Fixing solar panels to van roof

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Fixing solar panels to van roof

aussie_paul · Guru

I have Tom. Jayco Ballarat mounted a 120watt panel when we bought the van, and recently I needed to add another panel. I bought a 200 watt and mounted it on our 24' Sterling. I did have a thread here on the forum BUT cannot negotiate my way thru this forum to find it!!! disbelief I will get the ladder out tomorrow and take some pics to show how Jayco and myself achieved this.

Aussie Paul. smile

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Thank Paul, that would be brilliant and very much appreciated.

aussie_paul · Guru

Here we go Tom. You can find more solid beams near the roof openings. I used the roof where the top of the wall meets the roof, and more solid areas around the roof openings. I took some video as well so I will see if I can get that up. biggrin

Aussie Paul. smile

aussie_paul · Guru

Not sure if this will work BUT giving it a go.

Aussie Paul. smile

ps. nope, have to think of another way biggrin

https://youtu.be/5ncbx5L59ZU

https://youtu.be/Z0jir4sWieY

-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 28th of November 2015 05:49:53 PM

-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 28th of November 2015 05:59:13 PM

Dav4Cris · Senior Member

Hi Tom,
I have a 2010 Jayco Sterling with 500w of solar fitted to the roof, I am going to add another 200 watts soon. I mounted the panels on aluminum angle with 1 screw per bracket to mount to the roof. The screws where 10mm long S/S screws. I used Sikaflex 11FC to attach the brackets to the roof and the screw was just to help hold the bracket down to the roof while the Sikaflex cured. Have traveled 20,000 klms since then and never had a problem. I did make certain that the holes for the screw had a bit of Sikaflex in them so I would not have a water leak problem.
The next lot of panels I am going to just glue the brackets straight on with some weights on them until the glue is cured. No screws at all.

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Thanks Paul that is great information and it's given me a lot more confidence that I can do the install myself without stuffing it up.

Also thank you Dav4Cris for your thoughts.

The one thing that concerned me the most was finding ares on the roof that would take a screw that would hold a bit of strain. Mainly because I noted that on the roof of my van the very top layer of the roof is not fixed solidly to the ply under it and therefore glue on its own was not going to be sufficient.

Thanks again guys.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Check video's on youtube about re fixing top layer..

Treecrest14 · Senior Member

Tom
Make sure you use fixings that allow an air space under the panel(s) - they work more efficiently when air can circulate under them.

Glen

vanman · Senior Member

I have 4 panels on my van roof totaling 500w.The panels are attached with aluminium right angle brackets that are attached using Sikaflex construction adhesive 11c.

I hope that this helps.

Regards Chris

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Thanks to everyone for their valuable advice, with a bit of luck and weather permitting the job get done next week.