Simple Solar Panel Mount

I wanted to roof mount my solar panel but it's my daily driver so I did not want it to be permanent and I wanted it easy to remove. Simple solution was to put weather stripping on the under side of panel to protect roof, and I used a couple of para cord cam hooks that are rated for 100 lbs to hook it to my OEM roof rack. Its low profile, no noise, and seems to be holding up fine, haven't tested it above 60mph but I am feeling pretty good about it.

Edit: The tribe has spoken and confirmed most of my concerns about the long term viability of this engineering master piece. Out of personal shame I should delete the thread, but for the educational benefit of future generations it shall remain...is it Friday yet?

 

Seems alright until it’s in someone’s windshield at 70 mph.

 

Remind me to never drive behind you... wow

 

Oh man. This is bad news waiting to happen. Wait until a big wind hits you...oh boy

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tgIqecROs5M

 

. That is one of my concerns, but for it to be a problem the wind would have to get under neath it, the profile is low enough and it is tight enough to the roof that am not seeing it as an issue, am I missing something?

 

You’re relying on luck and tension of things that break when over stressed and cause your “mount” to fail catastrophically.

 

It's Friday already??????????

OP i say get yourself some crossbars!!

 

Not sure where the luck comes in, but cam and line is rated for a 100 pounds working limit, so the stress is well with in it's limits. The weak spot would be where the line rubs and could possible fray, vinyl tubing and neoprene grommets should alleviate that issue. Maybe this is a bad idea, not convinced it is not, so I am open to constructive criticism.

 

100 lbs of tensile force in a cross wind when you’re on the freeway isn’t as strong as you believe it to be.

Your call and your liability.

 

For the crosswind to be an issue it would have to get under the panel. That is my biggest concern, because if the wind gets under it, I can see how it would end badly. But the weather stripping and the downward pull of the tie downs should form a decent seal. But I could be wrong, hence the post for some peer review for my idiocy.

 

Peers have chimed in.

This has been voted off the island. Hard mount or take it off. Don’t kill someone because you have cord and plastic hooks and need a place for your solar array.

 

So is the weak point the hooks (they are metal) or the line? If I swapped out the line for some amsteel and upgraded the hooks, is the concept sound or is your no vote final?

 

I won't even begin to tell your about the time I thought I could run a VW on hydrogen...

 

Crossbars and actual mounts

 

That is probable the route I am going, but the wind noise on my current cross bars is irritating at high speeds.

 

Experience. If it’s not secured with hardware, you’re taking a risk and asking for problems. 100lb test cord is nothing.

 

Is the concept workable? I have some amsteel left over from another project and it rated for about a ton. I could swap it out. I figure I need to use line vs a strap because the flat profile of a strap leads to vibration in the strap at speed. For as dumb as it looks I did put a little thought into it.

 

It is probably most likely that the line pulls out from your connection point

I’d want it securely mounted to a rack