Attaching a solar panel

[billyg]

What product that is in tape form is used to attach a panel to a metal roof? No screws no holes. Bill

[trail-explorer]

garym114 wrote:
3M VHB tape.

DITTO.

Clean both mounting surface very well and you will good results.

[HMS_Beagle]

Heck on class A motorhomes half of the panels are held on with VHB tape. On the one I had the luggage doors, access panels, etc were all assembled with VHB tape as the only fastening. Screws aren't foolproof either, depends on what you hit with them and how rotted the material gets.

I glued the mounts on with 3M 5200 about 5 years ago. Still there.

[c_traveler2]

billyg wrote:
What product that is in tape form is used to attach a panel to a metal roof? No screws no holes. Bill

Your going to need screws like it or not. I wouldn't trust tape for holding solar panels to the roof. I've used butyl tape and Proflext Geocell sealant for years to seal screws that I've use to fasten items to my Lance 815 metal roof.

[billyg]

Thank you for all the replies. I have a metal roof and I went with 8 attachment points for my 100 watt panel. I bought SS bolts that are flat on top and the head is shaped like an upside down pyramid. I epoxied the bolts to the roof covering the entire head with a ton of goop. I will figure a safety tether as insurance. Bill

[Paradox123]

I have a fiberglass roof. My panels have been attached with VHB tape for about eight years. I check them whenever I’m on the roof. They are still bombproof.

[towpro]

the problem with only gluing them to the rubber roof is your bond to the RV is only as good as the rubber roof to plywood bond.

[Fishbreath]

VHB 3m Tape
They have about 100 different types. Find the one that will be suitable for your roof material and has a high PSI rating.

I have had three panels on my roof for 4 years now. They are as strong as they were when installed. The naysayers are the ones that have never tried it or properly researched it.

Bill

[uglymug]

Look at Sticky Feet RV Solar Panel Mounts. They are brackets with VHB tape designed specifically for mounting Solar Panels on RVs with a Fiberglass roofs.

[towpro]

I used eternabond tape between brackets and rubber roof, Plus 2 screws through the roof, than covered screws with correct caulk.

[HioSSilver]

I have thought about hanging some off a hinge on either or both sides of my tc since i don't have awenings.

[DWeikert]

garym114 wrote:
3M VHB tape.
Panel has been on my EPDM roof since 2007, no screws.

Do you have the flexible panels that sit flush on the roof or "conventional" panels attached by feet and spaced off the roof? I would be very leery of tape only attaching of a conventional panel to an EPDM roof unless you want the panel pealing the roof off your RV when a good wind gust comes along as you're driving down the highway. EPDM just isn't meant to be a structural attachment point.

[tuna_fisher]

3M vhb with dicor self leveling over the top after mounted. Solid as can be. No holes no leaks.

[naturist]

Do not depend on tape to attach a solar panel to the roof. If the tape fails and the panel blows off the roof at speed, you could kill someone. This is a serious issue, screws are absolutely required. The holes in your roof are easily sealed, much easier than dealing with the issues that will arise from the panel going through the windshield of the car behind you.

[Lwiddis]

I did four screws per panel, Eternabond tape and Dicor self leveling caulk.