Using solar panels as a roof, 8kw solar array (follow up) utilizing the sun to be off grid 

Beauty of this. The panels stay cool on the back side. Which heat is your worst enemy...

You have the best array idea I've ever seen. Multi-purpose

Thanks Gavin, you did a great job. Very creative build.

We are building a patio using some of your building methods. Hope to be finished in the next couple of weeks. Thanks again for posting. Very helpful.

I did same on front/back porches for my power shed. Works great.

Awesome job! Makes me think about what I wana do when I put up a new barn out back.

Very nice, thanks for the tour.

Thanks for putting this one out! Looks awesome :)

That's a great idea, good job!

Gavin Stone used Stone, haha. I had to say it when I thought of it. Hey, great build, I think. I love all your videos. Thanks a million

Looks great Gavin. Long lasting roof material.

My neighbor and I built a "solar shed" much like this, but used 2"X4"s for the perlins. Good job!

Very nice Gavin!!

Great info!

I still really like this idea for making storage, carports, or sunshade. I've thought about using a solar panel as an awning over doors or windows as well, although I think it might be tough to make it look nice if that's a concern.

got my answer...thx!

very good idea for roof. The only problem is panels are glued with no margin for dilatation, in summer panels rise temperature to 60 degree and expands.

They actually have hardware for car ports, patio covers that act like a gutter so you don't have leaks. They look really great, we do off grid, on grid and generacs and battery storage. GOT SOLAR

I am doing a carport right now with panels as the roof. I am going to give butyl tape a try for waterproofing the seams.

This is a genius idea, i need to reroof the garage and this would work brilliantly. Do you think aluminium glazing bars would be a good alternative as they'd have the integral rubber waterproof seal and capping section to hold the panels in place?

Looks good! But let me ask, if you were building a custom shed, then why didnt you size it to fit your array.

I talk about it, but YOU DO IT! Yeahhhhhhhhhhh! Internet hi 5's

How’s this roof holding up? I’m looking at building a covered patio and thinking bifacial panels would be an excellent way to cover it and allow some light through on nice days.

Great build, do u know if the lexel caulking can withstand UV radiation over time?

how has caulking the panels worked out? has expansion been an issue, any leaks. im going to do the same thing but with Iron Ridge racking and camo clamps

i have been thinking about doing something like this. how long have you had yours up? any problems with expansion / contraction dues to heat and cold? i live in n. idaho and we get 100+F to -20F in one year so that was what worried me. also with the peak overhang... i would be concerned with winds around here the way you supported the hanging panel with steel. a good wind storm here would rip all those peak panels right of the shed.

HOWdy G-S-DIY-H, ... Thanks COOP ...

have you considered using some type of a foil insulation on the inside of your roof to see if you get more power from your bifacial panels?

Any idea if you could walk on these if you needed to get up there? If not any ideas on placing glass or plexiglass over an array? Would it filter too much energy? Cause hot spots and failures?

interesting project, thanks for sharing 🙏 On this subject, I am going to add more solar on the roof of my new studio building in addition to my ground mount 15 modules and 5 on the solar shed. I want to use the panels (modules) directly on my rafters so that they fit flush with the rest of the roof cover and also so that I can inspect cables from the inside if and when. I want to alternate between OSB with shingle and PV modules so that they will look just like big windows blending better with the rest of the roof. My main concern is about coking and thermal expansion and contraction during different seasons. Have you noticed any problems in this respect on your building perhaps?

👍

Good job! I'm assuming no leaks so far?

Whos the architect, whats involved to get permits,, Jim

Props for the concept, but man, I'm pretty sure any professional in the waterproofing business will tell you the caulk is never intended or designed to be used as a waterPROOFing method. I dont know much about the characteristics of Lexcel, but im fairly certain that even the best cauling will fail at some point. A roof is normally designed for a 20-30 yr life expectancy (this is also about the expected life of solar panels) and caulking will simply not hold up, especially as your wood framing members dry out and move with the seasons. I would suggest anyone trying solar-as-sheathing&shingles try to to develop a proper metal flashing detail/system so that gravity can do its thing. You can always caulk after, as a way to reduce wicking, etc. But I dont believe it is wise to rely on caulk as the primary means of preventing water penetration. All that being said.....if its just a shed or a car port, have at it!

Sashco (brand that makes lexel) sells a product in a tube that is actually for the extreme conditions a roof experiences. Lexel won’t hold up very long or as long as their product that actually designed for a roof.

How waterproof is it? What did you do to get it waterproof? Just the caulk or something else?

Any leaks, or is everything water tight still?

Did I miss it? How do you water seal gaps between the panels? Thanks.

How did u waterproof between panels to make a dry inner space

I was worried about the expansion in the heat. No place for the panel to move and putting stress on them. Just built a 10 x 60 solar mount. I left a gap just for that.

What about thermal expansion of aluminum frame?

How’s it holding up ?

A couple things puzzle me: 1) 0:24 How does water not run over the low end bottom edge, then drip inside the walls? Especially with that angle and no gutter. and 2) 2:37 What are the lag screws attached to? Through the wood... then what? I see no attachment points, rails or anything at all on the panel in that area. Looks like it's screwed right into the cells. Which it can't be, no?

Its baffling that all new houses don't do this instead of wasting a chunk of money on dumb roofing then plonking panels on top of that anyway, not to mention it looks better. Did you have any leaks by just caulking? I imagined It being a real nightmare to remove a faulty panel :) Probably why I would try to over lap them like tiles and use a flashing and caulk that on top of the gaps, far easier to remove if needed. Anyway your method looks the cleanest thats for sure and I would not consider doing a house any other way.

why did you use bi-facial panels for the roof instead of regular panels?

Looks like bifacial panels.. But if you have a dark shed...the rear side of the panel..wont produce much power

Please be honest about how long it takes for leaks between those panels. I give the caulking two years, max. I wish it were so simple, but when you look at the design of real in-roof panels, it clearly isn't :-(

cool concept but... You are reducing your efficiency because the building will be hot. Also...panels aren't structural. A good storm with high winds could damage this, if not tear it right off...good luck sir.

No wood

Hope you didn't Mount the aluminum panels directly to treated lumber. The chemical reaction will make them corrode within a few years.

small mistake..I made it also ,,placing solar panels horizontally is no good idea, bigger margin of white area close to the frame is on the side, better for dust deposit is vertically..

No way this can end well.

Doesn't look appealing when the panels are out in the air.

your panels need cleaning

What about glue? Whay U recumend?

Redz, te, kas līdzīgs satapis. Un arī nav līdz galam pareizi izdomājuši ar maliņām.