Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Roof leak:Flexible factory solar panel attachment?

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Roof leak:Flexible factory solar panel attachment?

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15955
Printed Date: 17 Jun 2025 at 4:00pm
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Topic: Roof leak:Flexible factory solar panel attachment?

Posted By: Pod_Geek
Subject: Roof leak:Flexible factory solar panel attachment?
Date Posted: 01 May 2024 at 9:36am

I'm chasing down a roof leak in the 2020.5 R-Pod 195 (during heavy rains water leaks out of one of the puck lights in the ceiling near the pantry, which has been removed since it shorted out). I'm assuming for the time being that the source of the leak is in that area of the roof, and I noticed that the solar panel is sealed only on the front side and I can see a slight gap between the panel and the roof on the back edge of the panel.

I'm wondering if there were any screws used in attaching that panel that could possibly admit the water that I'm seeing. I'd like to think not...that it was attached with some sort of adhesive and the roof was not compromised.

[Edit: Answered my own question upon a closer inspection of the panel over lunch. There are six screws going through the panel; the seal applied over the screws appeared compromised in a couple places and there was a small hole in the seal that was applied over the solar-wire connector. We'll see if the EternaBond I applied to those areas does the trick.]

I'm also going to do a closer examination of the wires attached to the panel and try to determine if their entry points could be the source.

There were gaps in the factory-applied seals on the back edge of the roof that I covered with Eternabond last fall...don't think that's the source of the leak but who knows...

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2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River
2018 RAM 2500 6.4L