question about mounts for panels

[GlennWest]

I have my panels, 40x80". Going to mount them long way across Teton roof. They will need to be about 7" tall. Need to go take a measurement for exact height. Going to use angle iron and flat bar. Bolt angle iron to bottom of panel and to roof. Flat bar between for height. Think this be good.? You that have mounted a lot of these know more than me. Considering welding up supports. All I have is a stick machine by choice. Get some stick aluminum rods. They weld nasty but hold good. Center support will be a continuous bar down center for a screw or bolt thru top with washer. What that will be is what I can buy local. I can start building supports while knee improves 

[sandsys]

5 minutes ago, GlennWest said:

I have my panels, 40x80". Going to mount them long way across Teton roof. They will need to be about 7" tall. Need to go take a measurement for exact height. Going to use angle iron and flat bar. Bolt angle iron to bottom of panel and to roof. Flat bar between for height. Think this be good.? You that have mounted a lot of these know more than me. Considering welding up supports. All I have is a stick machine by choice. Get some stick aluminum rods. They weld nasty but hold good. Center support will be a continuous bar down center for a screw or bolt thru top with washer. What that will be is what I can buy local. I can start building supports while knee improves 

On my van my panels didn't need to be high so we used z brackets held on with 3M VHB tape. No holes anywhere and they held up just fine. Last I heard it had been five years and they were still holding.

Linda

[GlennWest]

I need to clear my cassette mini split unit. I actually could mount low and work up to it. Only 10 panels so be steady slope up I I go that route. My roof rubber. So screws. 

[Darryl&Rita]

Flat stock has no strength on the short axis. Work hardening becomes a problem. You don't notice it until *Poof*, you notice. Angle stock, long enough to catch 2 joists, running front to back. Angle stock vertical risers, ending at the panel frames. Bolt the frames to the verticals, and the horizontals to the roof.

[Randyretired]

I used aluminum angle to mount my panels.  Aluminum angle flat on the roof, aluminum angle to reach the height and bolted directly to the panels.  Required drilling the side of the panel.  I used stainless bolts to put everything together.  The slope of the roof was easier to meet that way.  On bigger panels I used 3 or 4 risers on each side down to the roof.  Before each piece was placed on the roof I  put a generous amount of Dicor then covered the bolt heads with Dicor.  Teton roofs have 1/2" panel beneath the rubber roof so that helps with bolting down the supports.  For a time I used hinges for the riser so the panels could be tilted but I don't do that anymore. That is just my backyard method that I came up with several years ago there may be better methods.

[Randyretired]

I have back problems so lifting panels was not going to happen.  I used a backhoe.   Hopefully with your knees you have a plan.

[GlennWest]

Reason considering flat bar it had been recommended on here. " Combination angle and flat bar" to be exact. So can that. My thoughts on getting them up there off of back of truck. Place sheet of plywood against Teton and pull up. Will have help. 

[GlennWest]

37 minutes ago, Randyretired said:

I used aluminum angle to mount my panels.  Aluminum angle flat on the roof, aluminum angle to reach the height and bolted directly to the panels.  Required drilling the side of the panel.  I used stainless bolts to put everything together.  The slope of the roof was easier to meet that way.  On bigger panels I used 3 or 4 risers on each side down to the roof.  Before each piece was placed on the roof I  put a generous amount of Dicor then covered the bolt heads with Dicor.  Teton roofs have 1/2" panel beneath the rubber roof so that helps with bolting down the supports.  For a time I used hinges for the riser so the panels could be tilted but I don't do that anymore. That is just my backyard method that I came up with several years ago there may be better methods.

My roof is thick enough that finding rafters not likely. But 1/2" plywood I feel should be good. Will a stud finder work?

Edited November 1, 2022 by GlennWest

[GlennWest]

Decided on center support to be a tee like support. Catch two panels on one mount. Bolt down panel from top. Have to a thicker top piece for threads or thin and a rivet nut.

[Chad Heiser]

These are the mounts I use.  They are two piece Z-brackets.  Sometimes I leave the curved section, but most of the time I hammer the curve flat.  If I needed additional height, like it sounds you do, I would add the appropriate width aluminum flat between the two pieces of Z-bracket and bolt everything together.  I would not go too tall with this method, but to get the 7 inch clearance you need it would be easy.  These will give almost 6” of clearance by themselves.  For the size panels you are discussing, I use six of these brackets (three on each long side of the panel).  I can’t remember if a Teton roof is curved or not.  If it is curved, the brackets on the ends of the panels will have to be longer than the brackets in the center of the panels when mounting the panels perpendicular to the roof to keep the panel flat across the roof.

[GlennWest]

yes roof is curved some. thanks for link. I may not need to go over top of cassette cover. Soon as rain ends going to go up and check. Would have to go high enough so it doesn't cast shade.

