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Solar Panel
- Thread starter Tom Sutor
- Start date
Tom Sutor
Novice
Mount was made with square aluminum tubing taped to the roof with 3M VHB tape. The 50 watt panel sits on the square tubes and is held down with clamps made out of aluminum angle. Stainless bolts are anchored in the square tubes. The mount works well, the panel is easily mounted and removed, and the mount was inexpensive. No holes were drilled in the camper. I used a rechargeable drill and a hacksaw to build it.
Great job. Nice that you can remove it so easily and reposition it. Great way to transport the panel if nothing else!
How strong is the 3M tape? Any worries about it blowing off on the road?
I am wondering if this would work for my 120W Zamp suitcase (ZS-120-P). 41 x 35 x 1.5 inches?
Randy
How strong is the 3M tape? Any worries about it blowing off on the road?
I am wondering if this would work for my 120W Zamp suitcase (ZS-120-P). 41 x 35 x 1.5 inches?
Randy
Tom Sutor
Novice
Thanks. I don't leave it on the roof when traveling. The VHB tape is real strong and would hold the panel on while traveling, but I think the mpg would suffer. Usually wipe it off and lay it inside the camper.
I could mount another 50 watt panel on the other side and hook the two together, but I don't need that much charging capacity. My DC fridge is in the truck.
I could mount another 50 watt panel on the other side and hook the two together, but I don't need that much charging capacity. My DC fridge is in the truck.
I am most interested in using a mount system while driving. One less thing to have to pack and unpack on arrival. I wonder what impact it would really have on MPG and how much air would get underneath it. My fear would be having the mounts come loose resulting in the panel flying off on the road more so than a nominal impact on gas mileage.
Steve and Karen
Ranger
Tom: Nice job. The curve of the 550 was something that I didn't have to contend with on the 560. My only concern would be that cute panel growing legs if you weren't near it. I was able to fix mine with some security hardware; from your photos I think you might be able to do the same. If you were so inclined, or concerned. Here's what I used...
Randy: I can vouch for the VHB tape being more than sufficient to hold. Particularly with the metal-to-metal bond. I posted some numbers on my build Modular Roof-mount Solar Complete regarding the shear and tensile strength of the tape. Further... I had to later reposition my mount which meant mechanically removing the tape. No small feat, but do-able. That exercise allayed any fears that I might have had about the unit coming off at highway speed.
Randy: I can vouch for the VHB tape being more than sufficient to hold. Particularly with the metal-to-metal bond. I posted some numbers on my build Modular Roof-mount Solar Complete regarding the shear and tensile strength of the tape. Further... I had to later reposition my mount which meant mechanically removing the tape. No small feat, but do-able. That exercise allayed any fears that I might have had about the unit coming off at highway speed.