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05-11-2015, 11:55 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 585
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Solar panel without screws
Has anyone attached the glass panels without screws? I just can't bring myself to drilling a hole up there!
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05-11-2015, 12:39 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Using 1" stainless screws is what I did. Not a biggie.
There are several threads here about securing solar panels, many with adhesives.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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05-11-2015, 12:42 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Triple E Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: STETTLER
Posts: 417
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Look at some PL300 polyurethane construction adhesive. If you want it down permanently get some 3M5200 marine caulk adhesive. If you cleaned the roof thoroughly and laid pressure treated 2x4 on the flat in either adhesive-you could screw the panels down to the wood.
__________________
2000 Bounder. 2000 Vanguard 17' boat, 5 dogs, 2 cats, 1 miniature ponies, 1 horse, Massey MF65, 2013 Kia Sorrento, 2003 GMC Sierra Denali Quad Steer- 1 longtime patient wife(56 yrs)
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05-11-2015, 12:53 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Tasmania now, USA/Canada/Alaska in April
Posts: 2,473
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One word - Sikaflex. The whole of my OKA is held together with it including the 3 x 200W solar panels. Not a metal fixing in the whole thing and it has survived thousands of kilometres of washboarded desert roads
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Tony Lee - International Grey Nomad. Picasa Album - Travel Map
RVs. USA - Airstream Cutter; in Australia - MC8 40' DIY Coach conversion & OKA 4x4 MH; in Germany - Hobby Class C; in S America - F350 with 2500 10.6 Bigfoot camper
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05-11-2015, 12:57 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 235
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On our fiberglass roofs, I used 3M VHB (Very High Bonding) double-sided tape. The solar panel on our 06 WGO View 24J was still secure when we sold it after 6 years. We used the same 3M VHB on our current fiberglass roof on a WGO Vista 30W. I don't check it too often after our previous experience but the few times I've been on the roof, it's still tight and secure. Be sure to properly clean the surfaces to be adhered.
__________________
Lee
2010 WGO Vista 30W, 1993 Geo Tracker
Just a user with no RV or mechanical expertise
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05-11-2015, 01:00 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 758
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Lee
One word - Sikaflex. The whole of my OKA is held together with it including the 3 x 200W solar panels. Not a metal fixing in the whole thing and it has survived thousands of kilometres of washboarded desert roads
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I like that OKA! They look like a very tiny Unimog based RV.
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05-11-2015, 04:02 PM
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#7
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,034
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i heard either adhesive or screws will work, no short of evidence in either camp. however, on a fiberglass roof, how think is the fiberglass layer? not much when i worked on my tv antenna there was a hole where i could look at it. using adhesive will put the force entirely on the thin layer of the fiberglass, while with long brackets (5-8 inches long and 2 inches wide), stainless screws and dicor, the force is propagated in the area into plywood. i did with screws. there is no right or wrong, just personal preference.
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Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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05-12-2015, 08:24 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 585
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Appreciate the replies. After all this, I am about ready to spend the extra and go with flex panels. No holes and no wind resistance or noise that way. Thanks everyone!!
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05-12-2015, 08:37 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 10
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Flexible Solar Panels
Before going with the flexible panels, I recommend doing a little research, as some have studied them already. In the recent past AM Solar decided that they wouldn't use them. Gonewiththewynns had them for a year and last month posted a video of their review after one year. Technomadia also tested some. From what I recall, all of them remained with the glass panels afterwards.
The main issue is cupping which traps dust which blocks some of their effectiveness, plus mounting flush keeps them too hot.
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05-12-2015, 08:53 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 585
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I saw the review by the Wynns. As I recall the cupping and dirt did not reduce performance at all. Pros and cons to both I guess.
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05-12-2015, 11:41 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 476
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Tony Lee, there are several varieties of Sikaflex. Which one are you recommending?
__________________
Dick & Theresa
2007 HR Endeavor 36 PDQ
400 ISL
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05-12-2015, 01:08 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Mountain West
Posts: 1,178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jerboy
Has anyone attached the glass panels without screws? I just can't bring myself to drilling a hole up there!
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So far (knock on wood), my two panels are staying attached with 3M 5200 and a handful of angle brackets. Details here.
__________________
JD - Full timer out west
Missy - 1998 MCI 102-EL3
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05-12-2015, 02:08 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 585
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From looking at your panels close up I notice they are flat on the roof surface. This limits the air flow under them. Any problems there?
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05-12-2015, 02:21 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Mountain West
Posts: 1,178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jerboy
From looking at your panels close up I notice they are flat on the roof surface. This limits the air flow under them. Any problems there?
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If referring to mine, they are slightly raised from the roof. About 1/4" to 3/8" at the center of the roof and about 1/2" at the sides (guesses, not actual measurements). Certainly enough room for some airflow. No problems there either (yet, knock on wood).
__________________
JD - Full timer out west
Missy - 1998 MCI 102-EL3
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