RV solar panel mount
Question:
I’m interested in mounting two 100 wat panels on my RV. It’s a camperized van with a raised fiberglass roof. I don’t like the idea of drilling into the fiberglass roof to mount the panels. The panels would not be at there ideal angle laying flat on the roof and the possiblity of leaks increases. The previous owner of the van had installed a receiver type hitch on the vechile. I’ve seen everything from bike racks to fold out BBQ’s that can be mounted on these hitches. Has anyone seen a solar panel mount. I guess I could try and build one up. I think it might be better to make it so the panels can be easily removed and stored inside during travel. Any pros or cons on my idea?
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’m interested in mounting two 100 wat panels on my RV. It’s a > camperized van with a raised fiberglass roof. > I don’t like the idea of drilling into the fiberglass roof to mount > the panels. The panels would not be at there ideal angle laying flat > on the roof and the possiblity of leaks increases. > The previous owner of the van had installed a receiver type hitch on > the vechile. I’ve seen everything from bike racks to fold out BBQ’s > that can be mounted on these hitches. Has anyone seen a solar panel > mount. > I guess I could try and build one up. I think it might be better to > make it so the panels can be easily removed and stored inside during > travel. > Any pros or cons on my idea?
If you were to use the hitch, the only disadvantage I can think of is that the back of the Van would have to face south to get maximum power from the panels. If you are going to make a mount why not make one that sits on the ground? That way it doesn’t matter which way the van faces – just remember to include some method of securely chaining it to the van! Gareth.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’m interested in mounting two 100 wat panels on my RV. It’s a > camperized van with a raised fiberglass roof. > I don’t like the idea of drilling into the fiberglass roof to mount > the panels. The panels would not be at there ideal angle laying flat > on the roof and the possiblity of leaks increases. > The previous owner of the van had installed a receiver type hitch on > the vechile. I’ve seen everything from bike racks to fold out BBQ’s > that can be mounted on these hitches. Has anyone seen a solar panel > mount. > I guess I could try and build one up. I think it might be better to > make it so the panels can be easily removed and stored inside during > travel. > Any pros or cons on my idea?
Two panels, hinged together so they fold face to face, take them out of the van open them up and point at sun, plug into reg.
Response:
I put 3 75 watt panels flat on my popup camper, since it gives me more flexibility in parking, and I have no setup time. I needed one more panel to make up for non-optimum angling. Steve Spence Dir., Green Trust http://www.green-trust.org – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’m interested in mounting two 100 wat panels on my RV. It’s a > camperized van with a raised fiberglass roof. > I don’t like the idea of drilling into the fiberglass roof to mount > the panels. The panels would not be at there ideal angle laying flat > on the roof and the possiblity of leaks increases. > The previous owner of the van had installed a receiver type hitch on > the vechile. I’ve seen everything from bike racks to fold out BBQ’s > that can be mounted on these hitches. Has anyone seen a solar panel > mount. > I guess I could try and build one up. I think it might be better to > make it so the panels can be easily removed and stored inside during > travel. > Any pros or cons on my idea?
Response:
Thanks for the input. I like the folding panel idea, however I think the panels would have a tendency to dissappear more if they were sitting beside the van. Winds would be another issue to deal with if the panels were just sitting on the ground.. From what I can see the loads of two panels (maybe 50 pounds) would easily be supported by the reciever hitch. I’m guessing I could possibly even mount the panels permanently so that a I could drive with them set up. Not too sure how much wind loading would be at the back of the van. I really do not want drill any holes in the van and the reciever hitch seems like the way to go. Any other suggestions?
Response:
> Any other suggestions?
Put something across the roof like two bands (lo profile.). Check out the cool solar trackers made with leds as sun trackers. Make the panels track in pitch and roll with little electric screw jacks. If you tied em down really well, they would track even while on the road and turning. Just needs to withstand a 60mph wind. Not too bad.
Response:
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