Tips for Roof-Mounted Solar Panels

[gglplex]

All

After "roughing it" with popups I recently switched over and bought a 2013 233s. I have solar panels that I'd like to mount to the roof, and I'm VERY leery of doing any drilling on the roof. Are there other methods for mounting solar panels to the roof? What has worked for you? Any lessons learned you can pass on? Thanx!

Dave

[SoMoney]

I've also been looking at installing a solar panels on my Georgetown for some time now. Most of the installs I've seen have been Z-Brackets, Wood Screws, DAP sealant.
From what I've seen on Youtube, the easiest (less obtrusive) way to get the electrical into the coach seams to be through the Refrigerator Vent.

[gglplex]

Thanx for the response--the fridge vent may be a good possibility. They do make an outlet for the weatherproof connectors commonly found on solar panels--can't remember the name of the connector. I saw the outlet either in an RV accessories magazine or maybe an electrical supply store--I'll track it down for you.

Anyway, that is relatively trivial to me compared to how to best attach the solar panels. I had hoped to have a roof cargo carrier-type rails on the roof--then it would be fairly easy to make brackets that attach to that--but my 233s didn't come with them. I heard of one guy that GLUED them to his roof and, surprisingly, has had very good results.

[gglplex]

Ha! Found it. They are called SAE connectors. Go to

73 Adapters, Plugs, Sockets, Cords, SAE connectors & Extensions

and scroll down to "RV Roof Connector"--this is the outlet I was thinking of.

[tzh99h]

hey gglplex
I tried and it worked great for me on my last trailer. Remove AC cover on roof from unit, I secured solar panel with rubber mounted nuts and standard bolts, remember to check clearence of bolts or nuts to AC unit[on inside cover] when reinstalling cover

[SYE]

Originally Posted by gglplex

All

After "roughing it" with popups I recently switched over and bought a 2013 233s. I have solar panels that I'd like to mount to the roof, and I'm VERY leery of doing any drilling on the roof. Are there other methods for mounting solar panels to the roof? What has worked for you? Any lessons learned you can pass on? Thanx!

Dave

Send a message to a Forum member named VenturaBill. He just got done installing two panel on the top of his 2013 Columbus and he took some great pictures that he might post for you. He did a real good job on it for relatively cheap.