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Steve_overland

Member Since: 14 Oct 2018
Location: Gaydon
Posts: 290

1997 Defender 110 300 Tdi HT Chawton White

Solar Panel Mount

Hi all, need to mount my rigid solar panel on the roof of my defender... Prefer not to drill any holes in the pop roof, and would like it to be mounted over the slopey bit of the

The problem is I hate the massive gap you get with the normal roof racks.... anyone have any pics of a solution to this please....

Click image to enlarge
roof. @steve_overland on Insta.
110 expedition vehicle with pop roof

Last edited by Steve_overland on 14th Jun 2019 12:05pm. Edited 2 times in total

13th Jun 2019 1:01pm

davew

Member Since: 02 Jan 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 888

1990 Defender 90 V8 Petrol PU Auto Rioja Red

Not a Land Rover but the same principal would work...

Click image to enlarge

A semi-flexible panel using 3m VHB tape to secure it to the roof. In this case a back contact, 150w panel. You can also use SikaFlex but the tape is easier to deal with if you have to change the panel. Just make sure you don't get one with the rear connection box. http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/

13th Jun 2019 1:19pm

Steve_overland

Member Since: 14 Oct 2018
Location: Gaydon
Posts: 290

Thats cool, but i already have a rigid one .... @steve_overland on Insta.
110 expedition vehicle with pop roof

14th Jun 2019 12:04pm

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4216

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

Not the cheapest, but the Cargo Bear roof bars can be had in a style that slopes down with the roof 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

14th Jun 2019 1:57pm

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5726

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

Apparently the ones you fit directly to the surface, and that don’t have an air gap underneath overheat. That’s what I have read on the subject. Obviously that will depend on where you go.

Many people just bond the brackets to the top of their motorhomes.

14th Jun 2019 8:32pm

davew

Member Since: 02 Jan 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 888

Quote:
Apparently the ones you fit directly to the surface, and that don’t have an air gap underneath overheat. That’s what I have read on the subject. Obviously that will depend on where you go.

That's kind of correct but for the wrong reasons...

It's not that they overheat as such, more that there can be issues that the panel expands and if it's securely bonded to a roof that doesn't expand at the same rate bad things happen. When they are lifted off the roof slightly and not bonded all around that allows the panel to expand and bend slightly. This has been mistaken for "overheating" but the panels simply fail due to the mechanical stresses involved when they can't expand. This can be made even worse if air is trapped between the panel and the roof as, again, the air expands and stresses the panel from underneath.

When installing on a flat surface you should bear that in mind... a bit like installing a laminate floor and forgetting to leave an expansion gap. http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/

16th Jun 2019 12:25am

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