Coachgeo
Explorer
Searched and could not find anything. If I missed something already discussed please point it out via a good search keyword to find it or a link.
That being said.... 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.
That being said.... 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.
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