installing Zamp roof top solar panel |
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wyodude
Newbie Joined: 17 Dec 2015 Location: jackson, wyomin Online Status: Offline Posts: 3 |
Topic: installing Zamp roof top solar panel Posted: 08 Aug 2017 at 10:40am |
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I am considering installing a zamp 160 solar panel on the rear part of my roof. I have an Rpod 179. My first concern is what type of screws/fasteners should I use to fasten the panel to the roof? Solar dealers tell you "how to " except concerning fasteners. Thinking of wiring down threw clothes closet. Are there studs in the roof that i need to avoid and if so where are they. Forest River was no help as they don't want to get blamed for anything. If someone has actually done an install it would be nice to chat.
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Wyooo-dude
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voisj
Senior Member Joined: 19 Jul 2016 Location: San Luis Obispo Online Status: Offline Posts: 471 |
Posted: 08 Aug 2017 at 11:09pm | |
sailor323
Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281 |
Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 7:39am | |
I attached 2 140 watt rigid panels to the roof of our 179 with 3M VHB double sided tape. Still as strong as ever after 2 years and over 18 thousand miles. Here's a link to a description of the installation https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/How%20To%20-%20Installation%20-%20Solar%20Panels%20on%20Roof.pdf?token=AWzHq5T97IeJE7qw7sOlVmaFfWi195iQD-gaLPvg3oGhB2t0fTzTC5Lbl2gNRj_rItYZK4fxl-lbwavVOfBsGYwV0k9cljmA4hMg6wD1KM_Bw9TIOexUByg8MQjkVh9-e0NZklumwPMSZRA_kvE_I_ON
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DavMar
Senior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2017 Location: Lexington, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 592 |
Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 12:03pm | |
Hi sailor323.... I'd like to read up on your mod using double sided to fix your panels but sadly your link doesn't work so you might consider using tinyurl, https://tinyurl.com/ Also like to see a link to the the tape you used. Thanks |
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Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the
wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
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sailor323
Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281 |
Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 7:07am | |
Tks. Sorry about the link, it's a link to the files section on the rpod facebook page. You may have to be a member to view it. Will upload to tinyurl and repost
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sailor323
Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281 |
Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 7:44am | |
I checked out tinyurl. seems it's just a place to post urls compactly. If you can't open my link as is, you probably won't be ableto open it as a tinyurl. I've checked a couple of other sites for sharing stuff (imgur) but they're for photos I'm not sure that this link
will work either. https://www.sendspace.com/file/e87pkw Here's the text for the file: I installed 2 140 watt panels. My panels are 26” X 56” I put one behind the AC and one in front. The one in front is angled a little bit to accommodate the curvature of the roof. The rear panel is mounted using the Z shaped panel mounts available from Amazon. Because of the curvature I had to manufacture brackets from aluminum angle from Lowe’s. The brackets are attached to the roof with 3M VHB 4950 double sided tape (Amazon) (Thanks Floyd Stewart) I ran the wire from the panels to the battery as follows: Each panel is wired to a PVC outdoor junction box via Liquidtite conduit. I drilled a hole in the back of the Junction Box and through the roof of the Pod. The JB is attached to the roof with 3M 5200 adhesive sealant. You cold also use 3M 4200. I drilled a hole through the roof into the void that runs next to lavatory vent and behind the lavatory. The wire is routed through that void and the void that is between the wall in the cabinet and the wall where the Pod’s slide switch and the voltage/tank fill indicators are located. (The panel inside the cabinet is easily removed) The wires connect there to the charge controller. Then the wires from the controller are routed back to the void behind the lavatory and down behind the Pod’s fuse/breaker box. At that point, I took advantage of the wire pass through in the floor and ran the wires through the floor and spliced into the Zamp wires which go to the battery. At the battery I put an inline fuse (15 Amps, may have to up that to 20 Amps) I used 10 ga THHN wire throughout. The Zamp wires are located in the flexible conduit on the bottom of the right side of the Pod. They share space with the cables that run between the fuse box and the battery. I mounted the controller on the Pod wall where the voltage/tank fill indicators are. I have a Blue Sky 2512 controller. A bit pricey, but there are much less expensive ones on the market. I plan to install a Xantrex battery monitor as soon as it arrives—back ordered. I got the panels, controller and monitor from https://www.altestore.com/store/ I bought the AlltE panel. It's their proprietary brand. Normally, I would have steered away from a proprietary brand, but I've dealt with this company before and think I can trust them. Otherwise, I'd recommend the Kyocera panels. I have them on our boat and they have been very reliable. Panels, $230 each and the controller $190 (much less expensive controllers available) This install is on a 179. Similar voids and routing possibilities exist on other models. I'll just post pix separately from the text. |
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sailor323
Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281 |
Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 8:26am | |
OK, I've tried to post pix from imgur and phootobucket with no success. Join the facebook page and look for "How to - Solar Panels on Roof" Posted by Travis Mattingly Apr3, 2016 Here's the tape I used, 3M VHB 4950 https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Y7GIKI/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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sailor323
Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281 |
Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 8:36am | |
I give up can't figure out how to post images or links
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sailor323
Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281 |
Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 9:07am | |
Trying something else. Copy and paste into browser https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/bfc84a22-6900-4d9d-8c4d-acfc7a9fd97e
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 9:40am | |
Photobucket doesn't let you share images anymore, unless you pay them a $400 a year extortion.. err... "use fee." |
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