T1 Terry wrote:The latest experience suggests a composite build. Lexan Thermoclear 10mm panel with 10mm x 20mm angle along the long sides and rivet nuts located to align with the eyelet holes in the semi flexible panel. Glue the whole assembly to the roof using Selleys Armour Flex FC with a bead around the edges and a cross through the centres. Clean the whole area with lots of metho, don't be tight on either the metho or the rags and give it plenty of time to dry. Once you are happy that the base has adhered well, around 12 hrs, fit the panel with a bead of Selleys around the edges and screws to attach the panel to the base. If the panel fails you can easily remove it from the base and refit the warranty replacement, the Lexan will allow the cooling required as well as the thermal insulation to stop the heat entering the RV.
Hi Barrie
Terry's suggestions here sound pretty good but rather than gluing the whole thing to the roof and voiding any roof warranty or the selleys Armaflex not adhering to the EPDM I would contact Eternabond and speak to them about using their "double stick" products. At least it is designed to adhere to EPDM and I believe is a much better choice.
Craig
Fair enough Craig, it just needs to be capable of handling the heat as it can get above 70*C and products like Sika 11FC simply let go at those temps
T1 Terry
A person may fail many times, they only become a failure when they blame someone else John Burrows
Those who struggle to become a leader, rarely know a clear direction forward for anyone but themselves
Certainly worth contacting eternabond and asking the question. I have been using the eternabond products for several years now and I will add that I have never had a failure from the adhesive letting go. In fact when you put it on the EPDM it is difficult to remove.
Personally I wouldn't attach anything directly to the roof that could transfer the heat onto/into the MH. I much prefer the panel to have an air gap underneath to help keep the MH cool.
Craig wrote:Certainly worth contacting eternabond and asking the question. I have been using the eternabond products for several years now and I will add that I have never had a failure from the adhesive letting go. In fact when you put it on the EPDM it is difficult to remove.
Personally I wouldn't attach anything directly to the roof that could transfer the heat onto/into the MH. I much prefer the panel to have an air gap underneath to help keep the MH cool.
Place a thermometer on the roof under the solar panel in full sun and you will soon realise the solar panel tropical roof thing is a myth. Yes, the roof is in the shade from the solar panels but they pump out a lot of heat on the underside and this goes into the roof.
The Lexan Thermoclear acts as a thermal barrier venting the heat away rather than through the back sheet, but between the solar panel and the Lexan the temp can climb over 70*C, much the same as the heat trapped underneath a rigid type solar panel. Clearance between the roof and the solar panel will not encourage air to circulate in that trapped air zone under the panel surrounded by a 300mm plus deep aluminium frame. The semi flexible panel mounted to the Lexan does encourage the heat to transfer out of the panel and be vented away through the 10mmsq Lexan air channels.
T1 Terry
A person may fail many times, they only become a failure when they blame someone else John Burrows
Those who struggle to become a leader, rarely know a clear direction forward for anyone but themselves
