I used four Z brackets for 100 watt panels and six Z brackets for 200 watts and larger panels. Some Z brackets come with nuts and bolts to fasten them to the solar panel. Others come with nice looking stainless steel screws but those screws are self tapping for metal roofs, don't use them, their threads are not course enough to hold firmly to a wood roof. Instead use #14 one inch long stainless steel pan head screws and get a tube of self leveling Dicor to seal under and on top of the Z brackets and screws. Thats how I mounted my 200 watt panels 5 years ago

 

[msctech]

The mounting brackets are called Z brackets. I used four Z brackets for 100 watt panels and six Z brackets for 200 watts and larger panels. Some Z brackets come with nuts and bolts to fasten them to the solar panel. Others come with nice looking stainless steel screws but those screws are self tapping for metal roofs, don't use them, their threads are not course enough to hold firmly to a wood roof. Instead use #14 one inch long stainless steel pan head screws and get a tube of self leveling Dicor to seal under and on top of the Z brackets and screws. Thats how I mounted my 200 watt panels 5 years ago

Wonderful. I was originally going to use those brackets however I didn't know what they were called. Someone said to me "in order to minimize damage to the roof, I should consider using the brackets to mount to aluminum angle instead and then mount the solar panels to the aluminum angle and the brackets to use at each end of the aluminum angle and possibly one in the middle to prevent sag due to weight. The brackets would be used to keep the aluminum angle to prevent water being trapped and to add air flow for under the panels. Did anyone on this forum use a system of aluminum angle or similar to mount their panels to the roof or do most people mount them directly to the Z brackets?

 

[msctech]

The mounting brackets are called Z brackets. I used four Z brackets for 100 watt panels and six Z brackets for 200 watts and larger panels. Some Z brackets come with nuts and bolts to fasten them to the solar panel. Others come with nice looking stainless steel screws but those screws are self tapping for metal roofs, don't use them, their threads are not course enough to hold firmly to a wood roof. Instead use #14 one inch long stainless steel pan head screws and get a tube of self leveling Dicor to seal under and on top of the Z brackets and screws. Thats how I mounted my 200 watt panels 5 years ago

I managed to get a proper mounting system for it however for the #14 pan head screws, they only had 1" and 1.5" available at my local shop. I took 1.5" due to the bracket thickness is just under 1/4". What's the max size screw that I should use? I knew 1" wasn't going to be good enough since less than 3/4" would penetrate the camper roof. If they're a tad too long and I should have less than an inch to penetrate from the outside in, I could use washers as spacers. I was hoping for 1.25" screws and they don't carry them.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

You should be fine with 1 1/2” screws. The roof structure is much thicker than that, and I cannot see any way that a screw that length would ever breach the interior ceiling.

 

[JRTJH]

Rob is correct in saying that the "attic structure" is much thicker/taller than 1.5".. That said, there are air conditioner ducting runs in the ceiling attic space along with both AC and DC wiring runs. So, think through where you intend to mount the panels and where the screws will be located, then go inside the trailer, visualize those areas and look for any hints of duct runs in the same location. It's fairly easy to identify where the ducting runs are located, just look for two "ceiling vents" and you can pretty much be sure there's a duct running directly between the two vents.

 

[msctech]

The install of the solar panels are near complete. Just unfortunate how thin the roof is. Had to get someone about 120Lbs to go and tighten the panels where our arms weren't long enough. A crunch sound was detected at one point when crawling on the roof on hands and knees.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

The thin roof is a result of weight saving measures on those lightweight campers. Our 2019 Passport was the same so I did most of my roof work from a ladder against the side. When I needed to get up there, I used a large piece of 2" thick rigid foam board to spread my weight out across two or more rafters. Also, early on I had used a black sharpie to make little tic-marks along the roof edges where each rafter was as a quick reference so I could still get up there if I didn't have my foam board handy.

 

[mikehoyt]

On previous TT (Cherokee Wolf Pup 16PF) I replaced the original panel with two 100 watt panels. I used this kit from Amazon for the installation. It came with everything including screws

https://www.amazon.ca/Yaesport-Solar-Mounting-Brackets-Installation/dp/B08HT2WW37/ref=asc_df_B08HT2WW37?mcid=16f26ba20f1b3bf0942a7d1455d9d0ad&tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=706745350753&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10530315798530506378&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9191183&hvtargid=pla-1122660398586&psc=1&hvocijid=10530315798530506378-B08HT2WW37-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Mike
2022 Keystone Passport 221BH

 

[JRTJH]

On pervious TT (Cherokee Wolf Pup 16PF) I replaced the original panel with two 100 watt panels. I used this kit from Amazon for the installation. It came with everything including screws

https://www.amazon.ca/your-orders/p...HT2WW37=GkB1gmp8H&packageId=1&asin=B08HT2WW37

Mike
2022 Keystone Passport 221BH

Your link goes to the Amazon sign in page, not to the product. You'll need to go to the product page, log out of your Amazon account, then copy the URL of the product. If you're logged in, often the "security features" will not allow anyone else to access your account by stopping the URL from accessing anything "inside" your Amazon account.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

Every product page on Amazon has a generic link that you simply click, copy and paste whether you are signed in or not, it only generates a link that takes you to that product and does not give away any state secrets. As an added bonus, it doesn't require a link that is a paragraph long, just a short and sweet link that takes you where you need to go.

 

[JRTJH]

Every product page on Amazon has a generic link that you simply click, copy and paste whether you are signed in or not, it only generates a link that takes you to that product and does not give away any state secrets. As an added bonus, it doesn't require a link that is a paragraph long, just a short and sweet link that takes you where you need to go.


View attachment 1321740

Based on his posted link, I'd suspect that he copied the link on his order page, not on the item page. The link starts: "https://www.amazon.ca/your-orders/p...HT2WW3......" And, to get to that item link, someone would need to log into that member's Amazon account to view the orders page...

 

[mikehoyt]

Your link goes to the Amazon sign in page, not to the product. You'll need to go to the product page, log out of your Amazon account, then copy the URL of the product. If you're logged in, often the "security features" will not allow anyone else to access your account by stopping the URL from accessing anything "inside" your Amazon account.

Link fixed. Thanks for the heads up

 

[flybouy]

If you use the web to go to Amazon instead of the app the share icon (a < sybol with a circle on each end) will be in the same place as in Robs picture.