Ready for Solar, again!

[Sagecoachdriver]

First I will work on the roof top cable entry down the fridge shaft.
Went to Home Depot and bought one of the stress relief connectors and lock nut. I know there are many types, some metal and some plastic. This one may require a dab of Dicor on the cables when done, will see. Going to drill a 3/4" hole on upper side of base allowing for cable clearance and on opposite end from flue. Devised a crazy way to attach the lock nut. I tested it simulating the side of the base. Very involved and can take 5 minutes or an hour.

[Sagecoachdriver]

I was surprised when I opened the box and saw how small they actually are. Just 1"x3" of 3M VHB tape. For some reason I thought they had a much larger base. Not sure what I'm going to do now. Spent a ridiculous $18 on shipping. Going to have to give this some thought??????

[Snowman9000]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

I was surprised when I opened the box and saw how small they actually are. Just 1"x3" of 3M VHB tape. For some reason I thought they had a much larger base. Not sure what I'm going to do now. Spent a ridiculous $18 on shipping. Going to have to give this some thought??????

That's probably more area than the ones I used on my little mounts.

I should write up my install. Some day I will. I learned a few things not to do. None of which are germane to your plans today.

I know it feels like each of us is inventing the wheel. It's too bad it's like that.

[Rich.M]

Just use the sticky feet on the lightly sanded fiberglass roof and allow to set. Then go over with the adhesive cauck. Allow that to set. Then over with Dicor. The mounts will be solid and when you pull on them you will have no concerns. Screws not needed. We have been driving thru the plains , colorado and utah this week at 75 mph without any problems.

[Sagecoachdriver]

I decided after installing the stress relief connector on the side of the base, I would pull the Convenience Panel above the fridge. Sure enough, there was a double walled panel backing up to the fridge vent. I drilled a pilot hole and then a hole large enough for the cable. You can see it in the photos. Now the cable is just a short loop instead of running all the way down to vent shaft. I then routed the cable down where the grey arrow is in the void alongside the fridge. Next it was easy to fish it under the cabinets to where the raised floor is. I had previously fished a line under the floor. I started to pull the cable thru and pulled off my cord. Then spent the next 2 hours fishing it thru again. It was an easy route under the oven and sink to the trash cabinet where I will mount the controller only a few feet to the batteries in the step well.
I did finish up the day caulking all the holes even the double wall one turned out good. Sealed looking into the vent shaft and the inside void behind the Convenience panel.

Still waiting for the fuse/cutoff to arrive and I need to get sone 8 awg wire for the controller to the batteries. Going to take HopHed's advice and move them around for a few days checking out the charging and looking for shadows.


Will probably mount the controller and attach the feet to the panels. Any suggestions on how close to the corners they should be?

[Sagecoachdriver]

finished the wiring and have mounted the Controller along with my Xantrex Battery Monitor, Cutoff switch for panels to controller and a 30 amp fused cutoff for controller to batteries. It's in the trash basket cabinet by the step well.
Second photo are the 2x100 watt Renogy panels with StickyFeet attached and sitting on wood. All connected and working fine. Will move them around in the next day or so and see where I want to install them.
I'm going for overkill and sanding down the dimples like HopHed did and drilling 2 holes in each foot base. I'm going to use 2 hollow wall anchors for each foot along with the 3M VHB tape and adhesive caulk. Reason is we travel up the Grapevine here in SoCal and it gets very windy. We can have 40-60mph gusts and driving into that will put the panels at risk. Peace of mind!
In looking at the roof photo, do you think it would be better with the panels closer together so the Air Cond blocks some of the wind?

[Sagecoachdriver]

Anyone following this anymore?

[benagi]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

Anyone following this anymore?

Yes, Sage. Good info. Read it every nite.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by benagi

Yes, Sage. Good info. Read it every nite.

Just you HopHed and me!
Moving along slowly.

[18CrewDually]

I'm here just taking it all in. I hope to have panels one day.

