Anti vibration mounts for Solar Panel and Dirt Roads

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

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. 

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.c...g/dp/B0055SJEDG

I’m with rando... no need

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

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!

Edited by ckent323, 10 June 2021 - 06:05 PM.

Thanks for the correction Vic

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

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.

Edited by Jon R, 11 June 2021 - 05:21 AM.

Thanks for the correction Vic

I think that kudo should have gone to ckent

Edited by Vic Harder, 11 June 2021 - 06:18 AM.