Help needed with DIY Fiamma Skylight installation.

[Wes]

Hi peeps.

We currently have an electric Fiamma skylight with extractor fan. It's noisey and a bit of a pain so I'm going to replace it with just the conventional model (as we have further up the van; nice and simple).

Is it an easy job (the dimentions are the same so no work to the van)? I've take off the most of it to have a look but the final section (with the flap) is stuck fast with no apparent screws. Do you access these from the roof? Have they glued it on? Can't really afford to have a professional do it and not the most experience when it comes to these things.

Also. Obviously there will be some redundant electrical cables left over. How do I disconnect these if I need to (It's an Auto Roller 700), or is it OK to clip and cover with elec tape?

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Wes

 

[Canalsman]

I would imagine that Sikaflex has been used to bond and seal it to the roof.

It will have to, as they say in the Sikaflex leaflet, be mechanically removed ...

In other words you'll have to break the bond.

Regarding the electrical connections, they can be covered to prevent short circuits.

One option would be to attach a piece of electrical connector strip (chocolate block) on the end, then to wrap the whole assembly in a number of layers of insulation tape.

If you happen to have any self-amalgamating tape to hand - that's the stuff that bonds to itself to provide a permament wrap - use that instead. It's more permanent.

Regards

Chris

 

[Deleted member 5759]

I would have been inclined to leave it as it was , if you are going away where it is hot, you might need it rather than a standard vent.

Peter

 

[Byronic]

If the vent doesn't then leak that I would consider good enough reason to try and retain it. If you need a bit more venting thru' it, could you not remove the fan itself.
I have replaced the Fiamma noisy twin small fan older model with a couple of near silent computor cooling fans. May be a similar option for you with presumably the single large fan.
The Fiamma vents do have screw fixing holes to secure through the roof covering to a timber frame' but perhaps on yours the manufacturer just relied on the adhesive sealant.
If you remove the vent you should remove all the old sealant, just hope the manufacture was a cheapskate and didn't use Sikaflex!!

 

[Wes]

Thanks for the help guys. It was indeed Sikaflex! So I heeded your adice and got rid of the fan. Viola, problem solved!!

Thanks again!

 

[Firefox]

I screwed my Fiamma down from the top as recommended. Through the metal and into a wooden frame. I didn't use Sikaflex on the joint though... impossible to debond sensibly.

I'd recommend Carafax IDL-99 non drying bedding sealant or similar for that.

 

[Deleted member 11815]

Echo the above - do not seal with Silkaflex or similar. THis will seal it - but it won't ever come off (if the wrong type is used!)

Non setting bedding mastick is what you want - I use Caraseal available from caravan dealers.