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05-03-2014, 09:21 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 599
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Solar panel mounting questions
How did you guys mount your solar panels? Im interested with roof installations. Any special brackets used? Did you drill?
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05-04-2014, 12:59 AM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 50
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Thee are some new panels that are glued to the roof. Most conventional solar panels are secured with screws. The screw holes are filled with caulk than the hardware is secured with screws. YouTube has some great videos that show this. Just do a search for them. It's the holes that your not aware of are the ones you have to worry about.
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05-04-2014, 06:27 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
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I used aluminum "L" brackets bolted with toggler bolts thru the roof. Bolted onto the "L" brackets are removable pin galvanize hinges. The one leaf is bolted to the bracket, and the other to the solar panel. By removing the pin, I can tilt the panels for cleaning and for rain runoff. I used to subscribe to the tilt your panels to maximize power, but found that adding a panel was easier and works better.
2000 Cherokee 31BH, "flipped axles and raised",LEDs, solar, inverter, etc..aka "boondock ready". '07 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB, modded as well.
__________________
2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
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05-04-2014, 06:31 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
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Oops, here's a pix...
2000 Cherokee 31BH, "flipped axles and raised",LEDs, solar, inverter, etc..aka "boondock ready". '07 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB, modded as well.
__________________
2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
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05-04-2014, 07:45 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 599
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Nice! I never thought that drilling in the roof was possible.
Looks solid and professional  want to do mine?
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05-04-2014, 07:48 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 599
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How big are these panels? How did you ran the wire?
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05-04-2014, 07:51 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 599
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Very clever with the hinges etc...
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05-04-2014, 09:22 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
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The panels are 140 watts each. Off the top of my head, I think they measured something like 26x56. I mounted the combiner box under one panel. I ran #4 copper from the back of the box, thru a wall, and into the compartment that has the charge controller.
2000 Cherokee 31BH, "flipped axles and raised",LEDs, solar, inverter, etc..aka "boondock ready". '07 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB, modded as well.
__________________
2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
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05-04-2014, 09:24 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
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Here's a closer pix of the rods used to angle the panels. I tried to keep things simple and cheap.
2000 Cherokee 31BH, "flipped axles and raised",LEDs, solar, inverter, etc..aka "boondock ready". '07 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB, modded as well.
__________________
2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
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05-04-2014, 09:30 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
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Here's the compartment that houses the charge controller. It was originally a wasted space. No door, just solid panel. I made the metal enclosure to fit. I made the door to fit as well.
2000 Cherokee 31BH, "flipped axles and raised",LEDs, solar, inverter, etc..aka "boondock ready". '07 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB, modded as well.
__________________
2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
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05-04-2014, 09:36 AM
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#11
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CCRVOC
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Where ever we are parked
Posts: 516
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So when adding solar panels to a curved roof, should you level the panels?
__________________
 2012 Dodge 3500, SLT Big Horn,CC,DRW,Cummins HO, EB, 4x4, 3:73, Retrax Pro, Q20, TST507, Garmin RV760, Sleek 4g
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS, 1000w Solar, TriStar MPPT 60, Magnum 2000w, PI EMS, WiFi Ranger Elite, Sleek 4g, Wingard DTV Traveler
Retired Army in 1995, and now retired in 2016
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05-04-2014, 10:00 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
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Doesn't matter. They should be slightly tilted for rain to run off. I only tilt mine when its parked between trips.
2000 Cherokee 31BH, "flipped axles and raised",LEDs, solar, inverter, etc..aka "boondock ready". '07 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB, modded as well.
__________________
2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
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05-04-2014, 10:02 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
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Oh, you must consider the slope when mounting so there is air space under the panels. That will cool the panels during the hot summer and help with preventing mold.
2000 Cherokee 31BH, "flipped axles and raised",LEDs, solar, inverter, etc..aka "boondock ready". '07 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB, modded as well.
__________________
2000 Cherokee 29BH with 6V batteries, LED lights & 400 watts of solar power, flipped axles and raised. 2007 Tundra 5.7L DC-LB with lots of mods. C-co, 8/158th AVN Maint.
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05-04-2014, 01:42 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Shaunavon
Posts: 147
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This is how I mounted mine on our 365saq, used L brackets and just mounted them level, haven't had any issues.
__________________
2014 Sierra 365 SAQ
2014 F350 CC DRW lariat ultimate kodiak brown, 65 gallon titan fuel tank, bak flip box cover, many mods to come.
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