diy solar

diy solar

First time mounting (solar panels)

JustPractical

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Aug 31, 2021
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Picking up some used solar panels. Guy apparently has a company that does "rip offs". I ask him if he also has any rails for sale. He says, "no one really uses rails anymore - that's old school". I had plans of using Ironridge XR100 rails on top of Quickbolt supports. It is an asphalt shingle roof, and I will be doing the installation myself. Is railless the way to go? Looking for racking/railing recommendations.
 
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Rip offs? Is that removal of systems from peoples roofs that leased the system and no longer want them, or defaulted on their payments?
 
Rip offs? Is that removal of systems from peoples roofs that leased the system and no longer want them, or defaulted on their payments?
Almost all the solar around here is grid tie, so I assume it's a new owner of the home not wanting the solar. Seller *said* "these are 7-8 months old" and I said, "who gets solar and then removes it less than a year later? Let's just agree that they are probably a few years old..."
 
A solar lease is just that a lease. The company owns the panels until the lease is paid off. About a dozen years or so. The new owner would have to pickup the lease or return them to the leasing company. Now someone could have purchased the panels and they came with the house. Lets hope the solar company don't come knocking on your door. If they do, they need to get square with the person who sold them to you.
Anyway just make sure your panels will fit the racking. Some racking is universal for any solar panels and some is not!
 
My concern was that racks/rails were no longer the "good" way to install panels. Opions? Also, I would think lower to the roof is better (less chances of animals making it a home). I understand heat buildup is a concern, but where Iive it is only really HOT for 6 weeks at most.
 
I used iron ridge 1000 on my cabin 4 26’ rails .
The panels go up easy .
 
Planning on using the Iron Ridge 100 rails this coming spring to mount a total of 12 Panasonic HIT Panels (about 4kw), I had planned to do so this fall, until I noticed steel prices. A 10' piece of 2" heavy wall threaded conduit is about $100.00 a piece now, doubled from last year. The panels will rest in the basement until then. Hopefully prices will fall by then...
 
Good luck with that hope, don’t think steel is the new lumbar of 2022.
 
I love Iron Ridge setup but the price for 3” schedule 40 steel is $375 for one 21 foot pipe
 
Good luck with that hope, don’t think steel is the new lumbar of 2022.
Ore is dropping fast, demand overseas is in the toilet with the building boom having turned down. At some point it will go back up but for now it most likely will drop in the near future, deflationary pressure and oversupply.
 
Back in 2017 when I put my solar system in (Iron Ridge), I paid $5.25/foot for 3 inch sch40 hot dipped galvanized pipe.

Got a quote a week ago for the same pipe $16.20 /foot
 
@JustPractical then what is this "new school" he is referring to?

I just bought a small truck load of Prosolar Rails and Clamps. Going to secure them to metal roof with S5 versabracket 47s
 
i have $2K of ironridge sitting on my trailer right now. Still trying to track down 3" tube for it.
I have some time to round up some 6" Sch80 black 20 feet long for my MT Top of Pole mounts. That's 1142 lbs, I need to call my iron buddies tomorrow on price and availability. But I have until spring, winter is coming here.
Back in 2017 when I put my solar system in (Iron Ridge), I paid $5.25/foot for 3 inch sch40 hot dipped galvanized pipe.

Got a quote a week ago for the same pipe $16.20 /foot
That's $2.14/lb. I'd be happy with 1/2 that.
 
I wouldn’t consider not using a racking system. I have used Tanarack but not on a shingle roof. If not what is the alternative Z brackets? If so how would you probably seal that? How much debris would build up at the top and under neath holding moisture and shorting the life of the roof. Trapping heat. Just thinking out loud. Guy probably didn’t want you to think that there would be a lot of additional cost and back out.
 
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