NO DRILL Solar panel install for your van | AMAZING diy mounting rack
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- This week I’m installing 1600 watts of solar on the roof of the box truck. I have been researching installation methods quite a bit.
I was looking for a no-drill solution since the roof of my box truck is just a thin sheet of aluminum with bracing every 14”
I believe I have four the perfect solution that is both strong, light weight, and affordable
My Solar + Electrical Build List:
www.amazon.com...
check my video below to find out how I purchased my brand new 320-watt panels for less than $100 each...and you can too !
• Secret Solar Panel Dea... - Розваги
5th generation fighter jets travel at 1000+ MPH with incredible stresses and they are held together with glue - no bolts, no rivets. In the middle east, exterior commercial building panels weighing 1000s of pounds are just glued on because the glue can handle the panels expansion and compression brought on by extreme temperature changes that used to cause damage and failures with mechanical fasteners. The age of glue is upon us. Great Video!!!
thanks! you're absolutely right about that! adhesives are very powerful
I learned something new here. I never thought tape could do the job.
I know!! I was skeptical for years then finally tried it. Works great. They’re still as solid as day 1
@rvanbeau2009 - ikr?! Who knew? Glue!
I used the super sticky double sided tape to stick plastic corrugated boards the shape of my flat flexible solar panel to the roof. The openings of the corrugations face forward so the air runs thru them when I drive. I then used the same tape to attach the solar panel to the board. Just to be safe, I zip tied the corner grommets of the solar panel to the roof rack. It's been on for a few years with no problem.
yes! im happy to hear that you had success with the adhesive tape also. I tried the flexible panels with corrugated plastic on my first van. Unfortunately the panels died within 1 year. im glad you are having better luck
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I want to add solar to my TT but don't want to drill any holes into the frame. This is the way to go for me.
Just the info I was looking for! Getting ready to mount 2 x 200 watt panels on my new to me popup truck camper. The roof is pristine and I don't want to drill holes in it. This system will work great! 👍Really appreciate the Amazon links too. Hopefully I can send a few bucks your way. My panels are 55" long, so I'm going to use 6 Z brackets on each one just to be safe. Thanks again! 👌
I’m so happy to hear this. Definitely the right move to not drill holes. Good luck with the install!
I just now needed to know how to mount panels and I'm so glad I found a new video from you on just that. You always seem to have the most creative and functional solutions and you explain things very well! Thank you for the information so much! Ill be trying this soon :)
I’m happy to help…this has been such an amazing solution to mounting panels, I’ll never drill holes in a roof again!
Thanks very much for taking the time to make these informed videos. I just purchased everything from your list to mount 1200 watts of solar on our cargo conversion and also the same mini split thanks again keep up the great work
awesome! youre going to love it
You can also add another cheapy small charge controller just for that 1 panel. A fairly decent 30amp controller can be had for $100.
You’re absolutely right. I was really wanting everything to work off single unit. Now I have to decide if I want to put the extra panel back and add a 2nd controller or install a rooftop deck 🤔
The test is driving down the freeway. Good luck!
I am currently in northern New Mexico. 753 miles away from central Texas. The panels are holding up great 😊
Drove from Texas to California, no problems driving at freeway speeds
@nomadbrad503 dang it. I am in Austin and wish I could meet somebody like you that just likes doing this stuff.
I like projects and especially when you need to be creative.
I made my own pantry out of three palates. It's like a counter sized pantry, three shelves.
I'm in one group called austin van life and i'm gonna try to post a message in there and hope there's somebody near who will meet up and has the same enthusiasm.
Brad a great installation of the Solar Panels. Excellent. Great Tips. Thank-You. always, Tommy🤠
I appreciate you Tommy ✌🏻
@@nomadbrad503 Ditto Brad. You Have Amazing Outlook👀In Your Gifted🎁Abilities, In Your Talented🕺📏Design📐Applications👍. always, Tommy🤠
I’d love to use this method for my transit but the roof isn’t flat. There must be a way to adjust the height of the track to make this method work. Great video. Thanks!
Yeah, you could use taller solar panel brackets
Great video, Brad. That 3m vbh tape is amazing stuff. I first discovered it when it came with my "Auto Ventshade - AVS bug deflectors and rain guards". I'm kinda hooked on this tape now. I'll also be using it if I do decide to install solar panels on my van. Cheerio 😊
I love using VHB tape!
Love the set up. I love VHB. I have used it for years. When I convert my box/cutaway truck I will want to use a similar setup for it. I may have to reach out to you.
I love VHB tape!
You might want to put on Eternabond tape on top of the T-channel for extra holding power. Also, you may want to seal up the top of the T-channel with the Dicor - so that the elements don't get to the 3M tape from the holes in the T-channel. Good luck with the deck - maybe leave some room for an internet antenna / dish. Curious how you are venting if no roof fans. Thanks for the video.
i dont think the tape would help much...if the 3m VHB tape fails, we have some serious forces at work.
Get you another mppt for the extra panel and run it to the batteries by itself. Then you can use the entire 5 panels
Killer install. D😎🤙🇺🇸
I appreciate that brother 💪🏻
I’m a 3m certified Viynl installer . If you want to take it to the next level apply 3m adhesive promoter prior to you applying the double sided tape . That panels no going anywhere
thanks for the tip! ill keep that in mind for next time! im so impressed with how well this VHB is holding up. People still freak out when I tell them how the panels are attached 😂
Super interesting use of the tape! Question: In the calculation on the strength of the adhesive -- what would be the highest possible wind force acting on one of the panels if you are going say 70 MPH down the highway. Maybe it's only 200 LBS maximum so there would be no worries. I supposed if it was higher maybe some type of wind protection could be used to reduce air getting underneath the panels at the front of the rig? Your videos are super informative. Between You, Chuck Cassady, and DualEx, there is so much knowledge and great content on the build out game! Thanks!
