In the very near future I intend to fix two 140 watt solar panels to the roof of my 2010 Jayco Sterling.
After looking at the roof it appears to have a layer of some type of plastic over the top what appears to be ply. In some areas this top layer is loose and therefore any thought of fixing the panel brackets with some type glue to the roof is not an option.
I have tried to find out of the ply is thick enough to take suitable screws without much luck.
Just hoping someone else has found a solution to fixing solar panels solidly on such a van roof.
aussie_paul said
07:44 PM Nov 27, 2015
I have Tom. Jayco Ballarat mounted a 120watt panel when we bought the van, and recently I needed to add another panel. I bought a 200 watt and mounted it on our 24' Sterling. I did have a thread here on the forum BUT cannot negotiate my way thru this forum to find it!!! I will get the ladder out tomorrow and take some pics to show how Jayco and myself achieved this.
Aussie Paul.
greyhoundtom said
10:06 PM Nov 27, 2015
Thank Paul, that would be brilliant and very much appreciated.
aussie_paul said
05:01 PM Nov 28, 2015
Here we go Tom. You can find more solid beams near the roof openings. I used the roof where the top of the wall meets the roof, and more solid areas around the roof openings. I took some video as well so I will see if I can get that up.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 28th of November 2015 05:49:53 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 28th of November 2015 05:59:13 PM
Dav4Cris said
06:49 AM Nov 29, 2015
Hi Tom,
I have a 2010 Jayco Sterling with 500w of solar fitted to the roof, I am going to add another 200 watts soon. I mounted the panels on aluminum angle with 1 screw per bracket to mount to the roof. The screws where 10mm long S/S screws. I used Sikaflex 11FC to attach the brackets to the roof and the screw was just to help hold the bracket down to the roof while the Sikaflex cured. Have traveled 20,000 klms since then and never had a problem. I did make certain that the holes for the screw had a bit of Sikaflex in them so I would not have a water leak problem.
The next lot of panels I am going to just glue the brackets straight on with some weights on them until the glue is cured. No screws at all.
greyhoundtom said
08:57 PM Nov 29, 2015
Thanks Paul that is great information and it's given me a lot more confidence that I can do the install myself without stuffing it up.
Also thank you Dav4Cris for your thoughts.
The one thing that concerned me the most was finding ares on the roof that would take a screw that would hold a bit of strain. Mainly because I noted that on the roof of my van the very top layer of the roof is not fixed solidly to the ply under it and therefore glue on its own was not going to be sufficient.
Thanks again guys.
Aus-Kiwi said
02:02 AM Dec 6, 2015
Check video's on youtube about re fixing top layer..
Treecrest14 said
10:56 PM Dec 6, 2015
Tom
Make sure you use fixings that allow an air space under the panel(s) - they work more efficiently when air can circulate under them.
Glen
vanman said
09:56 PM Dec 9, 2015
I have 4 panels on my van roof totaling 500w.The panels are attached with aluminium right angle brackets that are attached using Sikaflex construction adhesive 11c.
I hope that this helps.
Regards Chris
greyhoundtom said
07:49 PM Dec 11, 2015
Thanks to everyone for their valuable advice, with a bit of luck and weather permitting the job get done next week.
In the very near future I intend to fix two 140 watt solar panels to the roof of my 2010 Jayco Sterling.
I have Tom. Jayco Ballarat mounted a 120watt panel when we bought the van, and recently I needed to add another panel. I bought a 200 watt and mounted it on our 24' Sterling. I did have a thread here on the forum BUT cannot negotiate my way thru this forum to find it!!!
I will get the ladder out tomorrow and take some pics to show how Jayco and myself achieved this.
Aussie Paul.
Here we go Tom. You can find more solid beams near the roof openings. I used the roof where the top of the wall meets the roof, and more solid areas around the roof openings. I took some video as well so I will see if I can get that up.
Aussie Paul.
Not sure if this will work BUT giving it a go.
Aussie Paul.
ps. nope, have to think of another way
https://youtu.be/5ncbx5L59ZU
https://youtu.be/Z0jir4sWieY
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 28th of November 2015 05:49:53 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Saturday 28th of November 2015 05:59:13 PM
I have a 2010 Jayco Sterling with 500w of solar fitted to the roof, I am going to add another 200 watts soon. I mounted the panels on aluminum angle with 1 screw per bracket to mount to the roof. The screws where 10mm long S/S screws. I used Sikaflex 11FC to attach the brackets to the roof and the screw was just to help hold the bracket down to the roof while the Sikaflex cured. Have traveled 20,000 klms since then and never had a problem. I did make certain that the holes for the screw had a bit of Sikaflex in them so I would not have a water leak problem.
The next lot of panels I am going to just glue the brackets straight on with some weights on them until the glue is cured. No screws at all.
Also thank you Dav4Cris for your thoughts.
The one thing that concerned me the most was finding ares on the roof that would take a screw that would hold a bit of strain. Mainly because I noted that on the roof of my van the very top layer of the roof is not fixed solidly to the ply under it and therefore glue on its own was not going to be sufficient.
Thanks again guys.
Make sure you use fixings that allow an air space under the panel(s) - they work more efficiently when air can circulate under them.
Glen
I have 4 panels on my van roof totaling 500w.The panels are attached with aluminium right angle brackets that are attached using Sikaflex construction adhesive 11c.
I hope that this helps.
Regards Chris