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.
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
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
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..
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
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