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Topic: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress (Read 864 times) previous topic - next topic
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Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Finished the LD front half of my combined project of mounting 4x435w solar panels and eternabonding all seals/seams.  Working out in the 90deg heat for the last few weeks has been a challenging experience; bright side, I may have had vision quest visions a few times.  Unfortunately the visions didn't prophesize that I would drill into some 12v wiring which I had to repair and lost me a couple of days.  2 panels down, 2 to go.  By far the most time intensive part is cleaning all seals with acetone.

Anyways, open to questions and suggestions.

Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #1 –
Thank you for posting the photos. I showed them to my wife, who pointed out the Golden Retriever.
Sam
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #3 –
4 x 435 = 1740W?

Joel & Terry Wiley
2013  31 IB   ORWAN   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #4 –
Quote from: joel wiley  - 
4 x 435 = 1740W?

That should be adequate for almost any electrical need, overnight A/C with enough batteries is possible, especially with a second small A/C replacing or in addition to the bedroom ceiling vent.
Cleaning the panels going to be a project but with so much surplus solar, the panels will need to be very dirty before it makes a significant difference.

Solar today is so much cheaper than it was a couple of decades ago.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #5 –
Assuming at least 800 ah of lithium to go with, you should be able to get four hours of AC daily, plus a hour here and there if on the road.
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Dave Katleman  - 
Assuming at least 800 ah of lithium to go with, you should be able to get four hours of AC daily, plus a hour here and there if on the road.

824ah@12v currently in 24v config so 412ah

In testing I can run A/C for 7 hours at 70deg full fan
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #8 –
Howard A
Very nice work!  Big cables, larger solar and mucho capacity.  I am jealous.  You deserve a vacation now!

Could there be any issues while driving due to the gap between the solar panels and the roof?  Like noise, them lifting or aerodynamics.

Ron
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #9 –
Quote from: Sarz272000  - 
Could there be any issues while driving due to the gap between the solar panels and the roof?  Like noise, them lifting or aerodynamics.

We do not hear our roof racks or when we carry the sea kayaks, I doubt if noise will be a noticable problem.
Being higher off the roof may allow the panels to stay a little cooler, a good thing.
The extra height may make them more vulnerable to tree branches, a natural enemy of solar panels.

Larry

Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #10 –
Quote from: Sarz272000  - 
Howard A
Very nice work!  Big cables, larger solar and mucho capacity.  I am jealous.  You deserve a vacation now!

Could there be any issues while driving due to the gap between the solar panels and the roof?  Like noise, them lifting or aerodynamics.

Ron

There COULD be perhaps, but the mounting hardware and panels are rated for much higher wind loads than they’ll experience while driving.  I’ll be keeping an eye on it as a get on the road.
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #11 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
The extra height may make them more vulnerable to tree branches, a natural enemy of solar panels.
Larry

The max height has stayed about the same as I removed the rain covers for the rear vents and the panels came just up to that height.  I will be more concerned about tree branches scraping along the top for sure.
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #12 –
It’s a little different but when I carry my kayaks on my SUV roof and open the sunroof it is noisy and mucho force is applied to them.  It is nice to have the SR and be able to see them while traveling.  If you have a way to monitor them while traveling maybe through a roof fan or such thing it might be helpful until you are comfortable.

But with all that awesome solar that is a problem most RVer’s would love to have!

Ron
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #13 –
Quote from: Sarz272000  - 
It’s a little different but when I carry my kayaks on my SUV roof and open the sunroof it is noisy and mucho force is applied to them.  It is nice to have the SR and be able to see them while traveling.  If you have a way to monitor them while traveling maybe through a roof fan or such thing it might be helpful until you are comfortable.

But with all that awesome solar that is a problem most RVer’s would love to have!

Ron

Thanks...I was thinking about getting a camera monitoring system and if so I'll add a camera to the roof.
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #14 –
Got the final two panels situated today, all wires connected and turned on the solar isolator to start the flow.  It was a proud moment :-)

So far so good, although I finished around 5p so only get to produce ~50W but should be soaking up the sun tomorrow.

Still have a little eternabonding and mppt settings to refine, but so glad this project is coming to a close.  I basically lived on the roof for the last month.

Next step is to see how she handles on the road.

Thanks to all who gave help and input.

I included some diagrams I made to help along the way in case anyone's interested.  The roof schematic where the joists, rails, stand-offs and panels were situated is to scale and might be useful to others.
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #15 –
Quote from: Howard A  - 
I included some diagrams I made to help along the way in case anyone's interested.  The roof schematic where the joists, rails, stand-offs and panels were situated is to scale and might be useful to others.

With such a large battery pack and so much solar available, what are you planning on doing with the extreme amount of power, smelting aluminum?

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #16 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
With such a large battery pack and so much solar available, what are you planning on doing with the extreme amount of power, smelting aluminum?

Larry

😂

grid independence in rolling black outs and 100deg heat is a beautiful thing.  I’m also looking forward to some boondocking
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #17 –
Hi Howard and Larry;  With a canine companion that must remain locked up inside while the owner is away, the ability to have air conditioning running during the hot part of the day, or maybe longer, without external hookups, is a plus.   I'm interested to see on a bright sunny day with no obstructions, if the A/C can run, and still have enough left over to charge the batteries to 100% SOC.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #18 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
I'm interested to see on a bright sunny day with no obstructions, if the A/C can run, and still have enough left over to charge the batteries to 100% SOC.  RonB

Im working on exactly this…for the first few days I was running a deficit of about 200Wh (solar generating ~1400W max during peak 3 hrs)  .  I have a super high efficient A/C unit that uses a heat pump (Houghton belaire) and it’s nominal power usage during peak hours is about 1200W (usually around 1000 nominal).  My 12v JC refrigeration conversion uses about 200W nominal.  Im losing a bit during the 24 to 12 conversion so I might connect the refrigerator directly to the busbar with an inline fuse as it supports 24v as well.  I’m applying carbon paste to all lugs.  Can you think of any other ways to increase efficiency?  I’m well insulated except for the skylight.  Maybe exterior skirting?

This is a perfect opportunity to work on this as we’re having 100deg weather with lots of sun and the a/c is working at max (inside is getting up to ~78 for a couple hours which isn’t bad but would love to bring it down a few degrees)

I am losing about 30-45 min of peak production on each side of the day due to my location near trees.
 
Re: Solar Panel Mounting and Roof Eternabond Progress
Reply #19 –
Hi Howard;  My experience is that most heat gain is through the windows.  Th cab windows particularly are the worst.  A vinyl cover, maybe with some extra reflectix between it and the glass would help that.  Facing that window north if possible would help.  Small awnings over each large window, to shade it from the sun, along with internal reflectix and the window shades should help also. 
    Jane and Scott who fulltime in Arizona (IIRC) are the experts on this.   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB