You may have the best of both worlds with portable panels: the durability of a stiff panel and the flexibility of a movable panel. We didn’t have room to store the panel because we only had 72 square feet of internal living space. So, on the back of our DIY truck bed cover, we fashioned a homemade rack for it.
If you want to make something similar, you’ll need the following materials:
- 4 galvanized angle iron pieces (about 4 inches longer than the panel is wide)
- 1 thread stock piece (about 4 inches longer than the panel is long)
- 2 washers and 2 nylon locking nuts
- 2 lock washers and 2 ordinary nuts
- 7 stainless steel screws and 7 nylon spacers
All of this was available for less than $30 from a local home improvement store. Because the metal rails already had holes, bolting them down was simple, and we could use a cable lock to keep the panel from walking away.
This has proven to be an excellent mounting position for us.
It’s a secure and safe location for our panel to charge the battery while we’re driving.
Even if we’re simply stopping for lunch in a city park, it’s simple to pull out and put up the panel in the sun.
Whatever method you use, it’s probable that someone has done something similar before you, or at the very least that someone has made a mistake that we can all benefit from.
Many of these installers employ a range of components from various manufacturers; however, one advantage of dealing with Renogy is that all of the components are designed to work together flawlessly it’s a one-stop shop.
So, take out your cordless drill and a sealant applicator and get to work!
Is there a requirement for an air gap in flexible solar panels?
Flexible solar panels can be applied flat to surfaces and don’t always have ventilation underneath them. The lack of a flexible solar panel air gap beneath them has no effect on their operation due to their design.
Why do flexible solar panels fail to perform as expected?
Flexible solar panels are exactly what they sound like: solar panels that flex. However, “flexible” does not imply that they can be folded. Instead, they can usually curve to some amount. The interior cells and electrical structure will still fail if they are bent too far. So make a note of the manufacturer’s restrictions.
Flexible panels, like rigid glass panels, can be manufactured with thin-film, polycrystalline, or monocrystalline solar cells. They are, however, commonly encased in plastic rather than glass. The top of the plastic is transparent, allowing the sun to shine on the cells and generate power.
Flexible solar panels, like rigid panels, include thin electrical cables that connect the cells and a connecting point at one end of the panel that commonly has MC4 connectors. These panels can be wired in series and parallel to one another, much like a regular panel, depending on the manufacturer. They usually have blocking diodes at the electrical connection, however many, like a hard solar panel, are not accessible.
How do you attach a flexible solar panel on the top of an RV?
The technique to follow is as follows:
- Begin by cleaning the area where the solar panel will be installed.
- Place the flexible solar panels on the surface and trace the outline with a pencil.
- Sikaflex-221 should be applied in well-spaced lines along the length of the indicated area, but not beyond the outline. In fact, I recommend staying away from the border to allow for some expansion when the panel is put down on top.
- Finish with a few blobs in the center.
- Place the solar panel on top of the adhesive surface and firmly press it down.
Finally, we’ll look at how to use an adhesive spray to mount your flexible solar panel.
What is the purpose of the space between solar panels?
So we’re halfway through this blog series about how sub-optimal installation has an impact on your solar energy system’s safety, reliability, and overall performance, in addition to its aesthetics. Today, I’ll discuss how to place solar panels on the racking system (rails) that hold them, as well as how to mount the racking on the roof. Mounting should be straightforward, but tiny errors like the six listed below can result in a mountain of agony.
First, a solar panel is fastened to a rail with a mounting clip in the photo above (in the red circle). Because the rail was too short, the installer bent the mounting clip to make it fit. The clip’s left edge should be straight up and down. This is just incorrect, given that manufacturers normally require at least 1/4 of the rail to extend beyond the outside edge of the clip for stability.
Exhibit B shows how not to install solar panels: each panel must be attached to the rail at four spots. The installer either forgot to install a clamp or ran out of them, as shown in the image below. That’s unacceptable in any case. You want your system to survive at least 50 years, so one clamp may not seem like a huge concern. Any flaw in the system could limit its lifespan. After all, if the installers missed this, what more could they have overlooked?
Between each row of solar panels, there must be a gap. Why? Because the panels’ frames and glass need space to expand and compress as the weather changes. (Yes, temperature affects glass and metal, just as it does wood.) Panel manufacturers would void the warranty on a system with no spacing between panels because it is such a critical part of installation. Although it’s possible that the clamps were slack and the panels shifted after installation, we believe the panels in the photo below were installed without a gap.
Solar systems require a rail that is appropriately supported and grounded. For stability and safety, two segments of rail must be joined with a “rail splice.” Two rails are not spliced together in the photo on the left, resulting in a weak area in the system that supports the panels. Rail manufacturers also define the distance between rail supports and between each end of the rail. Between the end of the rail and the first support, a standard recommendation is 12-16. Despite this, there are more than 50 between the end of the rail and the first support in the photo on the right! Because of the amount of cantilever generated by the installer’s terrible work, Jonathan could literally bounce the panels against the roof when he went up on this roof.
When you attach something to your roof, there’s a chance you’ll get a leak. The best method to avoid this is to use proper flashing. Instead of proper flashing, this photo shows a “L-foot bracket affixed to the roof with a blob of silicone. And the bracket isn’t even attached to the rail with bolts! This will cause the rail to move and flex more than it is rated for, putting additional strain on the mounting system’s other components.
Is this a lot of angst for no reason? Take, for example, the song “Dem Bones.” The ankle bone connects to the foot bone. The leg bone is attached to the ankle bone… From the panel clamp and rail to the L-foot and flashing, the entire structure connecting your solar energy system to your roof should be safe and attractive. Any flaws or oversights in the structure mean the system as a whole is less robust and solid, and it may not operate as well as it could. When it comes to solar, you want the entire system to be installed with care and expertise.
Is it possible to put a solar panel on top of a roof rack?
Solar panels can be installed beneath your roof rack in a few different ways. This allows you to generate all of the electricity you require while still maximizing your cargo capacity.
This solution isn’t for everyone, but it’s a terrific alternative for folks who want to give their vehicle a boost of energy.
Installing a solar panel beneath your roof rack is surprisingly simple. Simply take measurements ahead of time to ensure that everything will fit, and then follow the manufacturer’s instructions for both the solar panel and the roof rack.
We’ve also included some DIY methods to putting a solar panel underneath a roof rack.
Van life is all about independence, and you’ll be amazed at how liberated you’ll feel once you start generating your own energy without sacrificing storage.
Can I clean solar panels with a roof rake?
Roof rakes, shovels, and brushes aren’t safe to use. With poor care, you risk damaging the panel or voiding your warranty. The ideal approach is to use a soft, foam-headed snow brush to clear the snow, which will not damage the delicate surface of the panels.
Is it possible to bolt solar panels together?
Solar panels can be screwed into place directly, and most panels include four or eight mounting holes through which bolts can be inserted. Attaching panels to ground-mounted racks or solar trackers that follow the sun throughout the day is a common practice in solar farms. Bolts can be used because there is enough clearance to go behind the panels and attach them to a ground mount or tracker. However, on a roof with flat panels, this is not an easy task.
Roofs and solar panels must be separated by at least 5 cm according to Australian requirements.
However, in most metropolitan locations, panels are not permitted to protrude more than 10 cm from the ground.
Because a normal solar panel is roughly 4 cm thick, you only have 5 to 6 cm to deal with.
As a result, directly bolting panels on would necessitate either expensive tools or magical hands to complete the task.