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07-31-2014, 07:34 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 212
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Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
I am about to do a self install of two Renogy 100w solar panels on the roof of my Sprinter Van. Based on forum feedback, I also bought a Perko Zinc deck connector.
It looks like I will need to drill a 3/4" whole directly into the sheet metal on the roof. The connector itself will be secured by three screws. I assume sealant will be required so what kind and how much sealant should be used in and around the holes I am about to make?
Thanks,
tv
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07-31-2014, 07:42 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,179
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Re: Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
While that is a very good connector, I wonder if it is the best connector for your application? I think that connector is great where you are going to plug/unplug/plug repeatedly, but given you are looking for a roof mount, I would be surprised if that was the case.
I think some sort of pass-thru set up would be better suited to your installation.
http://www.thmarine.com/products/Riggin ... ru-Fitting
http://www.navstore.com/blue-sea-system ... -1003.html
Disclaimer: I have not used either of these pass-thrus, it's just what I found using a quick search.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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07-31-2014, 08:25 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PDX
Posts: 92
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Re: Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
I too would use a cable pass through. If you go to defender.com, then electrical, electrical fittings and connections, cable pass throughs, you'll find a few different ones used in the Marine industry. I plan on using one of these for my solar install...
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07-31-2014, 11:44 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 2,504
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Re: Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
Quote:
Originally Posted by
[url="http://www.thmarine.com/products/Rigging-Accessories/General-Rigging/CeaCap-Bulkhead-Pass-Thru-Fitting
http://www.thmarine.com/products/Riggin ... ru-Fitting[/url]
Herb
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I have used the above Pass Thru Fitting. I would use one for ground and one for power. I used butyl rubber as the sealant.
-greg
__________________
-greg
__________________________________________________ ______________
"Goldilocks" 2020 Ford Transit High Roof Extended 3.5 EcoBoost AWD Homebuilt
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07-31-2014, 02:47 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
I used a pass through connector and placed it outside the canvas wall. A little butyl sealant around the fitting to prevent leaks. Any leaks will not get into the interior in any case.
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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07-31-2014, 02:50 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,179
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Re: Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350
I used a pass through connector and placed it outside the canvas wall. A little butyl sealant around the fitting to prevent leaks. Any leaks will not get into the interior in any case.
Mike
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If I recall correctly, SMBw did more or less the same thing, and maybe used a rubber grommet in the hole to provide some protection against the edges of the hole through the fiberglass.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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08-01-2014, 04:07 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Posts: 3,774
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Re: Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
When you guys drill into or through your sheet metal please be sure to fully treat the newly bare edges and holes with a rust prevention material. I favor POR-15 but for such a small installation as this not sure what would be most cost effective.
Sealing the base of the pass thru to the metal with butyl is a good idea as it tends to be self-sealing and flexible. 3M makes great products for this sort of thing---others here might have a few good ideas too.
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08-01-2014, 11:32 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 16
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Re: Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
I also stumbled across this possibility on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Instapark%C2%AE-I ... 0AZGH38BWW
They also make glue-on solar panel mounts which look kinda nice.
Jay
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08-02-2014, 12:37 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 37
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Re: Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
i got holes all over my roof from installing vents and solar panels. I always use RV putty tape right over the holes between the roof and the l-brackets. I also put sealant on the bolts. Never had any leaks. Put as much sealant as you want, you can never use too much.
For the wires, I actually use a instapark double solar entry gland conduit its just a thick square plastic with two holes that will allow the thick solar panel cables to fit in through it and its water tight. I used 8 gauge wire on my solar output to minimize voltage/amp loss. My panel is permanently installed I never take them off or disconnect the wires.
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08-03-2014, 06:58 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 212
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Re: Solar Install Question - Seal that hole in your roof
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I am going to give the CeaCap™ Bulkhead Pass-Thru Fitting a try. I grabbed two of them just in case. This may be a good topic for Scalf77 to cover on his solar wiki. I know it is a pretty common question about how to get that cable to your solar controllers.
tv
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