Mounting Solar Panels

[mccammonds]

I will be mounting two  120 watt panels to the top of my rig.   I would like to call on anyones experience of drilling and securing anything like these panels to the fiberglass roof on our clippers.

  I have fabricated  a piece of 2x2x1/8 aluminum angle 6 inches long  as feet to lay flat on the surface.  Then I bolted a 5 inch upright  on the angle to fasten to the panel.   Four of these per panel.   I have planned on drilling  two holes per pedestal that are about an 1/8th inch in diameter in the fiberglass then using 1/4inch lag screws 3/4 inch long to secure the aluminum to the surface. 

Would welcome any input on this matter. 

[Rodney]

Hi Mac,
hows the project going?
the glass on the roof is not that thick so I would suggest using molly and an adhesive between the bracket and roof panel.
let us know how its going.
Rodney

[mccammonds]

Thanks for the reply.

I will have three holes per foot plate.  Do you reckon that with, say a 3/16th hole and using a 1/4 in lag screw I might have enough  of a bite in the fiberglass  to hold those panels down

Are you saying I should use something like a butterfly molly?

[JerryT]

Hi Mac
I have some pics of the roof construction over the bunk. FYI, the aluminum strip that joins the ceiling panels at the 4' mark is really an 13/4X3/4" I Beam with an 2X2 on each side screwed together thru it. The center area of the roof is a three part composit of gelcoat wood and figerglass. I will try to show this in my pics. I have some solar questions for you but am out of time right now.
JerryT

[phjak]

I had a 100 watt panel mounted on my roof for three or four years and took it off because of leaks which I just did not want to put up with anymore.  Living in Oregon the trade off to me is not worth the hassle.  All I could manage was one winter leak free.  I lived in Chico for 17 years so I am quite sure you will have less of a problem.   If I had it to do over again, I would try to do so with out screwing into the fiberglass.  How that would be done, I am not sure. If you have any specific questions I would be glad to try to answer them for you.

[mccammonds]

Thanks for the replies.
I'm scheduled to put the panels on Friday.  Will try and take some pictures and put them on the forum.

[mccammonds]

I finally got the panels mounted.  They are now cranking out the amps to keep those two big Trojan L-16 heavy duty batteries charged.    We?re leaving this week to head to the desert to do some serious boondocking (dry camping).

I used a 3/16 bit to drill holes in the roof.  Then after applying a very generous portion of a good roof cement/caulk  I used some 1/4 inch lag screws to hold the feet down. 

I used some wire loom around the wires to cut down on the UV effect and ran the wires into the vent pipe.    I ran them down about two inched then came out in the closet.   

I used the same method to mount my Direct Tv Satellite dish just behind the vent over the bathroom. 

I will leave the mounting bracket and pipe on while we travel and take the dish off and store it on the bed.