Mounting flexible solar panel on teardrop

[kayakevan]

Im just about to the end of my teardrop build. The main body of the camper is done and I'm working on the hatch now. I'm trying to figure out the best way to mount my 100w renogy flexible solar panel to my hatch. I went with the flexible for a lower weight and lower profile. I know they aren't as efficient but I suspect it will do what I need it to for this camper. I plan on keeping this camper for a long time and it seems like the lifespan of these flexible solar panels is not as long as I expect to be using this camper. With that in mind I'm trying to figure out a mounting method that I can use that if/when this panel become unusable I can pull it off and replace it with a new one without damaging the camper hatch or leaving a big mess. The go to methods for this seem to be heavy duty adhesive tape or actually gluing it to the camper. Neither of those methods seem like they would be easy to remove when the time comes. I was thinking about screwing 2 pieces of t track to the hatch. One on the front edge of the panel and one along the back edge. I was going to then use the 6 grommets on the panel to attach it to the track with t bolts.

Would the 6 mounting points on the panel be enough to hold this down to the camper without issues from road wind?

 

[Tony Latham]

and it seems like the lifespan of these flexible solar panels

Like most products, you can't put them all in the same bucket. I've got a six-year-old Renogy flexible made from ETFE and it's got a long life ahead of itself. ETFE stuff is used for roofing and aerospace applications. The problem with a lot of them, if not most, is that they're made using PET plastic, and they have a history of failing.

The Renogy panels come with grommets. I made sure my spars were in the right spot.

The cables are run using cable glands.

It works great.

Tony

 

[Brumasterm01]

This is not a recommendation, but I thought I would share my limited experience using 3M VHB tape and EternaBond RV tape.

I taped my 3 x 100 watt solar panels to corrugated plastic and then onto the roof with the 3M double-sided tape. I then used 4 inch RV roof tape on the ends. I found it easy to trim, work with and very secure. I looked at several different mounting options, but I didn’t want to put additional holes through my roof. I was concerned about additional water entry points.

I left two sides of the corrugated open so that it would breathe and drain. Also, I had learned that insulating the panel from the roof helps dissipate heat resulting in better performance. This is why ridged solar panels are framed in aluminum and are not mounted flush with the surface below.

So far I have not had any issues. My build is relatively new, but I’ve already put a couple thousand miles on it and have not had any lifting leaking or any movement of the panels. I get about 250 watts maximum in full sun.

I do have a luxury of a flat surface with no curves. Your build may not. Also, my panels are obscured from view. Tony's example above would be best if your placing the the panels in a conspicuous area.

 

[kayakevan]

I just wanted to update everyone on what I decided to do with my panel. I purchased 2 pieces of 48" t-track and put blocking in my hatch framing to attach it to. The 3 holes on the solar panel along each side of course are not perfect in line with each other so I also bought 2 pieces of 1/8" aluminum flat bar to make a sort of adapter to attach the panel and t-track together. I'm sure that all of this is overkill and the panel will last me many years but I'd rather err on the side of caution so as to not have to drill or patch extra holes into the camper. I figure if I have to replace the panel in the future and it doesn't line up just like this one I can fabricate another aluminum framework to make it fit to the t-track. I'll post some pictures of it once I get it all put together.