Attaching Solar Panel To Roof Rack

U bolts that grab underneath the roof rack rails are a fantastic option.

Attaching solar panel to roof rack.

With proper installation a sturdy mount secures your panels in harsh weather and protects your investment. To do this you need a roof rack on the top of your car truck or van. How i mounted a 130w solar panel on the roof racks of my 4wd. Avoid tek screws as while they re easy to install they rust and snap off when you do a lot of off road driving.

Both cone connector sizes are available at big box hardware stores. Most solar panels are designed to sit on the roof of a house not to be driving down the road at 70 miles per hour. And on your roof rack you need to locate at least two or more holes than you can fasten your solar array to. A waterproof regulator can be attached to the rear of the panel or a non waterproof standard or lcd regulator can be mounted inside the vehicle.

The most efficient way to mount panels would be at the correct angle to point them straight at the sun. 200w of solar panels on the roof rack installing the solar panels is done by using unistrut cone connectors 1 4 inch or 3 8 inch to attach to the slotted steel l brackets. The mounts themselves have to be drilled into your roof s rafters but not because the panels themselves are heavy. Attaching a solar panel to a vehicle is becoming more popular.

Instead building codes call for protection from upforce. Before choosing your mounting products determine whether you re doing ground mount or roof mount solar racking. Screw each stanchion through the roof and into a roof rafter. Most roof racks will come with at least four or more such attachment holes but many roof racks come with 6 or 8 such attachment points.

Solar panels are more efficient when they are kept a little cooler. This can be done by installing roof racks to your vehicle. The panel goes over the top of mounted maxtrax but still allows your to access them. Also be sure the stanchion flashing fits beneath the roof shingles to prevent leaks.

The perfect place to mount a solar panel is of course on your roofrack. The panels themselves can take much higher wind speeds but it s all in how you mount them to the roof.