Possibly dumb questions from a newbie

These questions may seem dumb but to the new kid on the block they are important.

I live in Arkansas in a fairly remote area in a state with low population and no apparent solar industry to speak of. Of importance is that in my area there is lots of sedimentary rock and often little if any actual topsoil. Because of the rock issues and high cost of drilling/excavating solid rock, a ground mount system has been selected.

I believe that I understand the technical aspects and system design issues with solar installations. In fact, I have one on a boat dock that seems to work well and now I want to add solar to my home.

Question #1
I am looking a list of vendors who sell this equipment. I have picked up a small number by Google searches but a more comprehensive list of vendors who ship product would be appreciated. This could evolve to a sticky for this site.
Question #2
America has about 380 million people, the rest of the world almost 7.5 billion. There are many manufactures of solar panel products and a smaller number of manufacturers of the electronics.
Solar power seems to be a burgeoning industry and there are probably many manufacturers who serve areas other than America.

Shopping for solar panels and related equipment seems fraught with exaggerated claims and various products all claiming to be ‘better’. Low price certainly is not everything; low quality is always to be avoided. On top of that there is the issue of availability for replacement parts.

Does anyone care to offer views about the brands that are actually recognized as ‘better’. I understand that this is like picking the cutest baby – nobody wants to offer an opinion for fear of criticism.

If you choose, PM me to avoid public exposure.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Where exactly do you live? (I live south of Fort Smith) You mentioned ground mount. Ground mounts are normally on posts that are in the ground in concrete. One guy a few miles away has a rock outcropping right where his panels are. They chipped/drilled down into the rock a few inches and then case a cylinder about 24" high and 30" in diameter for each post. You do what you have to do. I know my hillside well and I found a spot where the rock is 4 or 5 feet underground, so was about to dig holes about 42" without too much trouble.

You can buy from on line stores like Alt-E, Renvu, Signature Solar, and many others. AltE has lots of videos that can help you learn.

Also, are you planning an off grid system or a grid tied system? "better brands" are often specific to a given product usage.

In answer to DThames -- the contractor consensus regarding posts and traditional racks was fairly expensive. I have located a firm called PowerField Energy that sells a system that sits on the ground and is filled with ballast. Costs are less than a traditional system and installation is fairly easy.

The system as currently planned is a grid tied system.

Bains said:

In answer to DThames -- the contractor consensus regarding posts and traditional racks was fairly expensive. I have located a firm called PowerField Energy that sells a system that sits on the ground and is filled with ballast. Costs are less than a traditional system and installation is fairly easy.

The system as currently planned is a grid tied system.

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Those ballast anchored mounts are used on flat roofs, I believe. So your planning to have someone sell to you and install your system?

Most ballast systems are for flat roofs. Look at their web site -- sort of interesting approach and definitely not for flat roofs.

I am still gathering my bill of materials. I believe I will have to install it myself but hopefully I can get a local electrician to install the grid tie stuff. Unfortunately the closest electrician with experience in this matter is over 100 miles away. Be a lot easer in the permitting department.

Bains said:

Most ballast systems are for flat roofs. Look at their web site -- sort of interesting approach and definitely not for flat roofs.

I am still gathering my bill of materials. I believe I will have to install it myself but hopefully I can get a local electrician to install the grid tie stuff. Unfortunately the closest electrician with experience in this matter is over 100 miles away. Be a lot easer in the permitting department.

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Are you planning to have an off grid capacity if the grid power is off?

I had no permits, just the electric coop wanted to make sure the disconnect worked. It does need to met the national electric code, but no permits is great.

DThames said:

Those ballast anchored mounts are used on flat roofs, I believe. So your planning to have someone sell to you and install your system?

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I didn't means those type specifically. I just meant in general ballasted mounts are where you can't effectively anchor by mechanical means....like on flat roofs. I looked at their video.....interesting approach. Do they have different angles you can pick from?

I am certainly no expert on their product. That said it takes two ballast/rack items for a typical solar panel. Each ballast/rack can contain 500# of material -- 1000# per panel which would certainly anchor it properly. Each ballast/panel has drainage holes and two anchor holes that can be used to drive in rebar to ensure it does not start to slip.

Regarding adjusting the angle, my view is that the installer could cant the rack/ballast during the installation if the soil could be removed and angle adjustment was important.

The compelling factor for me was that installation can be done by average skilled individuals, no special drilling required, no concrete pads and need for leveling/alignment, etc. Balast material can be obtained locally at the site if desired without hauling and then traversing the worksite with heavy equipment, etc. The material cost was less than several bids from different suppliers for traditional racking.

Once again, I am looking for recommendations/opinions regarding brands of panels for the intended use of a grid connection.

