Going to make my own solar panel mounting brackets. Wondering what size angle is best and aluminium or stainless??
erad said
09:14 PM Apr 27, 2018
I would use Aluminium(assuming you have an aluminium van to mount the panels). Reason is that with Stainless steel, the stainless steel is more noble than the aluminium and therefore the Aluminium is more likely to corrode. If you put a SS washer in an aluminium boat hull, it will eat a hole in the hull. OK - that is in sea water, but the principle is still the same. Stainless steel is higher up the Galvanic scale than Aluminium.
madaboutled said
07:32 PM Apr 29, 2018
50 x50 x 1.6 aluminum angle is ample and a 1.8mt length is enough for 1 panel. Cut it into 6 x 300mm lenghts. Cut a 45 degree mitre out of 4 lengths in the middle on 1 face, then you can bend them for the 4 corners.
-- Edited by madaboutled on Sunday 29th of April 2018 07:33:13 PM
Tony Bev said
10:27 PM Apr 30, 2018
My single panel is 300 watts
About nearly 2 metres long, by nearly 1 meter wide
I used 40 x 40 x 6 mm aluminium angle as a full frame
Up to date I have had no problems, but I do not go off road
IAN zzz said
03:08 AM May 1, 2018
I second the suggestion of 50 x50 x 1.6 aluminum angle ... it's what I used
I have 6 panels (150 watts each) attached by nothing but Sikaflex 11FC
Been there for almost 6 years ... would be impossible to remove :)
Stay safe
Aus-Kiwi said
12:45 PM May 1, 2018
Copied Winebago. 80 X 30 mm (or there about ) angle alloy . 150 mm long . Glued and pop riveted to solar panel . Stainless screws with sikoflex into roof . Sikoflex over the whole L section to prevent any leakage or sun UV deterioration..
T1 Terry said
04:52 PM May 1, 2018
We use 70 x 25x 1.6mm aluminium angle glued with Selleys Armourflex to the roof on the 25mm side with no screws and anchored to the panel using 6mm stainless bolts and rivet nuts in the panel frame. We make the aluminium angle the full length of longest sides and leave the other end open for air flow. This method puts no holes in the roof to leak and really holds the panels firmly on the roof yet they can easily be removed and refitted or replaced by undoing the attaching bolts.
This method does not work for the rubber skinned roofs, they need a special frame built that anchors to the 40mm sq tube up each side of the body. Not an easy task but the result is a hassle free solar install that complies with Winabego/Avida requirements so does not void the roof warranty.
T1 Terry
Aus-Kiwi said
10:34 PM May 1, 2018
Aha . Funny you say that . Ours is Winebago Explorer and rubber roof .
50 x50 x 1.6 aluminum angle is ample and a 1.8mt length is enough for 1 panel. Cut it into 6 x 300mm lenghts. Cut a 45 degree mitre out of 4 lengths in the middle on 1 face, then you can bend them for the 4 corners.
-- Edited by madaboutled on Sunday 29th of April 2018 07:33:13 PM
My single panel is 300 watts
About nearly 2 metres long, by nearly 1 meter wide
I used 40 x 40 x 6 mm aluminium angle as a full frame
Up to date I have had no problems, but I do not go off road
I have 6 panels (150 watts each) attached by nothing but Sikaflex 11FC
Been there for almost 6 years ... would be impossible to remove :)
Stay safe
This method does not work for the rubber skinned roofs, they need a special frame built that anchors to the 40mm sq tube up each side of the body. Not an easy task but the result is a hassle free solar install that complies with Winabego/Avida requirements so does not void the roof warranty.
T1 Terry