Solar panel came away on motorway,

Tombola

Tombola

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MH
Rapido 8094DF
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Since 2004
I just got away with this by the skin of my teeth.
Came back from Montpellier on a mad 24 hour dash and arrived home this morning.

As we were on the A16 this side of Paris, i heard a slight clunk clunk clunk... and it seemed to be UNDER the van, check my mirrors, nothing, it didnt seem like anything major, not too loud etc but I decided to pull off at the next Aire.
I expected to see a little bit of under pipe have fallen off or something, nope ll looked good, it was only when getting back in the hab door I seen this solar panel back corner hanging off 8 inches over the roof.

The first time I havent took my ladders away with me but lucky enough I have an extra large skylight . jumped up and seen the solar panel. I have 3 panels on this van but this one was already on when I bought it. The 2 panels I added were with ally angle and silka.(may think about screwing them now too)
This one is with these plastic brackets you can buy, and tbh on I did think about re fitting at the time.

Look where you can see the silka still attached to the roof 6 inches away from each foot, and how it had snagged the cables from the flexi trunk I was lucky in that it had jumped up and "snagged" itself on the wind deflector over the toilet skylight or i really think it would have been sat on a cars bonnet behind me or worse..... Looking at some scuffs on the roof in the pic you can see it had moved quite a lot before resting.

Well it was fun and games getting it down with no ladder, and I havent took a pic of the feet but there isnt one bit of silka stuck to them, clean as a whistle. Obviously wasnt roughened up/cleaned before applying, but even with that advice, I wouldn't buy them now, no way.

lesson of the day for me...always stop with the slightest noise,
2 never trust another install if your spidey senses are tingling.

I dread to think what may have happened if I hadnt looked up and trundled along another 600 miles at 70mph.


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I once removed a panel that had those plastic corner mounts. I expected it to be hard work. However, the plastic brackets came away very easily but removing the adhesive from the roof panel was a right bu**er of a job. I don't think the plastic was compatible with the adhesive used.

Geoff
 
Yep, it's nearly always the ones with plastic brackets that come off. When using plastic brackets it imperative you check the PU adhesive is suitable for the plastic. A lot of PU adhesives are not compatible including a lot of the common Sikaflex ones.
 
I've just picked up a great long length of 50x50x3mm aluminium angle for when I get round to replacing my failed flexible panel with a rigid one.(y) I just need to crack on with it before the weather gets to cold for applying Sika !
 
Certainly loook like the Sika held on the roof and it was a poor connection between the plastic feet.
I have done a few DIY installs on past vans, using aluminium angle. Lots of miles and must admit a few at high speed when in a rush to catch a ferry etc. Always held solid.

Note to self. check mine when next on roof as not fitted by me (y)

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Please you didn't end up with a jigsaw puzzle! :eek:

As an aside, what's the lettering on the roof that I assume was under the panel?
 
Glad you got away with it. Difficult to see the detail, any idea who fitted it?

I would feel reluctant to put screws in. I think the better way is to make sure you use something with holes in so the sealant can mushroom through. I also like the tile spacer trick to ensure a good bed. I regularly get on the roof and give the panels a good tug to check adhesion.
 
Tombola said:
I just got away with this by the skin of my teeth.
Came back from Montpellier on a mad 24 hour dash and arrived home this morning.

As we were on the A16 this side of Paris, i heard a slight clunk clunk clunk... and it seemed to be UNDER the van, check my mirrors, nothing, it didnt seem like anything major, not too loud etc but I decided to pull off at the next Aire.
I expected to see a little bit of under pipe have fallen off or something, nope ll looked good, it was only when getting back in the hab door I seen this solar panel back corner hanging off 8 inches over the roof.

The first time I havent took my ladders away with me but lucky enough I have an extra large skylight . jumped up and seen the solar panel. I have 3 panels on this van but this one was already on when I bought it. The 2 panels I added were with ally angle and silka.(may think about screwing them now too)
This one is with these plastic brackets you can buy, and tbh on I did think about re fitting at the time.

Look where you can see the silka still attached to the roof 6 inches away from each foot, and how it had snagged the cables from the flexi trunk I was lucky in that it had jumped up and "snagged" itself on the wind deflector over the toilet skylight or i really think it would have been sat on a cars bonnet behind me or worse..... Looking at some scuffs on the roof in the pic you can see it had moved quite a lot before resting.

Well it was fun and games getting it down with no ladder, and I havent took a pic of the feet but there isnt one bit of silka stuck to them, clean as a whistle. Obviously wasnt roughened up/cleaned before applying, but even with that advice, I wouldn't buy them now, no way.

lesson of the day for me...always stop with the slightest noise,
2 never trust another install if your spidey senses are tingling.

I dread to think what may have happened if I hadnt looked up and trundled along another 600 miles at 70mph.


View attachment 670945View attachment 670948
Click to expand...
Same happened to us heading for ferry last year.only when we went to brew a cuppa did we see we had not power.rang the guy who had fitted panel a few days before but could only tell us to return(midlands) and he would take a look.hubby suddenly thought we haven’t got a solid panel on the roof,he was right.we had heard a noise on motorway down,checked MH all ok never dreamt to look on roof.sends you cold what could have happened🫣

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Lenny HB said:
Registration number I expect & it wouldn't be under the panel, got one on mine.
Click to expand...
I was going by the dirt which I assumed had gathered under the panel over the lettering, it may have been covered up when the panel was installed.
 
