Solar panel installation - Montana Owners Club

boat391 · 08-20-2016, 12:12 PM

As I am about to go solar I am having trouble with drilling holes in my roof. I know it's more mental than anything. Has anyone tried 3M vhb ( very high bond ) tape? If so how does it affect your rubber roof when going down the road pulling on the membrane. If installed with lag bolts are you hitting the roof trusses? This is a big addition to our Monty and I want to get it right. Any help is good help so thanks in advance.

mjammersc · 08-20-2016, 12:27 PM

I installed mine with 1" stainless #14 screws into the feet of the mount (could have done it with 3/4" probably) and mine had 3 screws per mount. I put a lot of dicor sealant under the mounting foot, drilled small pilot holes and screwed it in then covered everything in more sealant. I didn't worry about trying to hit/find trusses. In general everything I have read said no issues. I have driven a couple thousand miles on it now and no problems. The 3M tape or 3M5200 silicone glue has been used with TPO (plastic) roofs but not real successfully on rubber roofs as the bond to the underlayment isn't strong enough without the screws

Mudchief · 08-20-2016, 02:13 PM

I did the same as Mark. They have been removed from our old Montana to our new one. They just put dicor where the old screw holes were at. At the factory they cut holes in your roof for the AC, vent pipes and the air vents and all they do is use dicor to seal it.

boat391 · 08-20-2016, 02:40 PM

Ok I'm feeling a bit better about drilling holes in my roof so for my next question? My 6 volts are located in my front compartment along with the inverter. I am thinking about bringing the wires down a vent witch actually ends up in my basement behind my battery's is this a problem? I figure the vent are for air so it should work out. Thanks again for your help.

Kimo · 08-20-2016, 02:46 PM

I placed a small strip of Dicor tape where the mounts were and then used Dicor sealant on both sides of the mounts. I also did not worry about hitting any trusses. Extra precautions I guess so the roffing has no chance to tear out from the hole. No problem in the first season.

**DQDick** · 08-20-2016, 03:17 PM

Mine are installed with screws and the wires come down into the same cabinet as my roof mounted satellite antenna used. That cabinet is directly above the front storage area where my batteries are.

Drifty1 · 08-20-2016, 05:16 PM

We used Dicor and lag screws to mount the feet. We have I believe 96 holes in the roof for 3 panels. As for the wiring I run the 2- #10 wires down through the vent line. Where the wire comes out it is sealed with silicone.

mjammersc · 08-20-2016, 05:38 PM

Different models have different ease of access points. Tell us what model 5ver you have and that may help. I brought mine down above the breaker and control area was but there ore many ways. If your vent route gets in the basement near the batteries, that sounds like a nice route.

boat391 · 08-20-2016, 06:03 PM

We have a 2014 3725rl the bathroom sink vent is what I'm thinking about using. I have many options for wiring but like using the vent its makes the shortest run to the battery's. I have had all the walls out of the basement when I wired in my inverter. I saw two walls at that time that had voids to the roof I may look into this once again. I also have a washer dryer vent tube that may also work. All this said I do thank all of you for taking the time to give me your input. I have a little experience with solar as I have a well on the ranch pumping with solar and did the install myself. Loved the idea so the Monty is next as we boondocks 95% of the time.

WaltBennett · 08-21-2016, 04:37 AM

I was able to make a hole and fish the wire through a void in our bathroom to bedroom wall - has a curve that's quite empty - and took a piece of the bathroom wall out beneath the sink to get it into the basement. Put it all back together and it is completely hidden. I was going to use that same grey tank vent and exit the wires above where the sink drain hits it, but the void worked better. Did the same as others in mounting the panels, and they've been there for about 20k miles now.

boat391 · 08-28-2016, 01:23 PM

My system is installed and working flawless so a big thanks to all that replied. Had a few issues installing but for the most part it went pretty well. All panels are hooked in parallel and put batteries at full charge in about 3 hours the Monty sat for some time without being hooked to shore power. I have a few more questions if someone could help me out. First when 5'er is just sitting at storage do you disconnect the panels or just let them be? Next would you install and on off switch to the panels if it being stored for a period of time? Thanks again

boat391 · 08-28-2016, 02:24 PM

My system is finished works great thanks to all for your replies. Question I have is do you disconnect the panels while in storage? I was thinking of placing a on off switch on the panels for storage if this is a issue.thanks again

Drifty1 · 08-28-2016, 03:53 PM

I installed something on this order.
https://www.amazon.com/Bussmann-CB18...ttable+breaker

mjammersc · 08-28-2016, 04:06 PM

I have breakers such that I can disconnect the panels and charging. I also have a master switch going to my inverter that disconnects the DC. As at as charging while in storage, if I am putting it away fully charged, I throw the solar breaker so it isn't charging every day. I usually go and enable it a day or so before I'm taking it out to ensure the batteries are topped off and ready to go. I hav left them connected to a few weeks one time while it was in getting repairs and it came out fine as well but I prefer to not having it charge cycle daily if I'm not drawing power. The charger on my solar controller quickly realizes it doesn't need a charge so it doesn't really hurt it.

scattershot · 08-29-2016, 04:58 AM

I leave mine on all the time, and rely on the controller to prevent an overcharge. This keeps the batteries chaged through the winter, and I don't have to remove them.

boat391 · 08-29-2016, 01:51 PM

Drifty 1 I like your idea and thanks for the link 100 amp seems a bit much but I'll look and see what else they may have. I am running a 40 controller. I sure want to thank all of you for your help. I see there are many different thoughts on this and I am trying to take all this info and make the best system.

Drifty1 · 08-29-2016, 05:11 PM

I do not remember what amp I used but I think it was in the 40 amp range. My panels run at a higher volts so that means lower amps. Good luck with your install.

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