Sikaflex and Solar Panels
Submitted: Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 13:05
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kwk56pt
I notice on E bay some plastic solar panel mounting blocks. They claim they can be fixed to the mounting surface using a product such as sikaflex. I was wondering had anyone had success just using a bonding product without screws to fix the mountings to a surface to mount the solar panels on.
I have a alloy canopy on a patrol so I am not sure whether to bolt some Rhino Bars to it and mount the solar panel on the bars or try the sikaflex and some plastic or alloy mounts. The canopy is painted so I tend to think the sikaflex can only bond to the paint and hence to my way of thinking only the paint would hold it on.
The data on my Lorentz panel does not specify a underside clearance so I was wondering what it should be ?Higher is better and lower looks neater.
Thanks Peter
Reply By: dublediff - Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 13:10
Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 13:10
I used sikaflex to mount my panels on the roof a fibreglass van. I used a couple of small screws as
well on the mounts, more belts and braces though. The skin of the roof is only 4mm thick so the screws are minimal in effect. I read of some examples in the states where they simply sikaflex without screws.
I would be worried about applying it to a painted surface like yours though, I would want to screw right through the canopy and use the sikaflex, or similar, as a sealant.
I have a 30mm gap between roof and panels to ensure airflow and avoid overheating the panels.
AnswerID:
465996
Reply By: olcoolone - Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 13:31
Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 13:31
Sikaflex is a high quality construction adhesive and in most cases works very
well if used right.
Sikaflex is a brand name only with many products covering a wide range of applications, most common is there polyurethane adhesives.
Sikaflex fails when it's not used right or for the right application.
Another option may be 3M VHB double sided tapes, these tapes can have form a stronger bond then the parent material.
If bonding to paint the adhesive qualities will only be as good as the paint adhesion to the base material.
AnswerID:
465999
Reply By: Member - Craig F (WA) - Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 13:40
Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 13:40
I have used sikaflex to mount a 200kg 20 mm thick Stainles steel plate to a ship. It had no other fixings this was 10yrs ago and its still on.. The surface needs to be corectly preped. This includes surface prep, primer then the correct product. For something like a solar panel I would use Sika over a screw as the surface load on the canopy would be alot better.
Craig
AnswerID:
466000
Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 23:26
Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 23:26
But your ship don't do 130 Kph .
.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Craig F (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 09:56
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 09:56
The ship that I was refering to does about 38 knots top spead so yes not 130kmh. However as it is a striker plate for a anchor that weighed 450 kg and is mounted to the hull plate of a ship. I would sugest that the slamming of the bow. Salt water and high winds and the 450 kg anchor hitting it would
test the adhesive propeties of the product.
If speed is you
test of choice I would sugest next time that you are doing "130km" an hour in your car that you reflect on what is holding your windscreen on! Let alone the majority of your caravan if you are towing one.
Cheers
Craig.
FollowupID:
740214
Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 10:08
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 10:08
I'm sure they DO NOT use Sikaflex to hold a windscreen in, it's more a flexible sealant, and the windscreen rubber is what holds it in place.
.
FollowupID:
740217
Follow Up By: Member - Craig F (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 12:42
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 12:42
Doug,
Ships, Boats, Cars and Bus windows all stuck on with sikaflex or similar, The rubber is there to keep out the water and dirt.
Below is a extract from Sikaflex..
Windshield Adhesives
Sikaflex®-255 Extra
Sikaflex®-255 Extra is a moisture curing flexible high-performance polyurethane based adhesive for bonding windshields to vehicle body shells (direct glazing).
FollowupID:
740226
Reply By: splits - Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 14:43
Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 14:43
Peter
Don't simply buy a cartridge of Sikaflex from a hardware store then get stuck into your job. The company produces a huge range of products far in excess of what you will find in
places like Bunnings. The tensile strength of some of them is unbelieveable. Have a look at their web site and ring their customer assistance number. They will answer your question about paint and tell you exactly which type to use and how to apply it.
AnswerID:
466007
Follow Up By: kwk56pt - Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 15:16
Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 15:16
Contact the product manufacture, I am embarresed to say the obvious did not occur to me. I have used marine sikafles as a bedding between alloy and fibreglass and yes it was difficult to get apart. I also tried to use it to bond some of those blue plastic skids to a camper trailer boat rack and it would not adhere to the blue plastic skids. used on brick it was extremely difficult to get apart.
Thanks for your help, I appreciate all the thoughtful replies I have had.
FollowupID:
740046
Reply By: hazo - Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 14:56
Sunday, Sep 25, 2011 at 14:56
All my solar panels (7) are fixed to my fibreglass roofed caravan with just Sikkaflex.
Been there 3 years now ! I always have a quick
check when I wash the panels just to satisfy myself but they are there for good,
well the ally brackets are !
AnswerID:
466008
Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 23:30
Monday, Sep 26, 2011 at 23:30
Had some tourist here at Mt Bundy last week, they had to press onto
Darwin for repairs and replacement of the Solar Panel, it blew off the Caravan ,
probably glued on, I'd be looking at a way to fix on securely with something better than glue.
.
AnswerID:
466125
Reply By: Member - Christopher P (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 16:21
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2011 at 16:21
If surface is shiny then key it with some 120 grit of 240 grit sand paper, so as not damage anything else, mask off the areas' you don't want touched with sand paper, otherwise you will have sika flex peeling of after a few years...
AnswerID:
466165