Which solar panel for Trooper?

I want to fit a 200W solar panel to the fibre glass roof of my Trooper.
The roof has several bolt heads and a couple of ridges running front to back.
It is also slightly bowed and rather uneven.
Has anyone fitted a solar panel to their Trooper?

Thanks Roopert.
What was your method and panel type?
I was thinking of routing a spiral cable through the rear, through into the wardrobe where the battery will be.

I like that idea.
I still can't see how to overcome the uneven surface, apart from using a smaller, narrower panel.

I've contacted Bimble Solar in Brighton. They seem helpful. Looks like I'll have to remove the roof trim. I didn't want to do that right now as I'm in the process of putting all the other trim back. Ce la vie.

Thanks for the heads up Roopert.
Did you replace it?
I'd like to attach some photos but can't see how.

Ah thanks. I'll give it some more thought. Finally managed to post some photos.[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Perhaps 3 small panels?

There doesn’t seem to be much sealant around those strips or screw heads

That's what I thought.

Thanks Roopert.
I suppose I could eventually combine removing the roof lining, checking the cross members, and perhaps removing the bolts and using the holes to mount a frame for a rigid solar panel. Kill two birds with one stone.

If there is no sealant the water will have wicked it’s way down the thread and will be soaked up by the timbers eventually causing rot, if you could take one screw out and see what it’s like, rusted = leaks , sealant on threads possibly ok

Perhaps I could remove the bolts running down the middle longitudinally and glue the frame using sikaflex? Then I'd have a reasonable smooth surface for a solar panel. I suppose pooling water won't be a problem if the panel is glued to a vinyl sheet that is glued to the roof. The solar panel would be twisted somewhat, but perhaps it can cope with that. 

Semi flexible or fully flexible?

Rigid is best in my experience.
Have a look in Members Factsheets for my tome Executive, how I did mine in there.....

Interesting fact sheet post.
The trouble is that my roof is bowed.
I'm surprised that the corner brackets are strong enough but I like the air gap beneath.
Perhaps semi-flexible on some kind of board, all glued to these brackets?

My roof is bowed also in addition the aft corner blocks are on the tapered ramps to the rear skylights.

This pic shows some of my curvature and the aft blocks on the skylight ramps


The corner, and you can have side brackets are plenty strong enough. The way to deal with curved roof is to fit the corner and side blocks to the rigid panel on a flat surface, using self drilling and tapping SS screws in the cutaways already in the blocks.
Get it on the roof and position it exactly where its going to be, then draw round the corners and side blocks with a marker pen.
Seriously clean and abrade the glue area and also the undersides of the blocks, use pure alcohol or similar, meths perhaps....
At this stage you'll see the roof curvature.
If happy then apply a large amount of Sikaflex 252 to each corner and side area, enough such that when the panel is placed, the glue will fill the gaps and form a flat surface for the blocks.
Then leave well alone, cover it by all means and keep away for 24 hrs.
It will then be well fixed to the roof.
Now you can drill vertically though the corner blocks and screw it to the roof, using large thread self tappers, SS if at all poss. Fit one, then remove it, then fill hole with Sikaflex, then refit it, that hole will be perfectly sealed. Do the others the same.
If, however you have the inside of the roof exposed, then SS bolts with penny washer on the inside will be better.
On my Exec, all of that is as done, but I haven't done the screws through the roof, relying entirely on the Sikaflex bond, shouldn't really admit this but its was still there after an 80Mph run!!!!

Thanks for the detailed explanation Ian. Time to measure up.
What is the gap beneath the panel? I'll need to know this to decide whether to remove the bolt heads.
Or perhaps bond 5cm aluminium angle?

About 1inch

I've found a source for 40mm by 50mm by 3mm aluminium angle.
This would fit along the raised ridges and house a 650mm wide rigid panel.
3m weighs 2.1kg.