Fitting eyelets/grommets in a flexible solar panel - advice needed

[tymonk]

Hello.

As per the instructions of a flexible solar panel I recently bought I can drill holes in them as long as it's 8mm away from the cells.

The instructions state that a grommet/eyelet should be added to prevent delamination of the panel. I have never fitted eyelets/metal grommets before and I wondering what type I would need and what size? The panel is 4mm thick, and assume it would need to compress the layers a bit to prevent lamination but not so much as to crush it. I emailed the place I bought the panel and they recommended aluminium ones and that these are widely available but I can't really find these online. Maybe I'm searching for the wrong thing?

Any help would be much appreciated, both on size/material/where I can purchase. Thanks in advance.

 

[pmagowan]

Solbian Flexible Marine Solar Panel Installation Options €25.00
This type of thing

 

[tymonk]

Thank you. Do you know if there is anything UK-based for quicker delivery?

 

[pmagowan]

No idea. That was just a google for eyelets solar panels. Normal fabric eyelets may work fine also

 

[tymonk]

Thanks. For some reason I didn't get very far googling eyelets solar panels. The main issue seems to be that many of the fabric ones aren't long enough (enough height or "luf"). Apparently there are "(long) barrel eyelets" but all I can find are cheap brass ones (many painted) for jewelry. My concern is these won't last very long.

 

[willyORwon'tHE]

@tymonk thank you. I want to do the same. I don't want to fracture the fiberglass when drilling or compressing grommet. My panels are 2 mm thick. Can you advise please

 

[PetiteFleur]

Don't use aluminium ones - they will corrode quickly in salt water. Use brass or stainless eyelets with small stainless selftapping screws, work for me. Just drill a small hole in the grp just enough for the screw to bite with a dab of sealant.

 

[BobnLesley]

I used cheap plastic eyelets purchased from a camping/outdoor shop, they eventually cracked in the Mediterranean sun, but I had a bag of fifty, so replaced them as and when they failed. This sort of thing: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12084911...BYYzdA4i25nJs8XLC_7_rOBMSyG2EHD0aAkj-EALw_wcB

 

[PaulRainbow]

Stainless steel cup washers, a blob of sealant and counter sink self tappers work just fine.

 

[bluerm166]

I didn't like to drill my semi flexible panel after reading the warning and instead have stuck neat fibreglass 'ears' to my panel using sikaflex ,so that it can be lashed and bungeed in position and removed for maintenance in the area.

 

[thinwater]

Stainless steel cup washers, a blob of sealant and counter sink self tappers work just fine.

This. Small through bolts, if that is handier (can be if the area is not cored and is thin). If the screw is snug it is supplying compression. And I've drilled several panels, always some distance from the cells, without trouble 10 years later.

I think if you are lacing the panels to a dodger that is completely different. There is movement, which can cause other problems (microcracks) as well.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I melted holes with a soldering iron and stitched them with 2mm dyneema.

 

[elliotmc]

Why doesn't my aluminium mast and aluminium ladders corrode but the long ali zips on my boat cushions are corroded to bits.

Don't use aluminium ones - they will corrode quickly in salt water. Use brass or stainless eyelets with small stainless selftapping screws, work for me. Just drill a small hole in the grp just enough for the screw to bite with a dab of sealant.

 

[Refueler]

There is another way to solve this without drilling the solar panel .... 'corner triangles' .... basically wood or metal across each corner of the panel screwed down ... or even use full length wood strips creating a framed holder ?