[flocktothewall]

Been following silently. Thanks for keeping an update. Thinking of putting the same size on my MBS rig also.

[HopHed]

Still here and following but on the road. I understand about the piece of mind putting screws in. We have gone over the grapevine, up to seattle and half way back down the coast and very confident the panels are not going any where without using screws. Good luck with final panel install. Looks good so far.

[JLeising]

A couple years ago I installed a single 100 watt monocrystaline panel, a Renogy kit. I attached with eight Renogy mounts, SS screws, and Dicor. Has been perfect for 3+ years and probably 25K miles. Just inspected yesterday - no sign of any mount issues. I also ran the wire down the awning channel rather than the refrigerator vent. The single 100 watt panel has worked well to keep the batteries up while stored. Also notable help while boondocking (but doubt it would keep up for more than a few days). Does what I want. Of note, I did reduce the cutoff voltage from Renogy's default of 13.7 volts to 13.2 volts - reduced battery water usage in storage to negligible.
My earlier post on installation - post #14:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...d-53549-2.html
Following your posts-
Regards, Jim

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by HopHed

Still here and following but on the road. I understand about the piece of mind putting screws in. We have gone over the grapevine, up to seattle and half way back down the coast and very confident the panels are not going any where without using screws. Good luck with final panel install. Looks good so far.

Cancelled our trip to Idyllwild this weekend as our neighbors bailed on us and I would be thinking only about finishing the solar. HopHed, my StickyFeet came with nuts and bolts to fasten them to the panels. Also my panels had pre-drilled holes for the mounts. They were obviously made for the Renogy mounts as the StickyFeet are set back slightly.
I placed one panel on the roof for a few minutes while I cut up wood 2x4's to raise the panels. When I came back, the 3M VHB tape was gooey because of the warm roof. Hope I didn't ruin them! It was only one panel and only 4 mounts as I hadn't attached the center ones yet. I moved the tape back and as it cooled, it looked normal again. Dumb move on my part.
I think I know where I will mount these two panels and need to go to the hardware store for fine grit sandpaper and a few screws. Also, I need to get some adhesive caulk. Not sure if I should try CW or my dealer for that.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Sikaflex 505 UV adhesive sealant caulk, anyone use this one?

[Bpenn]

I am watching and learning. We have a TT and have put the 6 volt batteries on, but trying to figure out how to run the wires. Your pictures really help.

[MNtraveler]

Following. Not quite ready for this yet. Thanks for the info.


Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R

[Sagecoachdriver]

Received the inline fuse today that will go on the end of the positive Y connector on the roof. Now it has cutoffs and fuses from panels to the controller and controller to the batteries.
Will pickup some Sikaflex tomorrow from CW, mark where the feet are going to go and sand the dimples down a bit. Next, I need to drill the feet for the hollow wall anchors and hopefully Saturday or Sunday morning I can start permanently mounting the panels before it gets too hot.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

Received the inline fuse today that will go on the end of the positive Y connector on the roof. Now it has cutoffs and fuses from panels to the controller and controller to the batteries.
Will pickup some Sikaflex tomorrow from CW, mark where the feet are going to go and sand the dimples down a bit. Next, I need to drill the feet for the hollow wall anchors and hopefully Saturday or Sunday morning I can start permanently mounting the panels before it gets too hot.

Please make sure those are NOT Windy Nation inline fuses. They are loose on the inside and make either a bad, intermittent, or no connection on the inside.

If they are Windy Nation fuses, remove the fuses and tape them so they dont' rattle and then put a spring on top of one fuse end so it ensures a good connection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAGWMkiaj8Y

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by TonyD

Please make sure those are NOT Windy Nation inline fuses. They are loose on the inside and make either a bad, intermittent, or no connection on the inside.

If they are Windy Nation fuses, remove the fuses and tape them so they dont' rattle and then put a spring on top of one fuse end so it ensures a good connection.

Thanks, but they are Renogy, not Windy Nation. No rattle.