Subpanel Goodies - Nuts or Nutplates?

[skelrad]

What's your method of choice for attaching devices to the subpanel? Did you take the time to install nutplates for everything or just go with nuts? Lessons learned?

 

[RVbySDI]

Absolutely nutplates! You will be glad next year, or the next, or the next, or five years from now, or whenever you need to work on something behind the panel. You will want to be able to remove or tighten as much as possible without having to get a wrench on both sides of the panel or subpanel.

 

[Weefle]

What's your method of choice for attaching devices to the subpanel? Did you take the time to install nutplates for everything or just go with nuts? Lessons learned?

Nut plate where you can. You will hate yourself down the road if you have to remove a box and need to assume the position to get under the panel.

 

[AlphaCharlieBravo]

Screws and nuts for me. Tipper canopy, easy access. Plus I put access panels in front skin from Vans to access ground wires, B&C regulator etc.
Works for me.

A

 

[mc607]

Removable nut plates.

 

[georgemohr]

Nutplates wherever practical.

 

[supik]

The position of my AHARS had some issues with vibrations so I used a thick doubler with nut plates. Easy removal/replacement but too heavy to be used on every component.

 

[NTex]

Removable nut plates.


View attachment 75947

Interesting idea, can't believe I've never seen that before!

 

[wirejock]

Removable nut plates.


View attachment 75947

That's clever. I used a similar method to get the switch notches.

 

[sansoneservices]

What's your method of choice for attaching devices to the subpanel? Did you take the time to install nutplates for everything or just go with nuts? Lessons learned?

Nutplates.. definitely Nutplates

 

[Dugaru]

Nut plate where you can. You will hate yourself down the road if you have to remove a box and need to assume the position to get under the panel.

This x 1000. I’ve left instructions that upon my demise, I’m to be buried in my RV with my head shoved up under the panel - since that will likely be what finally kills me.

 

[kibrickj]

That's clever. I used a similar method to get the switch notches.

I just employed this same idea out of necessity and profound stubbornness on my part to solve issue as best I could on RV 8. I wish I saw this a few days ago.....could have saved consternation from staring at tight space for hours.

 

[Halleffect]

What's your method of choice for attaching devices to the subpanel? Did you take the time to install nutplates for everything or just go with nuts? Lessons learned?

Click Bond nutplates are handy where it is a problem to dimple and buck rivets plus they require 2/3 fewer holes to be drilled. Expensive relative to regular nutplates, though.

 

[rv6n6r]

My .02: Think through the specific thing:
- Easy access with a wrench = regular nut (because yeah, nutplates are a fair bit more work after all)
- Difficult to get at = nutplates ALWAYS - even if there's only a small likelihood of needing to get to it, you will thank yourself later.