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12-20-2014, 02:45 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming
Posts: 385
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Question for the structural engineers
What is your opinion of the strength of the aluminum bracket vs the stainless bracket?
These are for mounting solar panels on the roof of a 5th wheel. The little stainless brackets are in use all over the place literally hundreds maybe thousands of them without any failure.
I wanted something stronger so built my own aluminum brackets out of 6061 - t6 structural aluminum. did I do good or could that aluminum fracture at the top where the single bolt holds the solar panel?
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12-20-2014, 04:19 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 260
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Looking at the size of the hole, you do not meet spec for edge distance. Usually twice the distance of the hole diameter to edge. But, since it's only holding a solar panel ,weight is within allowable tolerances. probably over built. You could have used 10 ga. instead of 1/4".
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12-20-2014, 05:50 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 4,654
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I would think this is plenty strong fir what you need.
If the installation is firm and not moving it should be good.
Suggest bedding it to roof with cushion.
Place and drill holes then if fiberglass roor scrub clean with acetone or alcohol then lay a film of silicon RTV and then mount bracket, the silicon will hold it in addition to screws so it should not move or leak.
__________________
Tony & Lori
1989 Country Coach Savannah SE
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12-20-2014, 05:59 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 225
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That aluminum extrusion is pretty soft so you really don't need to worry about cracking.
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12-20-2014, 08:46 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,795
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What you did will be fine but I would rather have the smaller footprint of the stainless bracket
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12-20-2014, 09:06 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Floyds Knobs, Indiana
Posts: 499
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6061T6 is good stuff. I agree the edge distance could have been a little farther away but it looks overbuilt anyway.
Purdue 1974 Aeronautical Astronautical & Engineering Sciences
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Mike & Sue Jones
2020 Tuscany 45MJ
Jeep Gladiator
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12-20-2014, 10:23 PM
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#7
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,076
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When mounting a small mount like these to a hard surface, I like to use two sided tape for extra strength. My roof is fiberglass and I used the smaller stainless brackets. I added the two sided tape before installing with screws. This also helps to seal the screw holes.
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Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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12-21-2014, 06:15 PM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,676
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Either of those brackets is likely to be stronger than the holding force of the screw threads in the wood laminate of the roof. Maybe even stronger than the roof itself.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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12-21-2014, 06:23 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming
Posts: 385
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Thanks for the info guys. Feel better now.
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12-21-2014, 06:31 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 879
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
Either of those brackets is likely to be stronger than the holding force of the screw threads in the wood laminate of the roof. Maybe even stronger than the roof itself.
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Exactly what I was thinking.
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12-21-2014, 06:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Kansas City, MO./Pollock, LA.
Posts: 1,556
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I used 6061 aluminum angle. Stainless bolts, and washers, (except for one it seems).
If your roof is not level, I recommend you slot your mounting holes. Also, use a lot Dicor sealant.
__________________
06 Hurricane 34FT WH W20 Chassis 8.1L 132K, Steersafe, Koni Shocks, DIY Trac Bar, Tri-Metric 2025RV Battery Monitor, 4-6V Batteries, Scan Gauge 2, Crossfires, 735W Solar Morningstar MPPT-60, WG T4 In-Motion Sat, XM Radio, 07 Chevy Malibu Maxx Toad, Falcon 2, Brake Buddy, Escapee
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12-26-2014, 10:54 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,129
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Nice job on the aluminum bracket, but way overkill. It will definitely spread the weight out. Sort of a belt and suspenders approach.
__________________
Ole and Anne Anderson, Highland, Michigan
'02 Adventurer 32V, Ford F-53, ours since 4/08,Hankooks, Konis, SeeLevel, CHF
'84 CJ-7 , 5.3 Chevy, 3" lift, 33's, Detroit Locker, Fiberglas tub, winch, hi-lift
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