Portrait vs Landscape Racking?

[utjx98]

I don't really understand that; do you mean the frame blocking sun to the edge of the cells? With 6" cells I
would expect that effect to be negligible until the sun was at such an extreme angle as to be greatly reduced
in intensity. Before that point here, surrounding shadows would dominate.

Racking, whatever it takes to achieve results, it takes. Much easier to experiment with on the ground. I
started with concrete & 6061 aluminum, but treated wood is now being used where completely stationary
and not in direct contact with panels. The wood is far cheaper installed, and a lot easier to get rid of if plans
change later. Just saw it off below ground level and cover it over. I bury frames with cross pieces, so they
can't move around like a simple post.

Just how the wiring will go with landscape, I haven't figured out yet. Probably about every other jump will
need an MC4 "extension cord", will make whatever it takes. Bruce Roe

What I do most is to design racking system and to do array layout. What I understand is just like what you said: the frame blocking sun to the the edge of the cell. From my layout experience, for a certain area portrait layout have more modules than landscape layout. So racks are relatively cheaper.

thanks,
Charlie

[utjx98]

I don't really understand that; do you mean the frame blocking sun to the edge of the cells? With 6" cells I
would expect that effect to be negligible until the sun was at such an extreme angle as to be greatly reduced
in intensity. Before that point here, surrounding shadows would dominate.

Racking, whatever it takes to achieve results, it takes. Much easier to experiment with on the ground. I
started with concrete & 6061 aluminum, but treated wood is now being used where completely stationary
and not in direct contact with panels. The wood is far cheaper installed, and a lot easier to get rid of if plans
change later. Just saw it off below ground level and cover it over. I bury frames with cross pieces, so they
can't move around like a simple post.

Just how the wiring will go with landscape, I haven't figured out yet. Probably about every other jump will
need an MC4 "extension cord", will make whatever it takes. Bruce Roe

For harnessing, I think the wire can be fastened onto the frame by some little clips. What do you think?

Charlie

[emartin00]

Just how the wiring will go with landscape, I haven't figured out yet. Probably about every other jump will
need an MC4 "extension cord", will make whatever it takes. Bruce Roe

The wires on the modules are designed to be long enough to mount in landscape orientation without the need for extensions.

[bcroe]

The wires on the modules are designed to be long enough to mount in landscape
orientation without the need for extensions.

Generally they should reach. With all the different types of panels I have, and the arrangement of panels in a
string, no guarantee. There are certainly quite a few "extensions" out there now, not sure how many. The
panels will be grouped such that advancing shadows take out one string, then another, etc, NOT 1/3 of 3
different strings, then 2/3, etc. Whatever extensions are needed will be built.

There are some other considerations as well. For example there is a string facing east, and a string facing
west, feeding an inverter through their own fuses. Since there is no time both will have significant output
simultaneously, and the run is a couple hundred feet, the returns are T'd together to share a single wire.

Bruce Roe

[bcroe]

For harnessing, I think the wire can be fastened onto the frame by some little clips. What do you think?

Charlie

When the 10 gauge wires from multiple strings pile up, I like to use plastic cable duct with a snap on cover. Bruce Roe

[utjx98]

Generally they should reach. With all the different types of panels I have, and the arrangement of panels in a
string, no guarantee. There are certainly quite a few "extensions" out there now, not sure how many. The
panels will be grouped such that advancing shadows take out one string, then another, etc, NOT 1/3 of 3
different strings, then 2/3, etc. Whatever extensions are needed will be built.

There are some other considerations as well. For example there is a string facing east, and a string facing
west, feeding an inverter through their own fuses. Since there is no time both will have significant output
simultaneously, and the run is a couple hundred feet, the returns are T'd together to share a single wire.

Bruce Roe

If modules in a string are not put close enough to each other. there is some concern about their efficiency.

Charlie

[Willaby]

Here's the two layouts I'm looking at. I've approved the portrait. I didn't know the racks were just one direction and the panels were stressed members between the rails. I'd thought there would be both vertical and horizontal racks so the standoffs would be roughly the same. It seems there should be a rack system that is more a framework. Then there could be less standoffs than even the portrait layout (subject to weight per, wind load, and code), but also portrait v landscape wouldn't be an issue, just a best choice.


port v land.gif