Solar Panel: Cutting Hole in Roof !!!

[LSNE]

About to start replacing my 150W solar panel that has died after 4 years of use.

Just wondering how many tubes of Sikaflex people are using to fit their panels?

 

[Dellmassive]

assuming one? , if that, per 100w panel?

so for a 150w id look at two tubes.?

or double sided 3m,

or 3m HD Velcro.

+++++++

got some pics of the old one?

you sticking new one over? or removing old one?

you used vinyl wrap to make removing easier?

 

[LSNE]

 

[LSNE]

Removing old one first.

No vinyl wrap used by the previous installer.

Looks to have a bead down each ridge and then another down each edge of the panel where it is raised off the roof.

 

[Dellmassive]

Cheese wire. . . . Aka. fishing line, cotton thread, string will cut through that.

Then see what's left.

Plastic scraper, wd40, etc etc on what's left.

 

[LSNE]

Yeah, that was the plan.

Just looking at Sikaflex 221, 522, Tigerseal etc. etc. to see which one is best and how much I'll need.

 

[Dilbert]

Sikaflex 292i is the strongest.

 

[T6Bob32]

Can anyone recommend an IP68 gland that I can put solar CONNECTORS through?

Using this one below would mean I'd need to butcher the connectors and re-attach after passing the cables through the gland.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Can anyone recommend an IP68 gland that I can put solar CONNECTORS through?

Using this one below would mean I'd need to butcher the connectors and re-attach after passing the cables through the gland.

View attachment 210073

You should be able to release the pins out of the shells on the MC4 connectors, pass them through the glands & put the shells back on.

 

[T6Bob32]

You should be able to release the pins out of the shells on the MC4 connectors, pass them through the glands & put the shells back on.

Ye I saw a YouTube video of someone taking one apart. Looks easy with the cheaper cables, like the one in my first picture. But it seems the sleeve is buried a bit deeper inside the Renogy connectors, see below.

Nervous about hacking away at it, especially now that the panel is bonded to my roof for the next million years.

 

[ginkster]

Ye I saw a YouTube video of someone taking one apart. Looks easy with the cheaper cables, like the one in my first picture. But it seems the sleeve is buried a bit deeper inside the Renogy connectors, see below.

Nervous about hacking away at it, especially now that the panel is bonded to my roof for the next million years.

View attachment 210081

View attachment 210080

@T6Bob32 Did you ever get the MC4 connectors off or did you find another solution?

 

[T6Bob32]

@T6Bob32 Did you ever get the MC4 connectors off or did you find another solution?

I managed to get them off yes. Needed a bit of force on one of them. I replaced the pins in the end just to be safe. They're cheap on Amazon