Solar panels (1 Viewer)

[aztecannie]

We recently had a solar applied to the roof by Vanbitz. Today we have the motorhome valet man here to give it all a good once over. He was surprised that the solar panel is actually "screwed to the roof". He said this was not usual, creating holes in the roof the moho!?

Anyone any views.... we will be speaking to Eddie re this as well, so not telling tales.... they did a great job for us. Just wondering....

 

[hilldweller]

Eddie won't say this but he will be thinking it "a bloke who valets MHs should stick to valeting MHs and not try to out-think professional MH electronic engineers".

 

[funflair]

As a business Eddie can not afford for anything to come adrift from the roof no matter how many years down the line and no matter what cleaners have been used on the roof, fixing with screws as well as adhesive is a proper belt and braces job and the holes will be well sealed. I fixed ours without screws but then started to worry so I moulded some extra brackets and bonded them over the top of the originals as another "belt and braces" needless to say 4 years down the line everything is still there.

There are lots of things fixed with screws at the factory so it's not that unusual really.

Martin

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[aztecannie]

This isn't a complaint at all,, simply enquiring after hearing that from the valeted....

 

[magicsurfbus]

One has to question how many MH roofs the valet chap has been up on if he thinks screw fixings are 'not usual'.

Yes, there are some perfectly good contact adhesives about, but roof surfaces can delaminate (our old one did) so well-sealed screwholes are not an issue.

My solar panel was factory-fitted and it's screwed down, as is the roof rack, and the sat receiver that was put on later - I'm glad there's screws in all of them.

 

[Zigisla]

He said this was not usual, creating holes in the roof the moho!?

Anyone any views.... we will be speaking to Eddie re this as well, so not telling tales.... they did a great job for us. Just wondering....

Do you think he meant the additional 8 tiny holes for screws as a posed to the holes that the cable is going through, the skylights are fitted over, the roof vents cover and for the tv aerial etc.

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[aztecannie]

OK OK just askin! thanks for all your views.... I am happy!

 

[Jim]

We recently had a solar applied to the roof by Vanbitz. Today we have the motorhome valet man here to give it all a good once over. He was surprised that the solar panel is actually "screwed to the roof". He said this was not usual, creating holes in the roof the moho!?

Anyone any views.... we will be speaking to Eddie re this as well, so not telling tales.... they did a great job for us. Just wondering....

Now if he'd have said there are no screws holding your panels to the roof, you might have cause for concern, what adhesives and the correct temperatures was the surface prepared properly, will it age and weaken etc etc. There are plenty who don't use screws but In my experience, screws are not only added security they help the adhesives do a better job too.

 

[eddie]

Eddie won't say this but he will be thinking it "a bloke who valets MHs should stick to valeting MHs and not try to out-think professional MH electronic engineers".

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[hilldweller]

OK OK just askin! thanks for all your views.... I am happy!

Happy, bewildered, shell shocked. A nice cup of sweet tea, a lie down in a darkened room and you'll be fine.

 

[aztecannie]

Thanks guys...wish I hadn't mentioned it!! Wouldn't have a bad word said against Eddie and his team!

 

[tonyidle]

It is worth knowing that a hole that only pierces the outer skin of the roof will not allow water in to do damage whether it is sealed or not. Most if not all MH roofs are a sandwich of outer skin, plastic foam, inner skin. The foam used is 'closed cell' which simply means it cannot absorb water - or let any into the roof. It is nonetheless good practice to seal screw holes but failed sealant will not cause problems later.

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[FJmike]

B

One has to question how many MH roofs the valet chap has been up on if he thinks screw fixings are 'not usual'.
.

I have looked at about 300 roofs in the last year so know that it is unusual for the panel mounts to be screwed down, I asked aztecannie who had fitted the roof as this and other reasons thought it a poor instalation and was suprised to learn it had been installed at Cornish farm as have previously been impressed with their workmanship.

 

[dave newell]

For the record I glue AND screw panels onto roofs using Sikaflex adhesive and stainless steel screws. As long as appropriate surface prep is carried out and adequate sealant applied to holes it really isn't a problem.

D.

 

[Spanner]

Our solar panel was a factory fit by Autosleeper using stainless screws, stainless brackets and adequate sealant below the brackets and covering the screws, still looks 100% after 4 years.

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[KeithChesterfield]

I have an 80w Solar panel and haven't a clue whether it is screwed or glued to the roof but if it was screwed and I decided to take it off and put a bigger wattage panel up there wouldn't there be a lot of little holes in the roof that would potentially let water in?

I can see where the valet bloke is coming from when he questions drilling holes in a roof - he may not be an expert and I'm not either but any drilling of metal can have repercussions - can't it?

 

[funflair]

I have an 80w Solar panel and haven't a clue whether it is screwed or glued to the roof but if it was screwed and I decided to take it off and put a bigger wattage panel up there wouldn't there be a lot of little holes in the roof that would potentially let water in?

I can see where the valet bloke is coming from when he questions drilling holes in a roof - he may not be an expert and I'm not either but any drilling of metal can have repercussions - can't it?

You have to balance that against the possibility of the panel coming loose or the roof skin coming loose as I believe some are what they call "floating roofs" and have a loose/floating top panel. And anybody who removed a panel and left screw holes without sealing them would be a bit of a numpty.

Martin

 

[Neckender]

Since 2008 I've fitted 6 solar panels to my van and previous vans, I didn't screw any of them down just prepped the roof with methylated spirits and stuck them down with Sikafex.
John.

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