Limb etc. VS roof mount solar panel.... want to protect them.

[Coachgeo]

Sorry for the double thread posting but figure different minded and knowledgeable folk might venture into this forum than the other..

What do ya'll do to protect the solar panels from limbs etc on the roof of a Exp Rig? Very concerned about tree limbs etc. Why I ask is cause will be installing them onto an LMTV Expo Rig eventually and even though am keeping whole thing low as possible am still going to be taller than average truck.

In the end though they won't be on a roof per say as in typical set up but instead on a framework mounted on something more like a truck ladder rack. Anotherwords there will be an external roll cage around the bed of truck and camper box will slide inside and out of that. Cage stays mounted on bed and panels installed on it. Solar will stay on truck when camper removed . With that in mind do panels need to have their back to a flat surface for better strength?

For limb etc. protection am considered something like a layer of 1/2"? metal Hardware Cloth "X" number of inches above the panels. How much "X" should be not sure. Actually considering two layers with first being Concrete Wire Mesh base with the second smaller opening Metal Hardware Cloth above this. The Concrete Mesh would keep the smaller hardware cloth from flexing to far inward and scratching the panels when flexed inward via wind from driving or by limb pressing them down. Without the Concrete Mesh would think the Hardware cloth could flex inward too much thus requiring it to sit a good 8"? to a foot? above the panels. With the two layers could potentially be only inches above? Course then there is the nightmare of creating some way that the two meshes dont rattle like shiat against each other when driving.

Is 1/2" to big or small?

Is this whole idea wayyyy to overkill?

Open to suggestions.

 

[Coachgeo]

Yes, as usual you are over thinking it.

Leave room between the module & roof.
Otherwise the module will get quite hot like any other closed glass box laying in the sun.
Higher temperature lowers efficiency of any electrical conductor.

Thanks for info. on heat. Was aware of that issue but everything is a trade off. Replacing panels before their worn and end up with funds lost not gained. See that 99% do mount few inches above roof surface.

Are you suggesting use no limb protection or just less than what wrote about above? Lot of tree's here.

 

[dwh]

See other thread. Double posting like this is sort of a no-no. You should delete one of the threads.

We're all "New Posts" junkies anyway.

 

[rossvtaylor]

See other thread. Double posting like this is sort of a no-no. You should delete one of the threads.

We're all "New Posts" junkies anyway.

What he said ^^ because I answered your question in the other post shortly after you posed it. And before you posted it here.

 

[Coachgeo]

As a moderator for decade plus myself do also feel a bit poo poo about double posting/threading. Honestly thought this board was so widely divided up into different interest areas that folk might not venture outside of their favorite one or two areas into others very often. Otherwise would not have. Will check with a mod to see if they can merge the two.

My camper roof has simple bars what run fore-aft alongside the modules.

ahhhhhh... that makes since now. Course when sun is not over head direct that will cast a rather large shadow itself unless these are just barely above panel height or far enough away the shadows don't hit the panel. Assume yours being 5" above panels falls out of shadow range. With these rails keeping the large trunk of the branch off the panels how well do the panels stand up to the scratching of the smaller portions that slide along them? Only pics I ever see of panels are on rigs traversing in open landscape... but then again that makes for a better picture so does not mean too much. Not much open landscap around OH, TN, KY etc.. Then again it's been awhile since I've been wheeling. Look forward to doing that again.

I suppose a person with a ********** for tech-y gadgets & prone to overthinking might fit a rooftop camera to view during the close encounters.

definitly not my thing . Want to go as KISS as possible YET last as long as possible.

A....At the least, test output with & without mesh to know if you are willing to suffer the loss.

Will test. From input ya'll have offered about power loss .... if go route of having a protective screen, thinking now to have half hang on each side of the bed cage and when on part of adventure that may need it ...... Flip it up and over from each side. Simple easy and KISS. hmm... now think about it.. if did this, could size it just right so when parked; could throw tarp over them, prop them up part way to act as awnings. Net result- panel protection when needed ANDD awnings for windows open in a rain to keep things cool as well as keeping sides of camper shadded from the sun when it sunny etc.... Might be a win win here.