quick release for permanent solar panel

[newhue]

I'm looking at mounting a solar panel between two Ryno Racks. I'd like to have it as a permanent fixture that can be quickly pulled off and placed on the ground to track the sun.

Just wondering if anyone has done this and what quick release fixtures they have come up with.

[bee utey]

Quick release = tea leaf magnet! Carry a second panel inside? Failing that some heavy duty keyed door latches.

[Blknight.aus]

Ive done one for a tinny top loader,

I made up internal legs for the panelthat stowed inside the panel with 4 angle brackets rivited to the outside.
The 4 brackets had a single hole drilled in them and had back mounted spring plates fitted with a hole drilled in the plate
4 spigots with holes drilled through them were welded in place on the top mount and clevis pins were tie wired in place.

slide the brackets over the spigots push down, insert the pins and the spring plate would then push the panel mount up onto the clevis pin Push down and pull the pin and its free.

About the only thing Id do differently if i was doing it again is attach the spring plates to the roof rack spigots so that they didnt get knocked off of the panel when it was dismounted from the rack and moved around

[newhue]

I think I'm heading that way. Initially was thinking a C channel on the leading edge for the width of the panel. On the rear use two pins with locking sir clips.

[Ranga]

How about something like this?

SOLAR PANEL MOUNTING IDEA (http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread.php?16003-SOLAR-PANEL-MOUNTING-IDEA)

[Blknight.aus]

I think I'm heading that way. Initially was thinking a C channel on the leading edge for the width of the panel. On the rear use two pins with locking sir clips.

cept the vibration issues your going to have with it up there in c channel like that is going to cause stress failure of the rivets and rattling noises that will drive you bananas.

[newhue]

come on Dave, Defender, rivets, rattles, noise.......sounds like it was made for C channel.

[Blknight.aus]

more worried what the rattling will do to the panel

[isuzu110]

Mine is mounted on the roof rack in a C-Channel at one end as you describe. I've taken out any play by using rubber/closed-cell-foam to take up the slack. The panel has a plywood backing (not ideal if you want to dissipate heat, but makes it more durable) and a layer of closed-cell foam between it and the mesh on the roofrack to stop drumming/rattles.

I've mounted a stainless steel eye bolt at the other end of the panel with a padlock through the roof rack mesh. The corners that are not retained by the C-Channel have vertical retaining brackets. To remove the panel, I undo the padlock, lift it clear on that end of the retaining corner brackets and slide it out of the C-Channel at the other end.

It's not 100% bomb proof secure, but has worked for the last 5 or so years.