After doing some research I found that Wind force only significantly effects the front solar panel as the air comes up over the cab. That force at highway speeds for that panel could be up to 300 lbs. each panel can support over 2,000 lbs.
Also I did add a sheet metal deflector onto the front panel to close the gap , it made sense for overall wind resistance.
I’ll do a full solar tour in a bit and provide more detail and actual results from living with the system.
I am putting 2 panels on a truck ladder rack until i can get a camper bed top. So i was thinking those same style rails, but a u bolt to attack the rails to the pipe cross bars of the rack. Tape wouldnt be useful for me, but other than that, those brackets do seem like they would make it easier to attach the panels since attaching was one of the difficulties i was contemplating as i will have to put the rails on first, then do all the work on the truck.
Yes! Even if you don’t use tape, the rails are a great mounting point and then the panels can easily be removed and reconfigured
@@nomadbrad503 I don't see the other post I made but where did you get those brackets from?
You said they were made for solar panel mounting.So I guess I'll search for that , but do you have any link to yours?
@@waltermh111 there is a link in the video description to my Amazon shopping list. The brackets are in there
@@nomadbrad503 oh yeah, I remember the link. I misunderstood it. Thanks.
Definitely not overkill.
So far, it’s been holding up great!
Would this work on a rv roof with a rubberized membrane rooftop
Nice Flowers !
Clean the panels too!
i sure did before hitting the road!
Stupid question. I have an aluminum roof with a coating on it. While messing around with installing my weeboost I noticed it was easy to scratch off this coating. I should probably scratch off this layer where the track is going, right? I’d hate to apply the tape and realize that data from 3M isn’t applicable when it’s attached to the coating not the roof.
Yes, if the coating comes off easily, scrape the section where your rails will go. You could probably use a kitchen scratch pad or steel wool to get it off quick
I'm sure I have some double sided scotch tape and some bubble gum around here somewhere..
Jokes aside, I think your videos have the best information around for box truck conversions. Looking to get a 14ft uhaul within the month and start building-- thanks for your help!
😂 good luck with your build
I had bad experience with the tape- in hot weather, it falls off. So far, how is your doing? still holding up? did you worry about wind dam for driving?
I hope mine doesn’t lift off 🥴
If you needed to run the brackets the other direction to get the t tracks under the panels, is that possible? The renogy solar panels I bought side by side come right to the edge of my box truck.
Yes, you can run the tracks either direction
Is this still your current setup
Yes, still holding great
If I have 6 panels.. how many rails do I need and which length?
depends on the size of your panels. 2 rails per panel. get whatever length is closest to the length of your panels
Thanks for a great informative video, Brad! Should you add some sealant over the holes in the T channel where the tape is exposed? It looks like there's room for another panel. Is the camera playing tricks, or am I missing something? Keep up the good work!
Yes! I’m going to touch up the sealant this week and cover the holes in the track. Did you watch the whole video? I had 5 panels which covered the whole roof, had to remove 1
Sorry, I watched it and thought you went down to 5 panels. Thanks for the feedback!
@@IcRedeye thanks for watching, I appreciate you 💪🏻
Brad, is your UHaul box truck the 14’ or 17’? How many miles were on it when you bought it?
14’ roof 12’ floor. Bought it with 119,000 miles
Off topic, if you get a flat on your front tire, can you use one of the rear tires on the front and drive on 5 temporarily until you get it fixed? Planning mine and where to put a spare. Thank you as always, Nomad Brad!
Absolutely you can! That’s why I love having a dually..it’s like driving with 2 spare tires.
About 3 years ago I got a flat in a rear tire deep in the woods. I just pulled off the whole wheel and threw it in the back. Decided to continue on to the camp site where friends we’re waiting. Ended up driving my box truck all over the mountains for about a week with only 5 wheels!
That's awesome! Saves a lot of space. Thanks very much for your quick reply. Have a great weekend, Brad!
How does it hold up in the cold? I live in a 4 season zone and interested in this and how it's holding up?
It’s been holding up great. Drove from Texas to California. No problems. I get on the roof every once in a while to check if the adhesive is lifting at all. Still solid as a rock.
The main consideration during install is to make sure the edges of the adhesive tape are sealed with dicor or another sealant so that standing water does not make contact.
The reason I decided to try this product is because it’s used as a bonding agent for satellites. I imagine air temperature is very low up there so should be fine wherever you are at on the ground
What happend when adhesive is heated by the sun?
Nothing happens with heat
Where did you buy that Tchannel material? I wonder if you can buy a wider rail for more adhesive surface.
Amazon, link in the description
@@nomadbrad503 thanks Brad for the inspiration
Hi Brad, I checked out the combiner box you chose and max Solar shows 1,200W on 12v. You were trying to do 1,600. Are you running 12v or 24v? I am thinking of doing two separate MPPTs and dividing my panels up. If something goes wrong, seems easier to trouble shoot. Ideas? Thank you
I have 48 volt panels running series parallel. My electrical system is 24 volts. I don’t recommend 12v systems unless you’re only running a few hundred watts of solar. I like the idea of multiple mppt
Did it came off after hot climate?
No, I have been driving it for 3 weeks in Texas with temps over 100 degrees. Heat is not an issue
I know it works and all but man i would be so nervous knowing it was just tape with no screws lol
lol I saw people doing it years ago and thought no way in hell. Finally saw enough people doing it so tried it for myself, it’s been holding great!
😜 *promo sm*
i appreciate you