Brainstorming Help: - Flexible Solar Panel Install on RV Roof
ScoCan
Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭
About to put three 150 Watt semi-flexible solar panels on the fiberglass (FRP) roof of our 24' RV.
Each panels measure about 52" by 26.5" and weights about 8 pounds out of the box.
(Thanks largely to a number of folks here, the rest of the system is now on order and hopefully arriving late this week)
Some criteria I'm looking to meet:
Panels will be 'permanently' mounted (glued) to a backing which is:
I would like to mount them using bracketing which will give me:
For the backing, I am currently considering:
What would you use? Ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Each panels measure about 52" by 26.5" and weights about 8 pounds out of the box.
(Thanks largely to a number of folks here, the rest of the system is now on order and hopefully arriving late this week)
Some criteria I'm looking to meet:
Panels will be 'permanently' mounted (glued) to a backing which is:
- thermally conductive - to allow for cooling
- has minimal thermal expansion
- is rigid enough to support panels without significant deflection (i.e. flutter) when driving
- is lightweight
- reasonably cost effective.
I would like to mount them using bracketing which will give me:
- approx. 1" to 1.5" standoff - for airflow under to cool panel
- allow for tilt adjustment
- allow the panel to be removed relatively easily.
For the backing, I am currently considering:
- aluminum plate in the 1/8" (.120-.125) thickness range - possibly with stiffeners.
- aluminum honeycomb in the 1/2" thickness range
What would you use? Ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Comments
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Re: Brainstorming Help: - Flexible Solar Panel Install on RV Roof
What does the panel mfg recommend for backing? Differential expansion between the panel and backing can rip the panels apart.
Cooling wise, I would not worry too much. Unless you mount them at a 45 degree angle with 3 or more inches of air space behind the panels, you are not probably going to get any meaningful cooling with a horizontal 1 inch air gap.
In my humble opinion.
-BillNear San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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