Economical Solar Panel Mounts

[epsgunner]

Ok..

I went to HF and checked out there solar stuff about a month ago..

They have angle mounts that are 14" long and can adjust to 35,45, 60 degree with pre-drilled holes.. and are $9.99 normally.. people on EB are getting like $15-25 for the same ones..

They are made for the small panels they sell.. however..

With a little work I drilled some holes and can goto 25' degree angle which is my spring/fall settings for my TX location.

Here they are temporarily screwed into 4 x 4's.. ($3-4 at HD for 8' length).. I was testing my 145 w panels which are 26 1/2" wide...



Because they are only 14" long if you want to extend them for middle of panel use you can simply buy some angle AL and drill matching holes.. or you can do like I did and weld angle STEEL from HD (if you have a welder)...I would suggest just bolting the new metal vs. welding.. really not worth the effort (realized when I was done)..

Before..



During..



After:





In the end though it was just easier to mount on the OUTBOARD edges.. and 14" is over 1/2 the 26" panel width and the fact these will only be about 10-12" off the ground and at 25' degree angle means more than likely a WIND will not get under them..

I plan on doing 1-2 layers of cinderblocks with J bolts sticking up and just bolting these frames directly to that..

Also I will have a small 3-4' fence around the array to keep out critters and such..

I just went back today and got 2 more sets for $8. and $8.55 using the 20 and 25% off coupons..

3 more sets for my 3 other panels and I'll be set..

Hope this inspires someone..

[Mike90250]

The extensions make it much more reliable to use, supporting a panel by only 1 rail, is likely a bad choice.

But you do need to isolate the aluminum PV frame from the steel, with rubber or a strip of stainless, the aluminum will electrolyze away, and that won't be good for the panel.

[epsgunner]

Its supported by 2 'rails' on opposite ends.. (see below pic at 45' deg angle setting..)



I didn't know about doing the isolation between the metals though.. thank you..

Strips of bicycle tubes should work for that..

Like I said some may want to extend the mounts to go all the way up the width of the panel.. that up to them.. my setup being 'end mounted' (not center mounted per se) and ultra-low to the ground & at a 25 deg angle I don't see an issue..

[Naptown]

end mounting is fine in your case since I don't think snow loading is going to be a huge problem.
Wind loading on the other hand could be a issue as there isn't much bottom angle so the moment on the rear of the panel with the wind coming from behind will be magnified to some extent (think fulcrum)

[epsgunner]

end mounting is fine in your case since I don't think snow loading is going to be a huge problem.
Wind loading on the other hand could be a issue as there isn't much bottom angle so the moment on the rear of the panel with the wind coming from behind will be magnified to some extent (think fulcrum)

Considering these will be bolted down to a heavy object (quickcrete filled blocks) do you think that will still be an issue only 10-12" off the ground??

Also do you think extending just the bottom 'legs' would add enough stability??

I noticed at 25 deg angle I could barely get under them to adjust them when they were on wood ski's like in my OP.. I don't see them really tumbling forward..

My all around year panel angle is 27 degrees for my location and supposed 71% avg isolation.. Probably just leave them at the 25 degrees year round..

[sk_gc]

But you do need to isolate the aluminum PV frame from the steel, with rubber or a strip of stainless, the aluminum will electrolyze away, and that won't be good for the panel.

I was just thinking of mounting my panels directly over MS Angle. Dont you advice this direct impact of materials?

[inetdog]

I was just thinking of mounting my panels directly over MS Angle. Dont you advice this direct impact of materials?

It is not advised even indoors in clean controlled-humidity conditions. Outside exposed to the weather, it is going to cause corrosion for sure.

[epsgunner]

Update.

I did 3 sets with mods (to make full width) with AL.. (I will be using the bicycle tube idea between the steel and AL contact points).



Then I did 5 sets with all AL form online metals (again full width)..

[inetdog]

Update.

I did 3 sets with mods (to make full width) with AL.. (I will be using the bicycle tube idea between the steel and AL contact points).



Then I did 5 sets with all AL form online metals (again full width)..

It is expensive, but one way to avoid problems with the bolts, which must by their use contact both the steel and the AL, is to use stainless steel bolts and nuts. Unfortunately their mechanical properties are not as good as standard bolts, so be careful of thread problems.

[epsgunner]

It is expensive, but one way to avoid problems with the bolts, which must by their use contact both the steel and the AL, is to use stainless steel bolts and nuts. Unfortunately their mechanical properties are not as good as standard bolts, so be careful of thread problems.

I went with all SS bolts/nuts/washers for this as well.

Still got to buy another 32 SS bolts/nuts/washers for the actual panel holes to mount to the brackets. (I have 8 panels *4 per)

I heard to put some anti-seize on them as well to help abit..

[inetdog]

I went with all SS bolts/nuts/washers for this as well.

Still got to buy another 32 SS bolts/nuts/washers for the actual panel holes to mount to the brackets. (I have 8 panels *4 per)

I heard to put some anti-seize on them as well to help abit..

Just right!
If the pieces are flat enough, you can probably get away with just putting stainless washers between the two metals rather than rubber. But the rubber will give some vibration isolation as well, if you can see any use for that.
Also look at using proper bonding washers/connectors for at least a couple of the bolts if the mounts will be part of the panel grounding system or need to be bonded themselves.

[KrystleGrafton]

The rack was something like $500 - 550 with all hardware needed to mount the three 208 watt panels. The pole is old drill pipe from the oil fields; $40 with about 5 feet in the ground. 10 bags of Quikrete, IIRC. Ground clips extra.


wind power

[russ]

The rack was something like $500 - 550 with all hardware needed to mount the three 208 watt panels. The pole is old drill pipe from the oil fields; $40 with about 5 feet in the ground. 10 bags of Quikrete, IIRC. Ground clips extra.

You got that past an inspector? 10 bags of quıkrete is nothing to set the pole in. Not a great solution though cheap.