Mounting structures

Soulbringer
Soulbringer Registered Users Posts: 17 ✭
in Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum #1
Hello guys,

I want to request everybody who can share pics or links with mounting structures from their own PV sytems (ground-mounted especially). Thank you.
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Mounting structures

    Here's a link to a fixed, ground mount rack: (not mine)
    http://www.mike-land.com/Solar_Power/Solar_Installation/solar_installation.html
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • Soulbringer
    Soulbringer Registered Users Posts: 17 ✭
    #3
    Re: Mounting structures

    Thanks Mike :-). It`s really very helpful.
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  • Lefty Wright
    Lefty Wright Solar Expert Posts: 111 ✭✭
    #4
    Re: Mounting structures

    This is a three legged tower.

    The legs are each made of two 16 foot long 2x8's screwed together at a 60 degree angle. The X bracing is made of 2X4's.

    I will modify the top this spring to hold more panels.

    The reason it's so high is because of the amount of snow we get here. Folks who mount their panels close to the ground get them broken by the snow.

    <a href="http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k77/chipotle_01/?action=view&current=tower_4316.jpg&quot; target="_blank"><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k77/chipotle_01/tower_4316.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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  • Lefty Wright
    Lefty Wright Solar Expert Posts: 111 ✭✭
    #5
    Re: Mounting structures

    Sorry about my previous post. I was trying to post a photo but nothing I did worked. I also cant find a way to delete it.

    I'm afraid I'm not computer competent enough for this site.
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  • Wattsup
    Wattsup Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭
    #6
    Re: Mounting structures

    Hi Lefty Wright
    Here is your picture



    http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k77/chipotle_01/?action=view&current=tower_4316.jpg

    Mark...
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Mounting structures

    leftyr,
    don't worry about being any kind of computer expert here as i'm not great with them either, but you can always ask if somebody knows what to do or can help. what windfarm was that and where?
    ps. thank you and welcome wattsup.
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  • Wattsup
    Wattsup Registered Users Posts: 6 ✭
    #8
    Re: Mounting structures

    Hi Lefty Wright

    I see what mean by lots of snow! (like the picture of the dog with snow banks towering above him) :D


    Your Mounting structure looks very solid....



    Hi Neil

    Thanks for the Welcome,



    What a great place to learn!
    Full of very helpful folks..



    I have been learning on this forum for 3 mouths, What and how to put together a good working system before buying....


    Mark
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  • Lefty Wright
    Lefty Wright Solar Expert Posts: 111 ✭✭
    #9
    Re: Mounting structures

    Niel,

    Since you are in Pittsburgh, Pa. you may find it amusing that the wind farm I photographed is near Pittsburg (spelled without the h) California.

    It is in the delta formed by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers in Northern California. Every time I visit it seems like there are more windmills.

    The delta is an ideal location because as the San Joaqin valley heats up the wind howls through from the cold Pacific ocean.
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #10
    Re: Mounting structures

    thanks for answering my curiousity question. i have heard of pittsburg california and i think there may be one in kansas too if i remember right. i'm quite sure none of them even remotely resemble this one (and may not want to depending on one's likes and dislikes). there is a small wind farm near my general area i believe in somerset county as it catches the west winds as they first hit the hills here heading easterly. never saw as of yet.
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  • Mangas
    Mangas Solar Expert Posts: 547 ✭✭✭✭
    #11
    Re: Mounting structures

    Here's how we did ours. Treated over RR tie drilled with 5/8" rebar anchors and array wiring through conduit.
    Ranch Off Grid System & Custom Home: 2 x pair stacked Schneider XW 5548+ Plus inverters (4), 2 x Schneider MPPT 80-600 Charge Controllers, 2 Xanbus AGS Generator Start and Air Extraction System Controllers, 64 Trojan L16 REB 6v 375 AH Flooded Cel Batteries w/Water Miser Caps, 44 x 185 Sharp Solar Panels, Cummins Onan RS20 KW Propane Water Cooled Genset, ICF Custom House Construction, all appliances, Central A/C, 2 x High Efficiency Variable Speed three ton Central A/C 220v compressors, 2 x Propane furnaces, 2 x Variable Speed Air Handlers, 2 x HD WiFi HVAC Zoned System Controllers
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  • Solar Guppy
    Solar Guppy Solar Expert Posts: 1,989 ✭✭✭
    #12
    Re: Mounting structures

    Some pictures from my first ground mount system, built in 2001. used hurricane rail from lowes that were on sale for 60% off. System is still in use today and has held up thru 4 hurricanes
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  • Mangas
    Mangas Solar Expert Posts: 547 ✭✭✭✭
    #13
    Re: Mounting structures

    Guppy that's a great testamonial. Mine have held up well too but I can only claim paltry 75 mph canyon winds.

    My biggest problem is keeping the weeds out of the array field. I have to continually spray and look at my weedeater with real contempt.
    Ranch Off Grid System & Custom Home: 2 x pair stacked Schneider XW 5548+ Plus inverters (4), 2 x Schneider MPPT 80-600 Charge Controllers, 2 Xanbus AGS Generator Start and Air Extraction System Controllers, 64 Trojan L16 REB 6v 375 AH Flooded Cel Batteries w/Water Miser Caps, 44 x 185 Sharp Solar Panels, Cummins Onan RS20 KW Propane Water Cooled Genset, ICF Custom House Construction, all appliances, Central A/C, 2 x High Efficiency Variable Speed three ton Central A/C 220v compressors, 2 x Propane furnaces, 2 x Variable Speed Air Handlers, 2 x HD WiFi HVAC Zoned System Controllers
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #14
    Re: Mounting structures

    i don't have a pic of mine, but i used aluminum angle that i mortared into my home's brick wall and used stainless screws, nuts, and washers to tie it from the pv to the angles so it is a stressed mount. these homemade mounts have held up to about 70mph gusts surprisingly well.
    sg,
    i never heard the terminology of hurricane rail before. what is it more specifically? btw, the stuff i got was from lowes as well, but i seriously doubt they'll carry hurricane rail here.:confused:
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  • Solar Guppy
    Solar Guppy Solar Expert Posts: 1,989 ✭✭✭
    #15
    Re: Mounting structures

    Neil,

    It was a DIY hurricane/storm shutter system sold at lowes and in 2001, after 9 years with no hurricanes I guess lowes was dumping the stock. There are 1.5" aluminum L rails with Stainless 1/4" bolts bulit in every 6" for the corrugated panels to attach to, these rails would be tapcon top and bottom on the outside wall of the window. There is also an H channel of aluminum that the L channel is mounted into to allow all the corrugated panels to slide in and hide from the street all the bolts ( wingnuts ).

    I just looked at it as very stong aluminum rails that were 60% less that standard stock, I think for all 12 racks its was less the 1K for all the parts

    Now of course, one pays probably 6X that between inflation and retails prices for stuff ... I'm just always looking for the bargin I guess. The system is 4 season adjustable and the current owner are very happy with it
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #16
    Re: Mounting structures

    that could be why they are getting rid of it as the title implies only a specific use, but you saw it for what it was. good shopping on your part.8):D
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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #17
    Re: Mounting structures

    Did theft cross your mind when you installed ground mounted panels?
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