Hiding Aluminum Frames

[heimdm]

My modules (LG405N2T) have aluminum frames on them. Are there any products of techniques to cover the aluminum on the top side from an aesthetics perspective?

[bob-n]

The racking system from "PV Racking" called PV Stealth covers the edges of the panels.

https://www.pvracking.com/

[J.P.M.]

The racking system from "PV Racking" called PV Stealth covers the edges of the panels.
https://www.pvracking.com/

Without more components than are shown in their manuals, or unless I'm missing something, it looks like the tops of the panel frames are covered on 2 sides only.

If I was the OP, I'd have bought black frames.

[bob-n]

JPM is right. Their rails only cover top/bottom. From the other post, it seems that heimdm is trying to solve a water issue, not a cosmetic issue. The other post talks about using rubber between panels.

[heimdm]

Ideally yes, I would have got black frames, but it seems that it was either black frames or transparent backsheet. I have thought about get black aluminum molded in a "T" shade to put between the the panels and then use an L bracket to run through the aluminum to connect to the racking or panels. The EPDM gasket stuff seems awesome if you could fly and install it on the top side of the pergola.

[bob-n]

Have you considered black paint? It may not look perfect when you're up there with a magnifying glass, but from the ground, it will be fine.

My friend works in professional theater. He builds sets. He told me that everything is built to the "20 foot rule". If it looks good from 20 feet away, it is perfect.

[peakbagger]

Putting on black paint that lasts would be tough and would most likely void any warranties. My guess is most black frames use an anodizing technique. To get paint to stick if would probably require abrading the surface. My guess is it would look good for a few seasons and then would start peeling off in patches making it look even worse.

[J.P.M.]

Ideally yes, I would have got black frames, but it seems that it was either black frames or transparent backsheet. I have thought about get black aluminum molded in a "T" shade to put between the the panels and then use an L bracket to run through the aluminum to connect to the racking or panels. The EPDM gasket stuff seems awesome if you could fly and install it on the top side of the pergola.

Paint will fade, probably unevenly and look like racing stripes on the array regardless of viewing distance, even before it starts to peel/flake off, which it will (the black surface of a good thermal conducting material sitting in what will be direct sun for 4300 hrs./yr. better have more than abrasion and some flat black barbeque grill paint. Been there, done that. Long, boring story.

While not exhaustive and not much better than anecdotal, my experience w/ EPDM is that it doesn't deliver on the promises or expectations with respect to non shrinkage/color fading/embrittlement in roof applications after a couple years of experiment. Black EPDM samples faded noticeably and somewhat unevenly on my roof after ~ 3 yrs, and were starting to get pretty hard and losing elasticity compared to a control sample in my garage. That was ~ 5 yrs. ago when I was thinking about "de-gapping" my array.

You might find black anodized aluminum T material, but as noted by Peakbagger, attaching it to the panel frames might lead to warranty problems, particularly if screws to the panel frames are involved. Other fixation methods are probably possible but then there are the aesthetics of nuts/bolts/loose ends/etc. to consider. I gave up looking for "T" material after thinking about whether or not it was worth the hassle of the logistics to do all this stuff in the first place, but opinions vary. I could have figured out a way to get the T material to locations at the array interior locations. To whit: Either the vertical or horizontal T's could be one piece all the way across the array, but not both. Not an impossible task, just a bit of a PITA for a roof array. Even though I can get under my array, I'd still need to attach the "T" material to the panel frames as the panel gaps don't line up with the racking.

[heimdm]

Great feedback J.P.M. I did see that "solar rainframe" makes a racking system with built in gutters, which could be interesting. The aluminum frames on my modules is pretty thin.