Anti vibration mounts for Solar Panel and Dirt Roads

[A.Smith]

I was recently advised not to put a Solar Panel on the roof of my 2006 Hawk, since I ocassionaly drive dirt roads. I don’t drive the road to the Race Track in Death Valley, or the road to Patriarch Grove, in the Ancient Bristlecone Forest fast.

Should I use an anti vibration isolation mount, stud on my 200 watt, Renogy solar panel ?

I just finished bolting the panel to the aluminum original roof mounts, with no anti vibration mounts.

Suggestions ?

Thanks,
Fred
A.Smith

 

[rando]

In my experience these are not necessary, either for rigid glass or semi flexible panels. I have also never heard of anyone else using these.

 

[ckent323]

I bought some Isolate It Sorbithane washers and put them between the Aluminum bars holding my panel and the slot in the Yakima track anchor plates that I bolted to.

Maybe not necessary but reasonable cost and easy to do for a bit of vibration damping.

https://www.amazon.com/Isolate-Sorbothane-Vibration-Isolation-Bushing/dp/B0055SJEDG

 

[Vic Harder]

I’m with rando... no need

 

[craig333]

My panels are fine after extensive offroad use. I agree with Vic and Rando. No need for vibration dampening.

 

[ckent323]

an engineers nit

Damping - a decrease in the amplitude of an oscillation as a result of energy being drained from the system to overcome frictional or other resistive forces.
Dampening - make slightly wet.

;-)



In all events have a great day, week, month, year, life!

 

[craig333]

Thanks for the correction Vic

 

[Jon R]

It’s a little scary how often I see that error from engineers at a major transport airplane manufacturer.

 

[Jon R]

I have two of the Renogy 200 watt rigid panels on my Grandby. I used hard nylon washers to protect the tracks from my mounting ears, but no cushioning. The roof itself if very flexible, and I suspect this isolates the panels at least somewhat from road vibration.

 

[Vic Harder]

Thanks for the correction Vic

I think that kudo should have gone to ckent

 

[craig333]

Just can't seem to get it right on this thread although we really could use a little dampening right about now

 

[craig333]

Now I'm curious. At what point does damp become wet?

 

[Vic Harder]

Hey, let's not dampen the mood here!

 

[PaulT]

I'd say that is a matter of opinion. Growing up in humid NC with summer humidity frequently in the 90% plus range, damp meant just wet enough that you couldn't squeeze any water out of a piece of cloth. In the arid West, damp means that the cloth doesn't feel bone dry.

Summers in NC meant that one took a daily shower to change to a fresh layer of moisture on the skin.Any cotton next to the skin was at least damp.
In the western deserts, even if you spill water, it isn't necessary to wipe it up, it will evaporate in a short time anyway.

Just an opinion, of course.

Paul

 

[ckent323]

You guys are clearly all wet.

 

[lostcreek]

>>I think that kudo should have gone to ckent

a grammarian's nit: "kudos" is singular (not plural), from the Greek "kydos"

just a friendly addition to the thread

 

[ntsqd]

an engineers nit

Damping - a decrease in the amplitude of an oscillation as a result of energy being drained from the system to overcome frictional or other resistive forces.
Dampening - make slightly wet.

;-)



In all events have a great day, week, month, year, life!

Years ago on a desert racing forum the guy who owns shockseals.com and I decided to refer to shocks/dampers as "damperends" because no one on that forum could ever get it right.

I too, have never used any sort of vibration isolator on the solar panel(s). Maybe I should have, but we've yet to have any trouble at all with any of the panels.

 

[ramblinChet]

Fred - I am curious with regards to who told you not to install the panels on your roof because you occasionally drive off road. Was this an engineering or technical resource at a solar panel manufacturer and did they have information on testing that was provided? The reason I am asking is because I will be mounting a panel on my roof and if the person had valuable information to share I would be interested in reading it also.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I was recently advised not to put a Solar Panel on the roof of my 2006 Hawk, since I ocassionaly drive dirt roads. I don’t drive the road to the Race Track in Death Valley, or the road to Patriarch Grove, in the Ancient Bristlecone Forest fast.

Should I use an anti vibration isolation mount, stud on my 200 watt, Renogy solar panel ?

I just finished bolting the panel to the aluminum original roof mounts, with no anti vibration mounts.

Suggestions ?

Thanks,
Fred
A.Smith

Fred, I am late to the party, but see no need to damp a solar panel. I’ve had or have five campers or trailers with solar, none of which were damped, none of which suffered damage. IMO, you’re good to go.

 

[ckent323]

I have not been able to find any reports of solar panels mounted on vehicles damaged by vibration.

I did note that the manufacturers (LG) warranty for the residential panel I purchased specifically stated that the panels are not covered by the warranty if mounted to a recreational vehicle.

I agree that the risk of vibration induced damage to the solar panels is probably low, however I also decided that adding some vibration damping would be cheap and easy so that is the path I took.

I used these Sorbithane Vibration Isolation Bushings:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042UA5ZY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1