rogerL1961

How did you attach your solar panels to your roof?

Give me some suggestions please.

How did you find the rafters to attach the panels?

What if my panels don't like up with my rafters....Toggel bolts?

any help is most appreciated.

stllost

wish i could help, i didn't install mine. It doesn't look like they hit the rafters on my installation though, looks like self tapping roof screws and alot of silicon. hope someone can answer you better. let me know if you want pictures of my installed unit.

rogerL1961

yes...pictures please......

rogerL1961

Ok...so I mounted my solar panel....First I have to say...its a great add on. I love it so far....I purchased a 130 watt and its nice to have it charge the battery during the day. I also purchased and Xantrex 35 amp with guages. I bought everything from Backwoodssolar.com They were very helpful and pretty much designed the system that I went with. I first called them and they were helpful. The told me what I needed for the size of rig I had and what I wanted to do.....(mainly Run a TV. Lights and stereo and heater.....I have a back up Generator.

So the mounting. Some considerations are not to mount it too close to anything else Like the Refrigerator. So you don't get shadows off of it.

I used 3/8 lag bolts and used the rubber caulk to tie it all into the roof.

I wanted the shortest run as possible so I put it up front near my batteries but on top of my roof.

I did the flat mount because I had talked to a lot of people and it seemed sufficient.

I think the gauges are great on the Xantrex. It tells you how many amps are flowing...what your battery voltage is and how many watts are going into your system.

The closer it gets to full charge the more blinks you have on a little lcd light. 5 blinks means you almost have a full charge and when it turns solid green you are charged. Then you can also look at the Voltage.

I recommend buying the mounts that go with the solar panels. They are cut the right length, already have the screw holes for attachment and have the screws that attach the mounts the the solar panel.

I do have to say...I recommend having the two 6 volt batteries (T105)

I paid about $900 bucks for everything but how nice is it to just park someplace and get free power. Not worrying about needing the charge the batteries every so often....Being out in the middle of nowhere and being able to watch tv without the generator.