Galvanic Corrosion

[ScubaCollie]

Hi All, I need to fit a couple of angle brackets to the below aluminium track on the top of my campervan, and will then be fitting a slotted channel to the angle bracket, and then running 2 x slotted channels off of of that slotted chanel running to another slotted channel on the other side of the van that I'm going to install.

This is to install solar panels.

Problem is I purchased all hardware in stainless steel.....

I was planning on fitting a stainless steel channel nut into the below aluminium slotted channel but this will then suffer from Galvanic Corrosion.....

Any ideas? Even if I was to manage to get hold of some aluminium channel nuts, the screws are still stainless steel going into that aluminum channel nut....

All fixings need to be strong and secure as this is for mounting solar panels to the roof.

 

[Burnerman]

Consider using aluminium / aluminium alloy nuts and bolts that you find in greenhouses.......some of them clearly are quite tough and should do what you need.
John

 

[ScubaCollie]

Consider using aluminium / aluminium alloy nuts and bolts that you find in greenhouses.......some of them clearly are quite tough and should do what you need.
John

Many Thanks John didn't even know you could get them many thanks!!

 

[Burnerman]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161635596715?hash=item25a23b79ab:g:pYcAAOSwD5Ndi5o2&var=460619279895
.....or garden centres, of course!
Good luck with your project.
John

 

[ScubaCollie]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161635596715?hash=item25a23b79ab:g:pYcAAOSwD5Ndi5o2&var=460619279895
.....or garden centres, of course!
Good luck with your project.
John

Even better Many Thanks John!!

 

[Avocet]

You could try searching for aluminium "T-nuts". There are certainly loads on eBay, but they seem to be zinc plated steel. I don't know if anyone makes aluminium ones. However, this is a common problem in the marine industry and a lot of yachts have stainless fitting going into aluminium. I don't think stainless and aluminium are too far apart in the galvanic series. For fittings where it might become a problem, manufacturers usually just assemble them with an isolating paste like "Duralac".

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321419274982?epid=1467313646&hash=item4ad614eae6:g:wjQAAOxyBPZTiIyo