EPDM roof and solar panels

[Vik351]

Who has a EPDM roof and solar panels and how did ya do it...???

MY bloke doesnt wanna drill through the rubber ...!!! "might cause a leak"

Well that is true...BUT... My old bomb was done that way with plenty of sticky stuff and was ok...



What say the clan...???

vik...

[SteveW]

Well, Winnebago/Avida fix everything that is on the roof, including solar panels, by drilling through the EPDM and the 3/8 marine ply and using copious amounts of glug.

[cruiserxxx]

I drilled thru the roof to pick up the Aluminun framing where I could where I couldn't I used toggle bolts and attached 38mm x 38mm wood the width of the panels, plus heaps of silaflex under the wood and around the edges of the wood.
4 off 250 watt Panels are running width ways with some chain and rigging screw attached from solar panels to the edge of the roof picking up the Aluminun framing....Did that in 2012 still fine.

[T1 Terry]

I drilled thru the roof to pick up the Aluminun framing where I could where I couldn't I used toggle bolts and attached 38mm x 38mm wood the width of the panels, plus heaps of silaflex under the wood and around the edges of the wood.
4 off 250 watt Panels are running width ways with some chain and rigging screw attached from solar panels to the edge of the roof picking up the Aluminun framing....Did that in 2012 still fine.

Was that through an Avida roof? On the Longreach Avida make a frame that mounts to the roof bearer running down each side and span across the roof because there is no where structural directly under the rubber covered ply roof. Simply gluing to the rubber roof won't hold much as part of the rubber membrane is separating already due to air trapped between the ply and rubber and the heat causing a bubble. Something for the factory to fix this time, but if we start gluing to the rubber membrane and it fails again, we will be left holding the can, not something I'm keen on doing

[cruiserxxx]

I drilled thru the roof to pick up the Aluminun framing where I could where I couldn't I used toggle bolts and attached 38mm x 38mm wood the width of the panels, plus heaps of silaflex under the wood and around the edges of the wood.
4 off 250 watt Panels are running width ways with some chain and rigging screw attached from solar panels to the edge of the roof picking up the Aluminun framing....Did that in 2012 still fine.

Was that through an Avida roof? On the Longreach Avida make a frame that mounts to the roof bearer running down each side and span across the roof because there is no where structural directly under the rubber covered ply roof. Simply gluing to the rubber roof won't hold much as part of the rubber membrane is separating already due to air trapped between the ply and rubber and the heat causing a bubble. Something for the factory to fix this time, but if we start gluing to the rubber membrane and it fails again, we will be left holding the can, not something I'm keen on doing

The toggle bolts go thru the membrane and ply then they clamp to the inside of ply roof, agree glueing straight to the membrane will just lift the membrane.
The sika flex under the wood is for water proofing the toggle bolts.
Also held down by the chain in rigging screws to the roof bearers running down each side....been like it since early 2012 without issue.

[Craig]

Tried to attach Avida installation instructions but won't let me. Terry let me know if you got the pm. Or pm me your current email address as the one I have is from 2012.

[Vik351]

I drilled thru the roof to pick up the Aluminun framing where I could where I couldn't I used toggle bolts and attached 38mm x 38mm wood the width of the panels, plus heaps of silaflex under the wood and around the edges of the wood.
4 off 250 watt Panels are running width ways with some chain and rigging screw attached from solar panels to the edge of the roof picking up the Aluminun framing....Did that in 2012 still fine.

Was that through an Avida roof? On the Longreach Avida make a frame that mounts to the roof bearer running down each side and span across the roof because there is no where structural directly under the rubber covered ply roof. Simply gluing to the rubber roof won't hold much as part of the rubber membrane is separating already due to air trapped between the ply and rubber and the heat causing a bubble. Something for the factory to fix this time, but if we start gluing to the rubber membrane and it fails again, we will be left holding the can, not something I'm keen on doing

Avida brag on how ya can walk on their Espie roof,it's strong enough for that ,so me thinks a couple a holes here and there will be ok, just plenty of their goo , once I get the air bubble issue sorted I reckon we go for it with these sorta things

s-l64(1).jpg

vik...

[T1 Terry]

Craig has sent me the PDF from Avida regarding the mounting of solar panels and there is a section regarding the Esperance. The shaped square ali tube mounted to each side and clear of the roof as it arches across is the advised method so the weight is supported by the load carrying members of the build design and not the rubber covered plywood roof that was not designed for the purpose of load carrying.

The toggle bolt idea would involve holes drilled in the roof but would also give somewhere for the Armourflex to actually bond that won't peel off like the rubber roof could and simple self taping screws to hold the aluminium angle onto the roof would not hold well to the very thin ply (3mm) mentioned in the Avida PDF.

T1 Terry

[Vik351]

Craig has sent me the PDF from Avida regarding the mounting of solar panels and there is a section regarding the Esperance.

Good old Cragiles...!!! well looks like my old bomb was done that way but just screwed into the rubber and ply,as for toggle bolts...??? the ones I used to use would then be visible inside the MH...??? Are Rawl Plugs still around...??? They would just expand in the foam in the roof structure, not like a toggle bolt, ya need a bit a room for the wings(spring loaded) or the toggle tingo to move...

And it aint the space shuttle...

vik... she'll be right...

[Barboots]

If I was repeating my panel installation I would certainly use beams spanning from side to side as T1 has conveyed... and I've got a conventional roofed van. The benefits include mounting integrity without penetrations and ease of serviceability. You might find it'd even be an easier installation... once the blinkers of tradition and convention are off.

Cheers, Steve