hi kezngaz, as solar panels generate a lot of heat,i suggest using Selleys Armourflex [bunnings]...TI Terry would know the other brand,Terry where are ya?

Just done it, Sikaflex have on their site, instructions on how to go about this.

Thanks for the replies guys..
Plenty to go off there and also the search threw up a few good ideas, thanks once again.
Kezngaz.

Hi.
IF glueing to roof.
Just remember it'd be nice to have a bit of airflow under.
They DO get very hot in sun.
and Hotter the panel. Lesser the output.
Read on it.


1 1\2 -2 in Angle. Rivet to that. I use three each side.
Length to suit length of panel.

then a mix of Sika "PRO" (The original "sticks like s--t to blanket glue.)
Rivets through roof sheets (with Sika round them). with s\s screws where drill finds frame member,
for extra grip, also with sika.
Sika cable to roof and through Junc box into roof.
I also fill box with sika too, Less leaking in.

Multi panels each side.
Linked together.
One cable across roof then Both joined INSIDE sparky Junct box.
One cable down to reg. Box parked over hole in roof.

I've mix and matched panels in line and overall.
All the rg reads in Amps through cable. (50w\80w\85w)
Also 160\200w on current van.

Di watching\listening to all those young Screechers on that prog tonight.
Louder you can screech . better you are. Apparently.
Then they start that stupid bird warbling through the notes.
Sheesh.
If only they realised what they sounded like.

ME. I got an old Harry Seacombe classic on at moment.
Them Sibelius 4th after. Not many got that one.

Beautiful music through Electrostat Headphones..
They also leave cones for dead.

I've also got some old classic Scottish Bagpipe Dirges on tape too.
They take a bit of getting your head round.

I've got to finish transferring my old tapes and records.
Some of the old classic tapes are starting to stick face to face
Bummer.
Lost a few so far. 2 x Stravinsky and Mahlers final, unfinished.

Anybody got a copy?.

macka17 wrote:

---

Hi.
IF glueing to roof.
Just remember it'd be nice to have a bit of airflow under.
They DO get very hot in sun.
and Hotter the panel. Lesser the output.
Read on it.


1 1\2 -2 in Angle. Rivet to that. I use three each side.
Length to suit length of panel.

then a mix of Sika "PRO" (The original "sticks like s--t to blanket glue.)
Rivets through roof sheets (with Sika round them). with s\s screws where drill finds frame member,
for extra grip, also with sika.
Sika cable to roof and through Junc box into roof.
I also fill box with sika too, Less leaking in.

Multi panels each side.
Linked together.
One cable across roof then Both joined INSIDE sparky Junct box.
One cable down to reg. Box parked over hole in roof.

I've mix and matched panels in line and overall.
All the rg reads in Amps through cable. (50w\80w\85w)
Also 160\200w on current van.

Di watching\listening to all those young Screechers on that prog tonight.
Louder you can screech . better you are. Apparently.
Then they start that stupid bird warbling through the notes.
Sheesh.
If only they realised what they sounded like.

ME. I got an old Harry Seacombe classic on at moment.
Them Sibelius 4th after. Not many got that one.

Beautiful music through Electrostat Headphones..
They also leave cones for dead.

I've also got some old classic Scottish Bagpipe Dirges on tape too.
They take a bit of getting your head round.

I've got to finish transferring my old tapes and records.
Some of the old classic tapes are starting to stick face to face
Bummer.
Lost a few so far. 2 x Stravinsky and Mahlers final, unfinished.

Anybody got a copy?.

---

 Macka, Are you lost and straying again? The topic is attaching solar panels to RV`s. Just put Harry and your bagpipes away for a while.

Dominating and loud conversation?

If these posts were an Question. Answer, and snip. stop.

This forum would be a very boring place.
might as well call it a reference book.
With an index. and turn off switch.

What ever happened to conversations.

The original forum. which a certain little fella and his mates ruined.

Had a nice little personal chat link.
Open at certain hrs of days. (from-to)

Log in, and one on one conversations, All at once.
about anything till closing time. 1, 5, or 10. no difference.

Anybody nasty.
Ignore. They'll go away when everybody talks around them.

Good system I reckon.

HEY BOSS LADY???????????/ Helllooooooooo.

