The Best Roof Rack for Solar Panels

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Check out my Amazon Store where I have organized all the products I use on my van builds and recommend! www.amazon.com/shop/alluviuminc
I will be updating and adding more products Often.
In this episode I'll show you how I built this DIY Roof Rack to mount your Solar panels to your Van.
Carriage bolt washer (I don’t really recommend this one) get the one from ACE amzn.to/3E5dNOP
Grinder amzn.to/3Xc8Psz
Roof Rail Kit amzn.to/3g8NLOX
Rich Solar 100 Watt Panels amzn.to/3EtJB1m
Branch Connector amzn.to/3g2LY1D
Solar Cable Extension amzn.to/3O2tSJE
Solar Entry Gland amzn.to/3AbV0QU
Marine Sealant amzn.to/3g2TNV7
Rubber Grommet amzn.to/3WUbc33
Angled Drill Bit amzn.to/2F51DuO
Socket Set amzn.to/3O6OYXC
Impact Drill-amzn.to/3hDqs45
Locktite amzn.to/3WY9yx4
Drill Bits amzn.to/3TxaDt2
Zip Tie Wire Holders amzn.to/3tuEjwm
If any links aren't working please let me know in the comments
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Previous Episodes in this Build
Ep1 New Van • New 2022 Dodge Ram Pro...
Ep 2 Sub floor install • Van Build | Subfloor I...
Ep 3 Ladder Install • The BEST Ladder For Yo...
Ep 4 Wood Framing • HOW TO INSTALL WOOD FR... d
Ep 5 Swivel Seats • How to Install Swivel ...
Ep 6 Fan Install • Maxx Air Fan Install |...

Опубликовано:

13 ноя 2022

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Комментарии : 51

@hedleypepper1838 Год назад

+1 stainless with aluminium can cause galvanic corrosion, (ask me how i know) galvanised fixings may actually be a better option, also less costly and easier to source ... Good job, I love how low profile these installs are. And simple to assemble all the panels on the ground .

@patrickmgordon Год назад

I had the cables go in the 3rd brake light since it’s plastic, used the same roof penetration for wires you did but that way less holes in metal.

@jwise6645144 Год назад

I love this and decided to mount two 200 watt panels like you did in your first build. But then I tried adding two 100 watt panels on either side of my max fan (we're putting in an ac in the back, so I was shooting for 600 watts). When I figured out they would be so wide they would cover the track, I thought I could make it work by connecting the securing bolt in the L bar and track come up directly through the solar panel; except when I mounted them I discovered I can't reach underneath to secure the nuts . Maybe that's why no one does it!

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

Yeh it’s also not a good idea to use different size panels on the same circuit

@seelafever Год назад

Very nice install. One more crossbar in the middle sandwiched between the panel frames would take care of the issue and cost about 10% as much as that chunk they sold you.

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

Hmm that’s a pretty good idea I don’t why I didn’t think to put it in between. I’ll do that next time. The price difference wasn’t much though. Home Depot sells those for $48 and I paid $62 for that big piece of metal from the supply shop.

@JohnJohnson-ln7ev Год назад

In both videos for this install, I cant find a link to the cross bars that the solar panels attach to (and attached to the two rails as part of the rail kit). Great video and great roof kit.

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

Did you watch the whole video? The cross bars are from Home Depot that’s why there isn’t a link

@TheCornucopiaProject-bd5jk 8 месяцев назад

T-track and 80/20 makes for a neat install

@chein33 Год назад

Great video, so why 4 100 watt and not 2 200 Watt this build?

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

I found the performance of the 200 watt panels was not as good. I think the problem may have been that they were only 12 volt panels and i wired them in parallel, keeping the voltage only at 12 volts which wasnt enough to charge the 300 amp hours of batteries as fast as i wanted. Next time i think i'll do the 200 watts again just so i dont have to add the middle crossbar and either find panels that are more than 12 volt or just wire them in series to increase the voltage.

@chein33 Год назад

@@BuildingVanLife OK, I get it, thanks

@christopherbroskie1484 8 месяцев назад

1/2 inch crescent wrench works best for twisting roof mounting cleats.

@nolanvanharte3004 10 месяцев назад

lol love the fight club flashes

@WizzRacing Год назад

What works is Unit-Strut spring loaded clamps...Just buy the right width... I would add.. If you need to drill new holes. Just buy a Unibit...1/4-3/4" step bit...

