Solar Panels on a Westdubs Roof – Anyone Done It?

[pete_d]

Has anyone fitted solar panels to a Westdubs roof? I'd really appreciate seeing any photos of how you've gone about it.


I've got a few ideas myself, but the ridges on the roof don't quite line up with the panels I have. I also spoke with a Sika engineer who advised against using their adhesives in the valleys, as they're not designed for areas where water might sit.


Would love to see how others have tackled this – thanks in advance!

 

[borat]

Yes, but was done by converters. I’ll see if I can take a pic tomorrow

 

[pete_d]

Yes, but was done by converters. I’ll see if I can take a pic tomorrow

That would be great, looking forward to seeing them.

 

[Absolut5]

Has anyone fitted solar panels to a Westdubs roof? I'd really appreciate seeing any photos of how you've gone about it.


I've got a few ideas myself, but the ridges on the roof don't quite line up with the panels I have. I also spoke with a Sika engineer who advised against using their adhesives in the valleys, as they're not designed for areas where water might sit.


Would love to see how others have tackled this – thanks in advance!

Post up a pic of the panel sat on the roof so we can see how it sits

 

[pete_d]

Excuse the state of the roof – we were down in Weymouth at the weekend and a couple of seagulls clearly took a liking to it!

I’ve just laid this panel on the roof for the photos, and I was actually surprised how little the curve shows – up until now, I’d only worked it out on paper.

The panel’s in landscape across the roof, and I’ve got three of these to install in total.

I’ve picked up some Sikaflex 252 for the job (but open to better options if anyone has recommendations).

What are people’s thoughts on installing it as-is? (Obviously I’ll be doing proper prep and giving the roof a good clean beforehand.) I'm thinking run four beads – one along each edge and one on top of each ridge. I’d prefer to avoid a full perimeter bead as I’d like some airflow underneath to help regulate the panels temperature.

Or is this not a good idea at all? Any advice or tips appreciated.

 

[borat]

Here’s how it’s done on mine

 

[pete_d]

Thank you @borat

 

[Absolut5]

Excuse the state of the roof – we were down in Weymouth at the weekend and a couple of seagulls clearly took a liking to it!

I’ve just laid this panel on the roof for the photos, and I was actually surprised how little the curve shows – up until now, I’d only worked it out on paper.

The panel’s in portrait across the roof, and I’ve got three of these to install in total.

I’ve picked up some Sikaflex 252 for the job (but open to better options if anyone has recommendations).

What are people’s thoughts on installing it as-is? (Obviously I’ll be doing proper prep and giving the roof a good clean beforehand.) I'm thinking run four beads – one along each edge and one on top of each ridge. I’d prefer to avoid a full perimeter bead as I’d like some airflow underneath to help regulate the panels temperature.

Or is this not a good idea at all? Any advice or tips appreciated.View attachment 284079View attachment 284080

I would swap it round so the wiring is at the back, run a bead of bonding down both sides around a inch in from the edge, and on the ridges , this will let some air under the panel to help cooling

 

[pete_d]

Thanks. But I want to put 3 panels up there. So needs to go landscape. If I rotate it I would only get one maybe two.

 

[Absolut5]

What wattage are they ?

 

[pete_d]

100 each.

 

[PIPPS30]

I have a Dubs roof and I used hard plastic sheet cut and fixed between the ridges to give added strength to the panel. I cannot remember the thickness I used. I first blacked wrapped the roof section before attaching these so in future if the panel.was to fail it would make it easier for removal without making the gel coat. Hope the photos help. The roofs been on 4yrs and no issues with lifting
I left gaps so any water would flow through and allow air flow to stop hot spots

 

[pete_d]

I have a Dubs roof and I used hard plastic sheet cut and fixed between the ridges to give added strength to the panel. I cannot remember the thickness I used. I first blacked wrapped the roof section before attaching these so in future if the panel.was to fail it would make it easier for removal without making the gel coat. Hope the photos help. The roofs been on 4yrs and no issues with lifting
I left gaps so any water would flow through and allow air flow to stop hot spots

View attachment 284182

View attachment 284183

Thanks for this, did you wrap it your self? What did you use to wrap it?

Also was the adhesive did you use?

 

[Ayjay]

I've got a 160W panel on my Westdubs roof but I didn't fit it so I can't give much advice other than to say it's possible. I do however know that the guy that fitted it used some plastic sheet stuck to the roof to fill the gaps and that the front and side edges was sealed so that wind couldn't get in - the rear edge is not sealed to allow for air to escape.

 

[PIPPS30]

Thanks for this, did you wrap it your self? What did you use to wrap it?

Also was the adhesive did you use?

My son works at a wrapping company i will find out later and post but was bonded with Sikaflex 552, once the panel had a few days to set i then trimmed around the edge removing excess wrap, hope this helps

 

[PIPPS30]

My son works at a wrapping company i will find out later and post but was bonded with Sikaflex 552, once the panel had a few days to set i then trimmed around the edge removing excess wrap, hope this helps

The wrap was a oracal 970ra material, this can be got at most car wrapping centres and various colours, there may be other types/manufacturers that there's may have used and find better but this has worked fir my set up.

 

[pete_d]

I’ve just finished this install and thought I’d share the setup. I went full belt and braces with it, but I’ll definitely feel more at ease when we hit the autobahns this summer.


I wrapped the roof in 3M 2080 vinyl, then used 3mm aluminium flat bar across the roof, bolting through the outer shell (outside the pop-top canvas). Wherever the bars touched the roof ridges, I sealed them with Sikaflex. I also glued the leading edge and the underside of the panels directly to the roof ridges. The panels themselves are both glued and bolted to the new metalwork.

At the edge of each panel, I used uPVC packers to create a good adhesive joint along the sides. Thanks to the metal framework, the panels also get a decent amount of airflow.

The panels are 3 x 100W flexible, and I’ve seen output as high as 280W – pretty impressed if that’s what we can expect on a sunny day!

 

[dean1971]

Here’s how it’s done on mine

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This looks brilliant. Where are the wires? Do you have any pics?