:lol: always a laugh to be had on this forum, so much better than the old grumpy men over on that other forum.
Selleys Armourflex is the replacement for Sikaflex 11FC as it does not require special primers, just a roughened clean surface each side, does not degrade in sunlight the way Sika does (yellow powdery where exposed to the sun) and can be smoothed with a finger dipped in either metho or soapy water. Dried clean up with turps, uncured clean up with metho.
The other stuff is Simson 70-03, needs a proper primer for maximum adhesion but it is incredibly strong and withstands much higher temps than Sika 11FC or Selleys Armourflex.
Mounting the panels, either 50 x 25mm x 1.6mm thick angle or 70 x 25 x 1.6 angle. Mount the long side to the panel, I use 6mm rivet nuts in the panel and 6mm stainless bolts so the panel is easily removed if needed, but your choice of fastners, mark out where the 25mm part of the angle (under the panel looks best) rough up the surface of the angle and roof, a good thick double run bead of Armourflex, put the angle onto the glue, half a doz 2 ltr milk bottle full of water on the panel each side, smooth the outer edges with a finger dipped in soapy water or metho and clean up the errors with metho on a rag, then let it cure for a day. Take the bottles off and if you really feel the need, take the panel off and fill in any gaps where the glue didn't squeeze out on the inside edge, more to make you feel better than the need to hold the panel down, you won't get that angle back off without cutting the Armourflex and the longer it's up there the tougher the glue gets as it cures all the way through. Been doing this for quite some time, the last 3 yrs using Armourflex and never had a panel come off or even look like coming off. Had a few let go between the Lexan Thermoclear and semi flexible panels but still haven't lost one of them either, but we mount those differently now anyway to get around the difference in expansion issues.

T1 Terry

kezngaz wrote:

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.... to secure panel framework to roof of caravan, ....

---

 You mustn't secure the panels to the roof. There must be an air gap underneath them.

You must purchase some proper monts which are fixed to your panels and it is the mounts which you can glue to the roof.

 

Hylife wrote:

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kezngaz wrote:

---

.... to secure panel framework to roof of caravan, ....

---

 You mustn't secure the panels to the roof. There must be an air gap underneath them.

You must purchase some proper monts which are fixed to your panels and it is the mounts which you can glue to the roof.

 

---

Be very careful using these style of mounts on a caravan roof. The mounts are great but it is how well the roof sheets are attached is the problem. The mount feet will stick to the roof sheet if the correct adhesive and preparation is used but more often than not the roof sheeting on a caravan is floating and only held on by the glue each side where it slides under the moulding strip. Full length of the panel aluminium angle with sides high enough to lift the panel clear of the roof to allow airflow helps stiffen the roof and spread the load across a much larger area of the roof sheet resisting the lifting effect that will pull the roof sheet out of the edge molding creating water leaks like you won't believe.

 

T1 Terry

rockylizard wrote:

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Gday...

 DAMN ... my solar panels are mounted on those mounts 

Been there for six years now ... they must have been attached for over 90,000Km.

I wonder when (rather than if it seems) they are likely to either lift off, or damage or create leaks in the roof. 

OH ... praps my van's roof is different to all the others. 

Cheers - John

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Sounds like either the mount blocks were screwed to the timber frame or the roof skin is not the floating skin type, you would have seen the results after the very first trip otherwise.

 

T1 Terry 

Ok, so ive been shopping now so just need to put it all in and on.
Thought id upgrade the cable on the back of the new panels first.......

Id have been lucky to get 1.2v with the original wire i think!!

 Kezngaz.

kezngaz wrote:

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Ok, so ive been shopping now so just need to put it all in and on.
Thought id upgrade the cable on the back of the new panels first.......

Id have been lucky to get 1.2v with the original wire i think!!

 Kezngaz.

---

 Hi Keznga

I think that picture is worth a thousand words about what to do with the cheap panels. The panels are OK but the crappy wiring and sometimes poor position of the reg let them down. Put some decent larger wiring and the regulator near the battery and 'Bobs your uncle'

Cheers jaahn

snip- Hi Keznga smile

I think that picture is worth a thousand words about what to do with the cheap panels. The panels are OK but the crappy wiring and sometimes poor position of the reg let them down. Put some decent larger wiring and the regulator near the battery and 'Bobs your uncle' biggrin

Cheers jaahn -sinp

what regulator??