Mounting solar panels on a tiled roof

[EssexBoy]

Hi.

My first question on this forum.

I would like to get solar panels installed on my roof but its tiled. How do you mount the panel mountings without putting holes through the tiles ?

Thanks

Pat.

[Jason]

You can check out this thread regarding a tile roof

http://solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?t=55&highlight=tile+roof

I just emailed a member in your part of the world who has a tile roof as well, so maybe he'll jump in and give some input.

Welcome to Solar Panel Talk and thanks for joining!

[Blackman]

Most manufacturers or the installers will use a variety of aluminium brackets to screw on the top of your roof truss (brackets on the top of the sarking) and when this is done you just slide the tile down.

I bought extra panels for my system and ended up doing the existing system all over again due to very poor workmanship plus I did the addition of the extra 4 panels myself. Please look at the photos on my website as I have been asked this question quite a few times by local people. If you use a contractor to do the installation please read what I have written on my site as we have got a massive problem here in Queensland, possibly Australia wide, full of accreditated shonky installers.

http://www.voiceofoz.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=129

[EssexBoy]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Pat.

[JohnA]

Different pv panel alignments.

Does anyone know if it's OK to have two panels permanently at one angle to the sun and another two permanently at another angle. Or do they all have to be at the same angle.

[Blackman]

No that's a NO NO.

[Mike90250]

Does anyone know if it's OK to have two panels permanently at one angle to the sun and another two permanently at another angle. Or do they all have to be at the same angle.

What's the function of the panels, Grid tie via MPPT controller, or battery charging via PWM controller ?
MPPT, you dont want mixed panels, PWM does not mind as much.

[newenergy]

What's the matter with putting holes in the tiles? In a tile roof the waterproofing is in the membrane below. The tile is to keep the sun off that membrane.

Generally..

Remove the tile, seal a mounting device to roof, put a threaded rod through a hole in the tile and into the mounting device and the rails.

or

Cut a big hole and put a standoff through it, sealed and with a flashing.

or

Remove the tiles in the area, install shingle roof in that section, reinstall tiles around the border and it blends in.

[Mike90250]

What's the matter with putting holes in the tiles?

It's difficult to drill a hole in a tile without breaking it. There are "Z" shape brackets that you can slide a tile down, install bracket, and then replace tile, and you end up with a small metal mounting strap. Needs many more, but retains the integrity of the tile roof.

[newenergy]

Meh, I've drilled tons of holes in tile. Some real old tiles are very brittle, but for most tiles you can drill holes w/o breaking any tiles. Walking on the tiles (especially when you are carrying modules) is another story - usually a couple broken tiles no matter how careful you are unless they are really strong tiles.