Advice needed - solar panel disaster ...

Grianan

Grianan

Joined
Feb 18, 2018
Posts
3,695
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13,079
Location
South Ayrshire
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52,460
MH
Globecar Campscout
Exp
Since 2018
We picked our van up from Preston today - it had been back at the dealers for a week for habitation service and a couple of bits and pieces.

Driving back onto M6 north Tim heard a noise ... initially he thought he’d lost a rooflight but when we stopped at Gretna he discovered the solar panel had ripped off.

It wasn’t nice weather .. sleet, rain, hail, blustery winds but we’ve driven in far worse.

Dealers initial response was freak weather/bad luck. The van’s only a year old and dealer had solar fitted for us.

We’ve still not been able to check the roof for damage ... that’ll be tomorrow when we have light.

Has anyone else had this? Are we unlucky or might it have not been fitted securely? We did have an issue with the number plates and LED lights falling off because the double sided tape had been applied when it was too cold but we just sorted that ourselves.

I suppose next question is where to go to get a new solar panel? We live in Ayr so ideally Glasgow or central/south west Scotland.
And what’s the most powerful/cost effective one to buy.

Thanks, in hope.
 
Which mounting brackets do you have, aluminium or plastic and how many ?

Plastic has been known to be less durable, because, I believe of the leaching effect reducing the bond with the adhesive.
 
Can't think of anywhere in Ayr who specialises in solar panels But a decent garage with the height to take a motorhome might be a decent choice.

I'm feeling your pain, the workmanship sounds appalling & whoever you get to fit a new panel couldn't possibly be worse?

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I guess the solar panel is now laying on the side of the road somewhere. Hope nobody got injured when it flew off.

This link may help Broken Link Removed
 
Unusual to say the least for a solar panel to dislodge after fitting ! It's not necessary to screw solar panel brackets to the roof to obtain a good bond, providing the correct preparation, adhesives and application has been carried out. Dealers response is not acceptable. I would insist on a free replacement and ask him if he has informed all his customers whom he has fitted solar panels of the risk of them coming off . Tell him you are considering notifying the Health and Safety executive because you are concerned there could be a risk to other road users and watch his attitude change
 
Disagree with screwing on, loads are attached by ‘the right stuff’ I wouldnt want any more holes in my roof than needed

but poor fitting is still to blame IMO

the clue might be in how much ‘stuff’ is left on the roof

it’s a shame the cable didn’t hold it on, but I guess once it falls over an edge it’s a gonner



hope it is easily fixed, check the cable entry for damage that is currently your biggest risk

Edit - I started my reply before others posted
 
Last edited:
Wagoneer said:
Which mounting brackets do you have, aluminium or plastic and how many ?

Plastic has been known to be less durable, because, I believe of the leaching effect reducing the bond with the adhesive.
Click to expand...

plastic, front and back.

rear one is shredded but screws still there

front one is undamaged and no evidence of screws to solar panel ..

cable entry looks ok but will need to check carefully in daylight
 
DavidG58 said:
Disagree with screwing on, loads are attached by ‘the right stuff’ I would want any more holes in my roof than needed

but poor firing is still to blame IMO

the clue might be in how much ‘stuff’ is left on the roof

it’s a shame the cable didn’t hold it on, but I guess once it falls over an edge it’s a gonner



hope it is easily fixed, check the cable entry for damage that is currently your biggest risk

Edit - I started my reply before others posted
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Depends on the van, ours has a thin skin of aluminium over thin plywood, then insulation so if it wasn't screwed it might flap up and down, especially in the summer when the aluminium expands.

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If it was fitted with plastic brackets it sounds like they used the wrong PU adhesive. A couple of other Funsters have had them come off so yours is not the first.
Fixing screws aren't necessary providing the correct adhesive is used, One of the Sikaflex's used for aluminum brackets is not suitable for plastic ones, I can't remember which one.
 
Grianan are you saying that the front plastic bracket is still on the roof?
 