Minxy said:
Please you didn't end up with a jigsaw puzzle! :eek:

As an aside, what's the lettering on the roof that I assume was under the panel?
Click to expand...
Its the reg of the Van, the prev owner added it, yeah it was still fully visible edit.... on the side part.
jongood said:
Glad you got away with it. Difficult to see the detail, any idea who fitted it?

I would feel reluctant to put screws in. I think the better way is to make sure you use something with holes in so the sealant can mushroom through. I also like the tile spacer trick to ensure a good bed. I regularly get on the roof and give the panels a good tug to check adhesion.
Click to expand...
not sure who fitted it, but I'd guess he got it done by a company. The previous owner struck me as the type that he wouldnt handle fitting it, and certainy wasnt short of a few bob.
yeah I was hesittant about screws too, good idea about the holes so it can mushroom through.

you should see these feet...proper clean as a whistle and this plastic feels so slippy, Id never recommend these for use on a motorhome
 
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We had our panel fly off to the left hand side and I think it must have the concrete bridge wall as we passed underneath, we were on our way south, this summer.
Luckily the HGV behind us flashed it's lights and did not end up with a windscreen full off panel.
I contacted the sales rep, who agreed to replace it as the moho is still under warranty.
Very scary situation, and I'm so glad as it could have been so horrific.
 
barny said:
We had our panel fly off to the left hand side and I think it must have the concrete bridge wall as we passed underneath, we were on our way south, this summer.
Luckily the HGV behind us flashed it's lights and did not end up with a windscreen full off panel.
I contacted the sales rep, who agreed to replace it as the moho is still under warranty.
Very scary situation, and I'm so glad as it could have been so horrific.
Click to expand...
Plastic brackets by any chance?
 
Is it the brackets themselves that have broken as opposed to the way the brackets were fitted to the roof? It looks like part of the brackets are still attached?

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Lenny HB said:
Yep, it's nearly always the ones with plastic brackets that come off. When using plastic brackets it imperative you check the PU adhesive is suitable for the plastic. A lot of PU adhesives are not compatible including a lot of the common Sikaflex ones.
Click to expand...
Agreed 👍 I found out and warned people above twenty years ago about Sikaflex not sticking to some plastics ( not bad advise for a self builder all them year's ago)
 
MisterB said:
Is it the brackets themselves that have broken as opposed to the way the brackets were fitted to the roof? It looks like part of the brackets are still attached?
Click to expand...
no the bit you see is the silkaflex that was used to about 4mm height and also where it "squeezed" in the void of the foot
 
Makes me thankful for how I was able to do mine.

Metal angle in each corner and half way along both long sides.

Bolts through though the sides of the panel, and secured to the metal angle with locking nuts.

Then I used 10mm threaded bar and lock nuts to mount the panel to the wooden frame in each corner and side edge. In addition to the threaded bar there are two screws in each bracket.

This wooden frame is mounted on roof racks with threaded bar.

Probably massive overkill. But no way mine are coming off!

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Minxy said:
Please you didn't end up with a jigsaw puzzle! :eek:

As an aside, what's the lettering on the roof that I assume was under the panel?
Click to expand...
You can see the N E. The rest of it reads N E One Seen My Solar Panel! :LOL:

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Tombola said:
no the bit you see is the silkaflex that was used to about 4mm height and also where it "squeezed" in the void of the foot
Click to expand...
Surely a 4 mm thickness of sikaflex is too much ,it would not stick the corners down but keep them away from the roof and create a wobble effect.I thought the best gap was a matchstick thickness. (y)
 
CamperJack said:
Makes me thankful for how I was able to do mine.

Metal angle in each corner and half way along both long sides.

Bolts through though the sides of the panel, and secured to the metal angle with locking nuts.

Then I used 10mm threaded bar and lock nuts to mount the panel to the wooden frame in each corner and side edge. In addition to the threaded bar there are two screws in each bracket.

This wooden frame is mounted on roof racks with threaded bar.

Probably massive overkill. But no way mine are coming off!

View attachment 671083
Click to expand...
Which wood have you used? Aluminium is generally better
 
I contacted the supplier of my panel, having bought those blocks for fitting as part of the kit .After taking advice off the forum about the suitability of the plastic blocks I was informed by the supplier " he had never fitted any panels anywhere"!! For peace of mind I added some home spun ally brackets all around the panel as well . I had at least taken an angle grinder to the plastic blocks contact face, so they were as rough as, and also abraded the corresponding footprint on the vans roof. Nothings moved, yet, but I will certainly now be keeping an eye out for any lifting.
regards.
Mike
 
Jimbohorlicks said:
Surely a 4 mm thickness of sikaflex is too much ,it would not stick the corners down but keep them away from the roof and create a wobble effect.I thought the best gap was a matchstick thickness. (y)
Click to expand...
so did I , 2mm is the rec minimum, I use tile spacers.....this does look like 4mm in places.
Ill be spening an hour taking it all off before it gets too cold
 
jongood said:
Which wood have you used? Aluminium is generally better
Click to expand...

It's weather resistant decking board. It gets checked every time I wash the van. Looks as good as when I did it. I built it in lockdown, when materials were difficult to get hold of.

The van will be getting a redesign some time, now that it's not just me but Hollie and the dog too. I'm thinking about treating the wood with some sort of rubbery, weather proofing paint or replacing. But its perfect still.

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