Bains said:

Question #2...Does anyone care to offer views about [which solar panel] brands ... are ... ‘better’.

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You might enjoy: Comparing Solar Panels

Solar panels are in a constant state of design improvement. If you have plenty of space (like not restricted to an X sized roof) a cheaper or older designed panel will provide good service just like an expensive one would. I have purchased from SanTan Solar (who carry new, used, and old stock type of panel deals. What they offer changes as they find new deals and deplete inventory.

Just another video.

svetz said:

You might enjoy: Comparing Solar Panels

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Excellent resource. Should be a site sticky in my view.
Thank you.

My region is quite rocky, formerly mountains until the last glaciers mowed them down so there is also a lot of glacial rubble & deposits.
There are a LOT of solar installs, both small & huge around here. Most are Ground Mounted using piers/piles. On some areas where it is too rocky and the bedrock is at or near the surface, they will drill Anchor Holes & insert Stainless Steel Pins and then pour a concrete block onto that (these racks move, so that's why the insane anchoring). Ballasted Ground Mounts using Concrete Ballasts is also not uncommon around here and where it can work, Screw Piles are quite commonly used as well.

DThames said:

Just another video.

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Thanks -- exposed a variety of issues that I sensed were there.

Bains said:

I am certainly no expert on their product. That said it takes two ballast/rack items for a typical solar panel. Each ballast/rack can contain 500# of material -- 1000# per panel which would certainly anchor it properly. Each ballast/panel has drainage holes and two anchor holes that can be used to drive in rebar to ensure it does not start to slip.

Regarding adjusting the angle, my view is that the installer could cant the rack/ballast during the installation if the soil could be removed and angle adjustment was important.

The compelling factor for me was that installation can be done by average skilled individuals, no special drilling required, no concrete pads and need for leveling/alignment, etc. Balast material can be obtained locally at the site if desired without hauling and then traversing the worksite with heavy equipment, etc. The material cost was less than several bids from different suppliers for traditional racking.

Once again, I am looking for recommendations/opinions regarding brands of panels for the intended use of a grid connection.

Click to expand...

Bains said:

Thanks -- exposed a variety of issues that I sensed were there.

Click to expand...

Keep in mind that any panel's output drops when it gets hot. He was testing in heat that would make most panels fall below rating.

Bains said:

I am certainly no expert on their product. That said it takes two ballast/rack items for a typical solar panel. Each ballast/rack can contain 500# of material -- 1000# per panel which would certainly anchor it properly. Each ballast/panel has drainage holes and two anchor holes that can be used to drive in rebar to ensure it does not start to slip.

Regarding adjusting the angle, my view is that the installer could cant the rack/ballast during the installation if the soil could be removed and angle adjustment was important.

The compelling factor for me was that installation can be done by average skilled individuals, no special drilling required, no concrete pads and need for leveling/alignment, etc. Balast material can be obtained locally at the site if desired without hauling and then traversing the worksite with heavy equipment, etc. The material cost was less than several bids from different suppliers for traditional racking.

Once again, I am looking for recommendations/opinions regarding brands of panels for the intended use of a grid connection.

Click to expand...

Not trying to sell you on digging holes but I did it by hand at age 61. This video shows a way to reduced the issues with trying to get your posts set level and straight. I put 16 large panels on a mount with 6 posts, that is plenty strong. Some steel frame ballast systems allow for more than one row of panels, if more than one row is a concern, to reduce total ground space.

Bains said:

Excellent resource. Should be a site sticky in my view.
Thank you.

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Your welcome, everything in the Frequently Asked Questions forum is essentially stickied.

Bains said:

In answer to DThames -- the contractor consensus regarding posts and traditional racks was fairly expensive. I have located a firm called PowerField Energy that sells a system that sits on the ground and is filled with ballast. Costs are less than a traditional system and installation is fairly easy.

The system as currently planned is a grid tied system.

Click to expand...

Hello @Bains Did you go with the PowerField Energy system? If so, has it worked out for you?

I am insterested in this system to install panels on a flat floor on a home in the Dominican Republic.

Their web site is: https://www.powerfieldenergy.com/

I live North of Russellville. I have a DIY grid tied system on Entergy of Arkansas. I have a 25 year 1 to 1 contract. I have a Schneider XW6848 and two of their solar charge controllers. I purchased panels, batteries, and Schneider gear from Northern Arizona wind and Sun. Great company. I got it all on one invoice and claimed it on taxes for my 30%. I have a DIY ground mount. I have a Electrician friend from Russellville that also did his own grid tied. He may be willing to come to You. I have rock but not slab rock. I am on the Fayetteville Shale so 2 to 10 deep everywhere. The deer you go the harder it gets. Also I know a solar installer in Russellville. They may sell you equipment.