How close to edge to mount solar panels

[bcrvman]

I am about to install 4 solar panels. I noticed that the edge of the roof is radiused. By touching it, it seems to be something like aluminium or possibly plastic under the TPO. Obviously the plywood underlayment will not go all the way under there but by pressing down it's easy to find the edge. Can anyone see any problem with fastening the feet through this edge material but a couple inches back from the end of the plywood. Look for the dirt pattern in the pictures to see what I am talking about. The radius is about 4" total from edge to mid point so I was thinking of going in 2 inches from the spot where my finger is beyond my fingertip.
BTW, it is 3/8" ply under there correct?

[scottz]

Do you need to go so close to the edge? I avoided doing so with my solar panels.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by scottz

Do you need to go so close to the edge? I avoided doing so with my solar panels.

Not sure yet, but if I have to put them up (I have tilters) the 'wrong' way then the farther from the shadow casting pieces the better. It's not as big a problem now since I swapped out the original MaxxFans for the low profile version. Perhaps the picture was misleading, they won't be that close, a good 4 inches I would guess from the vertical wall projection.

[AZ Traveler]

Make sure you have plenty of room left to walk on the roof without stepping on panels or scaring yourself.

[Daryles]

While we are on this topic, what size screws/lag bolts did you guys use to install the brackets.
My system is in the garage waiting for me to get home to install.
I got 1/4" x 1" stainless steel lag bolts. Is that over kill?

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by AZ Traveler

Make sure you have plenty of room left to walk on the roof without stepping on panels or scaring yourself.

The entire north side is open and I probably still have enough room on the south side to walk carefully.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by Daryles

While we are on this topic, what size screws/lag bolts did you guys use to install the brackets.
My system is in the garage waiting for me to get home to install.
I got 1/4" x 1" stainless steel lag bolts. Is that over kill?

#10x3/4" PHP SMS SS this is what the solar installer uses. The roof is at most 1/2" if you have a big 5er, 1/4" if it's a TT without a walkable roof.
1" is too long, and you want sheet metal screws to bite and hold in the OSB. The threads on a lag are too shallow and coarse.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by Daryles

While we are on this topic, what size screws/lag bolts did you guys use to install the brackets.
My system is in the garage waiting for me to get home to install.
I got 1/4" x 1" stainless steel lag bolts. Is that over kill?

Check out what the pros use.
https://amsolar.com/rv-mounting-accessories/91m-35ms

[scottz]

Originally Posted by Daryles

While we are on this topic, what size screws/lag bolts did you guys use to install the brackets.
My system is in the garage waiting for me to get home to install.
I got 1/4" x 1" stainless steel lag bolts. Is that over kill?

I used 1/4" lags (probably 1" long) on my last two trailers; works fine. Use plenty of Dicor. Put Dicor under the brackets before you screw them down, then cover the whole thing.

[gjennings]

Here are a couple pictures of mine. Not the greatest pics but I used regular 300 watt house panels and they took the whole width of the roof.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by Daryles

While we are on this topic, what size screws/lag bolts did you guys use to install the brackets.
My system is in the garage waiting for me to get home to install.
I got 1/4" x 1" stainless steel lag bolts. Is that over kill?

Originally Posted by gjennings

Here are a couple pictures of mine. Not the greatest pics but I used regular 300 watt house panels and they took the whole width of the roof.

I am using 4 x 170W panels. Each panel is about 5' x 2' so they are laid out on just the south facing side and they are on 2 way tilt arms so even if I am facing the wrong way I can still tilt them correctly. That is why I need to stay as close as possible to the edge so that if I have to tilt them backwards I don't get any shadows. The new MaxxFann low profile fans will help a lot.

[bcrvman]

Originally Posted by bcrvman

I am about to install 4 solar panels. I noticed that the edge of the roof is radiused. By touching it, it seems to be something like aluminium or possibly plastic under the TPO. Obviously the plywood underlayment will not go all the way under there but by pressing down it's easy to find the edge. Can anyone see any problem with fastening the feet through this edge material but a couple inches back from the end of the plywood. Look for the dirt pattern in the pictures to see what I am talking about. The radius is about 4" total from edge to mid point so I was thinking of going in 2 inches from the spot where my finger is beyond my fingertip.
BTW, it is 3/8" ply under there correct?

I can confirm that the roof decking is definitely 3/8"

[PNW Fireguy]

I had this exact issue when I installed 4 300watt residential panels on our roof. The roof radius did not provide enough backing for my comfort level. I wound up installing additional mounts 6-8” inboard to secure the panels. Extra effort when I want to tilt but the panels won’t come off. Truth be told if I was doing it again I could put enough “12v” panels on the roof In series to jack up the voltage high enough to get to the same point on an MPPT curve.