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03-14-2018, 04:22 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 85
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Roof solar panel damage
I was talking with a friend about roof mounted solar panel for my new Eagle HT and he brought up a good question. Am I worried about damaging my roof mounted solar panel while driving to some of the campgrounds we go to from low hanging tree branches. I never even thought about it till he mentioned it. So now my question to the many people in this forum.Has anyone who has roof mounted solar panels had any damage from anything hitting the panel and if so did you have to replace panels. Thanks
__________________
 Michael,Loretta
and Freckles the dog
2016 F350 lariat 4x4 6.2 gas 3:73
2018 Jayco 28.5RSTS HT
[SIGPIC]
Long Island,NY.
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03-14-2018, 04:44 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: San Jose
Posts: 37
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The panels are about 2 inches above the roof surface. Your A/C uniit and roof vents will be damaged before the panels are.
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03-14-2018, 04:52 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Hartford
Posts: 2,619
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X1
__________________
2015 Fi50 3.5 Ecoboost w/tow max
2018 Flagstaff Super Lite 29RKWS
2011 Jayco 28BHS
2005 F150 Platinum/Roush Package
WHERE EVER YOU GO....THERE YOU ARE
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03-14-2018, 04:57 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,324
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Not yet been lucky!
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03-14-2018, 05:40 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: West Chicago
Posts: 550
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Scary scenario, would a cover stay put safely?
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2019 F250, gas, 4.30
2017 29RKS
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03-15-2018, 03:19 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NW AR (God's Country)
Posts: 2,051
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Never worried about that. AC and 3 vent covers are higher than my solar panels and they've never been damaged. Just need to be mindful of low hanging branches, solar panels or not.
__________________
Skip
2012 Eagle Super Lite HT 26.5RKS
2005 GMC 2500 SLT HD D/A
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03-15-2018, 03:24 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Where ever the boss says we're going.
Posts: 16,079
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Quote:
Originally Posted by troutslayer
Just need to be mindful of low hanging branches, solar panels or not.
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And bridges......read the signs.
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03-15-2018, 03:45 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Forest
Posts: 178
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I would see the panels as protection for the roof in that case. A replacement panel is cheaper than a new roof...
__________________
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7 Diesel SW Crew Cab
2017 Jayco 325BHQS
PullRite SuperGlide 3300
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03-15-2018, 06:02 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,424
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Mine have survived some pretty scary hail and some nasty presents from a walnut tree dropping bombs. I’ve been lucky so far and have thought about fabricating some covers for emergencies like another hail storm or walnut barrage.
Like the others have said, you’ll smash your ACs, vents, and antenna before you hit the panels while driving under stuff.
__________________
1999 Suburban 2500 4x4
2016 Jayflight 23RB Elite, Fiberglass, Polar Package
400w Renogy RV solar kit w/ Bluetooth, 100w Renogy solar suitcase
430 amp/hr 6v battery bank
1000w Renogy hard wired inverter
2011 F350 Lariat, DWR 4x4, 6.7 turbo diesel
2017 Open Range, Mesa Ridge 374BHS
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03-15-2018, 07:38 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 652
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Solar Panels have tempered glass, and it is very strong, very unlikely hail will damage them, even the stuff I have seen in Texas!  I camp in the woods a lot and have had several large pine cones fall from 100' pine trees and hit them, not a crack. If you went under a large limb so low as to scrape across your roof you might rip one off, but you would also lose your vents and AC unit as well as your ladder if you have one, so the panel is going to be the least of your worries.
__________________
2016 Alante 26AY
Roadmaster Braking, BlueOX Tow Bar.
Kelderman Air Ride, Safe-T-Steer, Supersteer Trak Bar rear w/ Sumo Springs.
400 AH LiFePo4 house batt w/750 watts solar 40A charger & 2500 watt whole house Inverter.
2021 Ford Ranger 4X4 Toad
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03-16-2018, 10:05 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,424
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I watched a video where they took a shattered solar panel and fixed it with self leveling epoxy. The guy sat it down level and poured the epoxy all over the cracked tempered glass, then he spread it out and made sure to work it all down into the edges and cracks to waterproof it again. After it dried they ran a test on it and it was still running around 98% efficient. Pretty cool trick to keep in the back of your mind.
It looked horrible but surprisingly worked great.
__________________
1999 Suburban 2500 4x4
2016 Jayflight 23RB Elite, Fiberglass, Polar Package
400w Renogy RV solar kit w/ Bluetooth, 100w Renogy solar suitcase
430 amp/hr 6v battery bank
1000w Renogy hard wired inverter
2011 F350 Lariat, DWR 4x4, 6.7 turbo diesel
2017 Open Range, Mesa Ridge 374BHS
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