Flat roof mount ideas

tonyg · Apr 13, 2022

Hello DIY-ers!

My project requires mounting some of the panels on a flat roof. The winds in this location are tremendous sometimes, so I'll have to be careful how I mount them.

The panels are relatively heavy at 21kg, and medium to large in size with 1.7m by 1.1m (Trina Vertex S 400w).

I'm thinking of building my own mounting system to be fair. Any ideas or projects that you could share with me please?

Thank you in advance.

Don B. Cilly · Apr 13, 2022

This is how I have mine. No wind issues.

35° roof. If yours is flat, and you'd like some tilt, maybe you can get some ideas from this.
What I really like about that setup is the "ripcord" part. High wind, flat panels. In a second :·)
Or just compensate for non-optimal angle by adding more panels. Probably cheaper than an extra-strong mount, and worry-free.
-

timselectric · Apr 13, 2022

Agreed
Keep flat and over panel.
Imo

MichaelK · Apr 13, 2022

I built a triangular shaped array frame out of unistruts to hold four grid-tie panels (1000). I then bolted perpendicular unistrut bases to my flatish workshop roof. The unistrut frame then got bolted the the unistrut bases.

HARG Hunter · May 25, 2022

MichaelK said:
I built a triangular shaped array frame out of unistruts to hold four grid-tie panels (1000). I then bolted perpendicular unistrut bases to my flatish workshop roof. The unistrut frame then got bolted the the unistrut bases.

Any photos? Looking to do the same for my house.
Need to #1 get them off the house a little to let them breath and #2 need to build in an angle for optimum panel angle.

Shimmy · May 25, 2022

Just use one of the manufactured ballasted bases. I doubt you will be able to something much cheaper. Some of them will help you with design for your system with how much ballast you need at each location for the wind condition.

tomy2 · May 25, 2022

Shimmy said:
Just use one of the manufactured ballasted bases. I doubt you will be able to something much cheaper. Some of them will help you with design for your system with how much ballast you need at each location for the wind condition.

eco worthy on ebay sales a four panel tilted ( about 30 degrees) mount for $138. The legs and mounting brackets are heavy duty metal. It could be easily modified to hold six panels. It uses the same crossbar material that they sell at HD.

tonyg · May 25, 2022

tomy2 said:
eco worthy on ebay sales a four panel tilted ( about 30 degrees) mount for $165. The legs and mounting brackets are heavy duty metal. It could be easily modified to hold six possibly 8 panels. It uses the same crossbar material that they sell at HD.

Do you have a link for this? Curious to see how that looks like...

Dynoman · May 25, 2022

I use these for my 320 Watt Panels. Been using the mounts for 2 years now with no problems. I set low angle for summer & high angle for winter (better production & helps keep the snow off)

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SS1CDZH

tomy2 · May 26, 2022

tonyg said:
Do you have a link for this? Curious to see how that looks like...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275025686292?epid=1364764573&hash=item4008ceef14:g:~kQAAOSwUIRfaa5N The only problem with it is that the bar between the legs is only 41" long. If you replaced it with a five foot or more bar, you could change the angle. the way it is your stuck with a 30 degree angle. if your wind is tremendous, I wouldn't advise going over 15 degrees.

WYtreasure · May 26, 2022

tonyg said:
Hello DIY-ers!

My project requires mounting some of the panels on a flat roof. The winds in this location are tremendous sometimes, so I'll have to be careful how I mount them.

The panels are relatively heavy at 21kg, and medium to large in size with 1.7m by 1.1m (Trina Vertex S 400w).

I'm thinking of building my own mounting system to be fair. Any ideas or projects that you could share with me please?

Thank you in advance.

I live in big wind country and have found "disrupting low level winds" to be very helpful with anything I leave outside.
Inexpensive snow fence, also know as a construction barrier, works wonders. All you need to do is cause some turbulence and most loose stuff stays put. Your mileage may vary. Pictures of your roof from the ground and the roof would help.

tomy2 · May 26, 2022

WYtreasure said:
I live in big wind country and have found "disrupting low level winds" to be very helpful with anything I leave outside.
Inexpensive snow fence, also know as a construction barrier, works wonders. All you need to do is cause some turbulence and most loose stuff stays put. Your mileage may vary. Pictures of your roof from the ground and the roof would help.

I checked my phone, no pictures. I'll get one today

tonyg · May 26, 2022

WYtreasure said:
I live in big wind country and have found "disrupting low level winds" to be very helpful with anything I leave outside.
Inexpensive snow fence, also know as a construction barrier, works wonders. All you need to do is cause some turbulence and most loose stuff stays put. Your mileage may vary. Pictures of your roof from the ground and the roof would help.

Quite interesting that a snow fence would help so much.... Haven't thought of it...

schmism · May 26, 2022

Ballasted flat roof mounts are fairly typical.

What's up with solar ballast?

Ballast is a common alternative used on solar installations unable to penetrate the roof or the ground. Here's what you need to know about solar ballast.

www.solarpowerworldonline.com

WYtreasure · May 26, 2022

?
Here's a link to the parts & pieces of my wind disruption fence.

fifth wheel trailer solar project, panels hanging out over side a bit?

i've got a choice between 39" wide panels or 41" wide panels, my working area is between 36" and 39",, so the panels may stick over the sides of roof a couple inches. has anyone done this with fine results,, doesn't seem like a big deal to me. it seems like mostly sprinter vans on this...

diysolarforum.com

BradCagle · May 26, 2022

Ballast. I use unistrut suspended off my flat roof with 2x6x6 blocks every 5 feet. Between every 5 panels I have a space with sand bags across the unistrut.

Here it is before I added the sandbags

tonyg · May 26, 2022

I don't think the roof of my garage would take all the panels and ballast if I were to do it that way... It would collapse

BradCagle · May 26, 2022

tonyg said:
I don't think the roof of my garage would take all the panels and ballast if I were to do it that way... It would collapse

If you cant do the ballast, then you could drive lag bolts through the unistrut into the rafters. But I would lather MasterSeal NP1 between the blocks, and over the top of the lag bolts.

eXodus · Jun 27, 2022

tonyg said:
I don't think the roof of my garage would take all the panels and ballast if I were to do it that way... It would collapse

similar thought. I was thinking about just bolting the Unistrut through the roof surface.

Just need to seal those penetrations really good. Otherwise, it's a garage I'm not as concerned about water infiltration.

T-486 Ashepoo · Jun 27, 2022

I have 20 panels on my patio using the ballasted Ecolibium solar system. This system has a wind deflector on the high side of the mount. I live in south Louisiana, and these have been up since 2017 and been through many storms and hurricane Ida. I am only using ballast, but this system can also be bolted to the roof for added security.

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