Brackets for mounting solar panels?

[Rucker]

It’s happened that flying solar panels have caused fatalities

https://www.wereldreizigers.nl/en/motorhomes/flying-solar-panels-fix-glue-screws/

Scary video and good article. Definitely illustrates the need to get it right when securing panels. Kind of looks like the panel took off a layer of paint or roof covering when it broke loose.

 

[mmoore6856]

2 and yes I stopped to see if they were OK they were not usable but I took them to the next rest area and put then in the large dumpster

 

[dbsoundman]

I'm getting the impression that there's no good way to secure panels to the roof if you don't remove the interior skin of your bus ceiling, something I was worried about early on in my build when we decided to keep the original ceiling. Any creative ideas contrary to my thoughts?

 

[Tejon7]

Rossvtaylor's approach should work for your situation, shouldn't it? A healthy dollop of sticky stuff (with no paint in between, I assume) backed up by 1/4" rivets seems plenty strong. His 2000# lift test is way more than these brackets should see, especially since they'd presumably be even stronger in shear.

 

[dbsoundman]

Rossvtaylor's approach should work for your situation, shouldn't it? A healthy dollop of sticky stuff (with no paint in between, I assume) backed up by 1/4" rivets seems plenty strong. His 2000# lift test is way more than these brackets should see, especially since they'd presumably be even stronger in shear.

You’re right, I missed that post when reading the thread somehow.

 

[Rucker]

Rossvtaylor's approach should work for your situation, shouldn't it? A healthy dollop of sticky stuff (with no paint in between, I assume) backed up by 1/4" rivets seems plenty strong. His 2000# lift test is way more than these brackets should see, especially since they'd presumably be even stronger in shear.

My VHB is secured to the (perfectly cleaned) fiberglass gelcoat on the roof, and I added 3 screws each bracket, predrilled with a pilot hole I forget how big but researched for maximum grab.

I have six brackets per panel instead of the usual four. I think I calculated I could lift the bus off the ground by the solar panels with the VHB alone, based on 3m specifications for pull strength per square inch.

I also added a layer of eternabond over the top for UV protection of the VHB (and added waterproofing).

 

[mmoore6856]

I haven't seen mention of wind that gets under the panels if driving or parked in windy spot . Keep this in mind also as I'm going to fabricate a metal cover for the front of the panels. When we remove the seats we need to stop and come up with a plan of what needs to be done first

 

[Danjo-SKO]

Catastrophic Failure

The potential problem I see is tape/epoxy, and to some degree, self tapping or other friction type fasteners leave open that possibility of catastrophic failure where there’s little chance of warning before there’s a silicon frisbee. At least with strut that’s through bolted to channel with locking type nuts there’s a lot less chance of that.

It would be great to see examples of factory installations

 

[Danjo-SKO]

I'm getting the impression that there's no good way to secure panels to the roof if you don't remove the interior skin of your bus ceiling, something I was worried about early on in my build when we decided to keep the original ceiling. Any creative ideas contrary to my thoughts?

Why not use a carriage bolt with the head on the inside?

 

[mmoore6856]

I would worry more about a factory mount than what I see here

 

[mmoore6856]

Danjo That would be a great idea if your inside is finished