If the van is a year old and they also fitted it then they haven't got a leg to stand on and I'd be chasing them to sort it for free.

They can't class a solar panel as a consumable part and if it happens to fly off after a year its your hard luck. The mounts were either not fit for purpose or not fiitted correctly in the first place.

If they were prone to coming off that easily the hard shoulder would be littered with them
 
I find it very surprising that some think it is safe to bond a fairly heavy solar panel to the paint work of a vehicle. There have been reports on other forums of solar panels coming loose because the paint has peel away from the roof. It is only sensible in my opinion to screw or bolt them in place as the consequences of a panel falling off on a busy motorway could be disastrous.

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From the description it sounds as if it is the fixing of the panel to the bracket that has failed and not the fixing of the bracket to the roof.

If the front bracket is still attached and intact then it sounds a bit like the panel has come free from the bracket, and has flipped up (once in motion and head wind has got under it) and then ripped itself off the rear brackets to which it was still attached, due to the forces applied, and explains why they are shredded.
 
Borderland said:
I find it very surprising that some think it is safe to bond a fairly heavy solar panel to the paint work of a vehicle. There have been reports on other forums of solar panels coming loose because the paint has peel away from the roof. It is only sensible in my opinion to screw or bolt them in place as the consequences of a panel falling off on a busy motorway could be disastrous.
Click to expand...

see Stroppy Bird reply above ... I think it’s panel to bracket that has failed. We think only rear was properly secured ...
 
Stroppy Bird said:
From the description it sounds as if it is the fixing of the panel to the bracket that has failed and not the fixing of the bracket to the roof.

If the front bracket is still attached and intact then it sounds a bit like the panel has come free from the bracket, and has flipped up (once in motion and head wind has got under it) and then ripped itself off the rear brackets to which it was still attached, due to the forces applied, and explains why they are shredded.
Click to expand...

now if only I’d written all that in the first place ... this is exactly what we think has happened
 
Further..
If the panel had come off and caused damage or injury it is YOU who would end up with sticky end of the poo stick
Eyes of the law you are responsible for your vehicle..
Could have been extremely nasty / costly.. Worth pointing that out to the dealer too
 
Borderland said:
I find it very surprising that some think it is safe to bond a fairly heavy solar panel to the paint work of a vehicle. There have been reports on other forums of solar panels coming loose because the paint has peel away from the roof. It is only sensible in my opinion to screw or bolt them in place as the consequences of a panel falling off on a busy motorway could be disastrous.
Click to expand...

There is no reason, if done properly, whilst a chemical weld - for that is what it is, that Sikaflex should not be used. The failures are due to people not following instructions properly.

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Jaws said:
Further..
If the panel had come off and caused damage or injury it is YOU who would end up with sticky end of the poo stick
Eyes of the law you are responsible for your vehicle..
Could have been extremely nasty / costly.. Worth pointing that out to the dealer too
Click to expand...

I don't think that's the case, the dealer has a duty of care and it is reasonable to expect them to fulfill that duty properly.
 
Paddywack said:
I don't think that's the case, the dealer has a duty of care and it is reasonable to expect them to fulfill that duty properly.
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I’d hope the fact we were on way back from same dealer after hab service would prove we had fulfilled our duty of care responsibilities. I’ve scoured internet and not found anything so hopefully didn’t hurt anyone/anything
 
Sadly this did possibly do a lot of damage to following vehicles , there still might be some follow up from police and insurance companies if someone saw it come off

not really sure where you stand on reporting it , personally I would keep my head down and hope nothing more was heard but as you know more or less where it happened that might make you more accountable

hope nothing more comes of the unknown ?
 
Bugger and bugger again.
Seems like the damage is limited.

As per Stroppy Bird post dealer at fault either poor fittings or poor fitting.

Personally I’d do an email and follow up with a phone call, you can record it, to ensure it’s been received.

Let the dealer come to you to sort it out or cover your expenses.

Good luck

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