Solar Panel on Swan Roof

[Red1]

Hi all,
We have a 2011 Swan, which I want to fit a solar panel to. On our 2009 Swan, I had the panel mounted on the roofrack, but this time the aircon is in the way. We have the wiring fitted already, and the outlet is in the centre of the roof, about 250mm back from the front of the roof.

I was thinking that I would mount the panel on a couple of lengths of aluminium angle, which I would then screw to the roof. Are self tappers OK to screw into the roof, with sealant under the angle, or are there any other ideas.??

It is a 120 watt panel, and it will fit best across the roof, near where the wires come out.

Thanks for your help

[Mandrake]

Red1 ,

I recently "installed" a 100 watt panel on a customers Avan Cruiseliner - No al angle just a lot of Sikaflex -
The only thing wrong with this method is that it is permanent and you got to get it right first time - coz once that stuff bonds it is very hard to un-bond ... I think this is a much safer and rainproof way of doing it  and requires no holes other than one for the cable ..

Cheers

Steve

[Maîneÿ . . .]

We have a 2011 Swan, which I want to fit a solar panel to. We have the wiring fitted already, and the outlet is in the centre of the roof, about 250mm back from the front of the roof.

I was thinking that I would mount the panel on a couple of lengths of aluminium angle, which I would then screw to the roof.
Are self tappers OK to screw into the roof, with sealant under the angle, or are there any other ideas.??

It is a 120 watt panel, and it will fit best across the roof, near where the wires come out.

Just one thought, if the panel is placed along, instead of 'across' the roof, there will be less than half the wind drag on the panel
the cable position 'from' the panel to where the "wires come out" can be changed and can be anywhere along the side of the panel that suits the 'hole' in the roof.
Another thought is to put a 'ramp' in front of the panel to form a graduated flow of air from the roof to the top of the panel, instead of having the flat edge of the panel, which will cause air pressure on the front of panel and attempt to force it back off the roof.

[Swogjb]

Hi Red1,
I recently added 160watt solar panels to the roof of our 2011 Jayco Hawk.
I was originally going to use self tappers with sikaflex to mount the panels to the roof but after mounting the first panel, I pulled up on it and a couple of the self tappers pulled out quite easily.
I then mounted some 40x40 aluminium rhs to the camper roof using 6mm nutserts and sikaflex 291.
I then fixed the panels to the bearers using stainless over centre latches on the front and stainless pull apart hinges on the back.
IMO I did not trust the sikaflex alone as  we go on a lot of corrugated roads etc.
My panels can be removed easily and placed out in the sun if we are camped under trees etc.





Glenn