@Roadghost88 Год назад

I was thinking of stacking two extra 200w panels on top of two and using door sliders to slide them out when the van is stationary, sort of like a small retractable canopy. That would give me 800w. Just wondering if anyone ever tried something like that? BTW, wondering why you went with 4x100w on this build?

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

Why do you need so much solar? Are you installing a/c? I didn’t feel the 2 200 watt panels were giving out as much power as the 4 100 watt panels. 2 200 watt panels is certainly easier though

@Roadghost88 Год назад

@@BuildingVanLife Yes, A/C. For those really hot sticky days, and those days when there's not much sun. Just wondering if it's been done. Anyway, I heard 4x100s are better from other people too. Also, if one stops working, it's cheaper to replace. So, yeah.

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

@@Roadghost88 If you check my solar system install video i posted two weeks ago i use this new inverter charger that charges extremely fast when you have shore power. I also have alternator charging when I'm driving.

@WizzRacing Год назад

That is a common way of adding more solar. As you're not going to be driving while they are out..And you can add Spring loaded lock pins to hold them in place..

@ron-almog Год назад

Do you have any plans, measurements or drawing for the build? looking at solar panel options, i don't know whats the size of the roof, and how many can I fit in... also interested in the process: in the video you just go and do stuff. there must be a planning stage before, no? where everything goes, what size will be the bed, the shower, the kitchen...

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

Yes it’s planned before. This is the 5th one of these I have done and I just make slight alterations and improvements each time. If you have two fans this the max amount of panels you can fit

@this-is-slammin-549 Год назад

Galvanized steel is ok to use with aluminum. But, just as a note to your viewers. Stainless steel, will cause galvanic corrosion. If say, you were to try to use, stainless steel hardware with aluminum rails.

@irastaunton196 Год назад

The link for the Rich Solar 100 watt panels does not seem to work at my end.

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

thanks for letting me know, i fixed it amzn.to/3EtJB1m

@dbusc1 Год назад

Where do I get the terminator drill?

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

haha here you go amzn.to/3US9ldk

@sixstrings1063 Год назад

What are the pros and cons of one fan or two? I have the metal window vents for the driver and passenger door windows.

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

you can cool things down a lot faster when one fan is blowing in and the other is blowing out. The only con i would say is the roof space it takes up which will limit the amount of solar you can get on the roof or if you want a roof deck.

@katekaos Год назад

If you don’t want windows I’d do two fans. If you’re by the coast it’s a little cooler and I think one fan is enough - especially if you install windows that open in the back for cross breeze. Unless you run hot. Then two! Game changer I hear.

@sixstrings1063 Год назад

@@katekaos thank you, I think I'm going to get two fans. I don't have any windows, happy travels

@katekaos Год назад

@@sixstrings1063 I think you’ll be happy you did! I want to get opening windows all around. Will draw less power for just one fan. Windows are expensive though! Pros and cons 😄

@sixstrings1063 Год назад

@@katekaos I'd recommend the metal window vents for the driver and passenger windows if you don't have them. They're well made and secure, I really like them.

@ron-almog Год назад

if I can get today 200W panels that are like 65" by 27", would you recommend putting 2 of them across the roof to achieve the same 400W? it's less roof space, and only slightly more expensive.

@BuildingVanLife Год назад

You can do that. I did that on the last van. The ones I used didn’t ended up not being enough amperage though. So check the amps and volts on them and decide how to wire them to make them work best

@ron-almog Год назад

@@BuildingVanLife Thanks!

@Van-life-4-Jesus 22 дня назад

Hey bro, there is not roofrack kn the link to your amazon affiliate.....and i wanan see how much it is, cause its simple and works and im about to buy FVC latter/roofrack its $2700... so if what you did is cheaper id like to go for that one lmk thanks.

@BuildingVanLife 22 дня назад

it's way cheaper, here is the link amzn.to/3VvSrUT

@HowToFromMeToYou 10 месяцев назад

Did you use 1" L channel or 1 1/2" ?

@BuildingVanLife 10 месяцев назад

Links are in the description for what I used

@HowToFromMeToYou 10 месяцев назад

@BuildingVanLife everything but the L channel is in the description

@BuildingVanLife 10 месяцев назад

@@HowToFromMeToYou I did not use L channel specifically I used the roof rail kit amzn.to/3g8NLOX

@BuildingVanLife 10 месяцев назад

but it appears to be 1'' 1/2 for your info

@HowToFromMeToYou 10 месяцев назад

@BuildingVanLife I understand that you used the weather guard roof TRACKS. I bought those already... I was referring to the aluminum L channel that goes from driver to passenger side that the solar panels are bolted on and bolted to the roof tracks