Solar panel mounting

[RoamingKat]

I have been looking at how to mount solar panels on a frame to tip them.   Also, a consideration is that it be somehow flexible to allow for the future installation of new panels.

All of the tilting frames that I have seen have developed an issue with age..namely: the fastener system for the pivot was being rattled and jarred around over time causing the holes which held the pin to chafe and get bigger and bigger with wear into odd shapes.  Within a couple years the pin no longer held securely because the hole had become too large from wear.   I have seen this in a couple different applications with RVs.   (Those wash board roads are murder). 

I’ve talked this over with a couple of different people, but no one so far has come up with a flexible solution....that is, one that will allow “give” in the fastener to avoid the chafing yet hold securely.

Anyone here found a solution that works?

[MN C Van]

Interesting.

Is there a commercial tilt system everybody uses?

[tx2sturgis]

Why not try some heavy duty stainless steel door hinges, and if they wear down in a few years, just replace them.

[TrainChaser]

My only thought is using portable solar panels, connected with cables, fold up and put away when traveling. BW used to have a video of a man who used them (park in shade, set panels in sun), but it disappeared when he parted with Jamie.

[RoamingKat]

Well, first, since this will be on the top of the RV..climbing up and down all the time really isn’t an option.

Yes, the hinge works great for one side. But the side that lifts up and back down needs to be locked into the various positions from flat when moving to any angle of deployment. Clovis pins are an easy, removal solution..but over time they get so lose from chafing so that they get loser till finally they don’t hold at all. Certainly quick release pins would not work at all for this reason.

One lady I met in NY had tried rubber grommets in the holes, but she was losing them constantly because of the movement....till finally they were too small for the ever growing size of the hole.

I did see a motorized commercial system, but it is not intended to be on top of a moving RV. The issue is that movement. Shaking everything lose all the time.

[Blacktank]

i gave up on rooftop tilting because of the height of my rv and went with a portable

a van would be ok,a couple 4 inch pieces of tube with a slightly smaller tube going through them would be a strong joint

i confused google again,but like whats on top of this swing

[RoamingKat]

Gary, that is a clever idea. How to hold the bottom stationary while bouncing up and down?

Ah Well, today the new panels will be mounted using the same old mounting bracket....flat to the roof.

Even talkied with the metal fabricators. They didn’t have any ideas.

[Cammalu]

Kat, at Q there was a guy who built his own. Said it was cheap and easy. We never got up to the roof to look but if he comes back I’ll get photos.

I wish we had done ours so we could tilt them. Oh well, live and learn. Won’t change anything now as it’s stuck firmly down. If I ever get another rubber roof I guess things will be done differently.

[RoamingKat]

I did see a couple different rigs last winter that had tilting.

Every single one had the same issue....holes for the pins getting bigger and bigger. One fellow I met this past summer was looking to get the frame welded down because of the noise from the rattle in the wind...to say nothing of how loud it must have been when driving.

Cammy....if you get pictures...look close at the holes where the tilt side moves up and down to different positions

[tx2sturgis]

Well, first, since this will be on the top of the RV..climbing up and down all the time really isn’t an option.  

Yes, the hinge works great for one side.   But the side that lifts up and back down needs to be locked into the various  positions from flat when moving to any angle of deployment.    

A simple DIY solution might involve a couple of hooks or carabiner clips to attach the top of an adjustable painters pole, and raise the lifting edge of the panels up with that, then just prop the base of the pole on the ground, maybe using a spike or rubber pad, heavy water jug, whatever is needed to keep it from moving.

I havent tried this, its just an idea in my 'cloud'....