Edited November 1, 2022 by GlennWest

[GlennWest]

Got up on roof today. Done good, minor pain. Expected with my injury. Panels are nearly 43" wide. I was told 40". So each end will be on fiberglass section not rubber roof. Think I will be standard z brackets and vhb tape on the ends. That will allow air to go over panels instead of under. The mini split cassette box will have a complete panel and 10" of another in front of it. So most of a panel will be over the box. I can drop down after that some. Still have to be high enough to clear antenna (we don't use it), vents and bathroom vent. I am running high enough voltage that I can use 10 gauge pv cable. there is a vent right above the bathroom. Thinking of going down it. Go tomorrow and get some ss bolts for brackets I am making. 

Edited November 4, 2022 by GlennWest

[GlennWest]

I now have the brackets made to get over the mini split cover. Can come down to about 4.5" now to clear the rest. That is from a height of 7.5" The panels are 42" wide so I don't believe there will be any shading problems with sloping down this amount. I ordered the brackets Chad linked for the rest. Now I will have to make my center supports since I cannot reach under them that far. Question guys, I am using 3/4x1/16" aluminum angle iron. On the center support I am making a tee to catch both panels. Should I run a self tapping screw in or put a rivet nut on it? 

[justRich]

Well Nuts, more commonly used for through-hull kayak projects have been my choice.

Amazon

[GlennWest]

Think I saw them in local hardware. Or at lest looked like them. Didn't know what they were. Thank you.

[GlennWest]

Mistaken. I could not find well nuts locally. But I did find a rivet nut kit at harbor freight. Came with 10 1/4" rivet nuts, brass, in it. Should be enough

[GlennWest]

I used the rivet nuts in the fiberglass. Didn't get it clean enough for the tape. They holding good. Likely best way. Going to put 4 z brackets on the fiberglass end. Maybe overkill but peace of mind.  All I got done today. Wind died down this evening to get one up. It about all I can do to lift that panel up on top. Going to get help on rest. Put picnic table next to slide out. Placed panel on table. Panel almost reached the top. If I was a little stronger could do this myself. Think I better clean the top tomorrow before I go any further. Need to route a cable in also before putting another panel on.

Edited November 6, 2022 by GlennWest

[GlennWest]

Got pv cables ran. Went thru a vent that feed shower and sink. No smells at all. Ran random lengths. Can trim to fit as I go. Wires long enough on panels to hook up to next one. Also got another panel up. 

[GlennWest]

Got inverters mounted. Brackets I ordered shipped out today. So should have them mid week. Going to vote tomorrow. That a trip for us. Get back on project Wednesday. Can hook up inverters all but solar. 

[GlennWest]

Got 4 panels up now. Must be getting stronger because not having any trouble getting them up there now. I am over vent and mini split. I removed the antenna and left base. We never use it anyway. Things going faster now that I am not having to make all brackets. Those panels are very rigid. I have just 4 mounts on the last panel and it is rigid. It will not move when i pull up in center. None at all. I do believe I will go with just 4 mounts. I mean me pulling and no movement, I see no need for it. I am using the brackets Chad linked for me. They have enough adjustment I will not need any additional flat bar on the rest of them. I did use flat bar going over the vent. Wanted some clearance so we could use it. 

[GlennWest]

My brackets came with #10 sheet metal screws. I am using 1/4" lag screws. Would the #10 be good to use? Those 1/4" lock down good.

[GlennWest]

Got 7 panels up. One more day and should finish solar panel install. Still waiting on battery disconnects and box for solar breakers. When I finish solar panels will get some pics for yall

Edited November 11, 2022 by GlennWest

[Chad Heiser]

9 hours ago, GlennWest said:

My brackets came with #10 sheet metal screws. I am using 1/4" lag screws. Would the #10 be good to use? Those 1/4" lock down good.

The provided screws work fine.  They are all I typically use.  On large panels like yours though, I always use six mounts per panel.  That means twelve of the smaller screws holding the panels to the roof.  If you are only using four mounts per panel, I would prefer the larger screws you are using.

[GlennWest]

30 minutes ago, Chad Heiser said:

The provided screws work fine.  They are all I typically use.  On large panels like yours though, I always use six mounts per panel.  That means twelve of the smaller screws holding the panels to the roof.  If you are only using four mounts per panel, I would prefer the larger screws you are using.

They are very solid using just 4. On the taller mounted panels I have six mounts. Also bolted panels together with angle iron. They won't move at all. The panels lower rest on the cover my refrigerant lines run in. I pulled up in center and they don't flex at all.  

[GlennWest]

We got stiff wind today. Gusts of 25 mph. When is it to windy to install panels?

Edited November 12, 2022 by GlennWest