Are my solar panels too high?

[jacoby20]

Hi,
My partner and I are looking to install solar panels on the top of our roof rack. However I feel as though having this high would create too much air pressure underneath the panels and could cause some damage to the panels. We are looking to install some fairing to the front of the roof rack to help deflect some of the wind, but I’m not sure if this is enough.
It would be great to hear other peoples view on this.

 

[jacoby20]

These are some pics of the solar panels loosely fitted onto the roof rack.

 

[pappajohn]

The front one, as pictured, will take a beating from the airflow up the windscreen.
Maybe both as far back as possible and they should be ok.
Personally, I would remove the roof rack as it's just dead weight and fix the panels directly to the roof.
With the panels on you can't use the rack for anything else really so removing it is no loss....other than the weight

 

[DerryW]

Ditto pappajohn

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

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[Andacami]

Yep, ditch the racks, simples.

 

[jacoby20]

The front one, as pictured, will take a beating from the airflow up the windscreen.
Maybe both as far back as possible and they should be ok.
Personally, I would remove the roof rack as it's just dead weight and fix the panels directly to the roof.
With the panels on you can't use the rack for anything else really so removing it is no loss....other than the weight

Thanks for the reply and I know what you mean. I forgot to mention that the reason for having the panels so high was so that we can open up the roof fans enough to let air flow in.

 

[mitzimad]

lots of rubbish spoken on selfbuilders sites about panels being better mounted on roof racks and uni strut rather than direct to the roof no mention of the payload lost

 

[rickwiggans]

daughter and SIL travelled all round Europe for a year with a panel fastened to the roof rack, and retained half the rack for loading. no issues

 

[Gromett]

I am with pappajohn on this one.

That said. Providing they are firmly attached and the roof bars are firmly attached the only thing you are risking is damage to them from the wind up the windscreen and having a noticeable impact on MPG as they will act like wings with a lot of drag and some lift.

I prefer panels to be as close as possible to the roof, back from the leading edge and with deflectors to prevent wind going underneath.

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[eddie]

They will of course work better being closer to the Sun!

 

[Minxy]

Wissel

Little Project - Roof Rack and Solar Panel Supports

I'm gradually getting the van how I want it now. The interior is "almost" finished and a lot of the exterior jobs are done. Something I haven't been happy with since I added more panels a few years ago is our roof. I really liked how it was when I first built it (7 years ago). It looked so...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[jacoby20]

I am with pappajohn on this one.

That said. Providing they are firmly attached and the roof bars are firmly attached the only thing you are risking is damage to them from the wind up the windscreen and having a noticeable impact on MPG as they will act like wings with a lot of drag and some lift.

I prefer panels to be as close as possible to the roof, back from the leading edge and with deflectors to prevent wind going underneath.

I’m definitely looking to fix these solar panels on incredibly well with the wind deflector at the front to decrease wind pressure underneath.

I would prefer to have the panels lower down but we cannot do this as it would interfere with the roof fans.

 

[patricia the newbie]

I had two panels glued I think to my roof they are fitted quite far back and the wires seem to be coming through where my radio aerial enters the roof .
They are brilliant, and it's enabled me to have two leisure batteries and be off gris

 

[Jamesh]

They will of course work better being closer to the Sun!

Even better if you angle them facing north....!

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