Ground Mounts with Solar Ridge - Replace Galvanized Pipe with Wood

Ellis Redding · Mar 11, 2022

Would like to use Iron Ridge designs that the website creates to develop some ground mount plans.
The issue is that they always use galvanized steel pipe, which as far as I can tell, doesn't exist.
And / or 3" diameter pipe is $9 / a foot and I need 220 feet. For that I can build a whole shed with a roof and just hook it on the roof....

Basically want to know if there's someone who's intentionally replaced 2" and 3" galvanized pipe with wood using design loads.

MurphyGuy · Mar 11, 2022

Our 11kw array uses 3 inch pipe with the iron ridge system..

You could use 2 inch pipe which is far more common. Most hardware stores won't carry the 3 inch stuff but you can call piping supply places and find it easily enough. Back in 2017, I paid $5.50 a foot.. Now its at $18.

Funny Story: I just finished building a solar array for a friend out of 3 inch stainless steel pipe. The scrap yard had it and it was cheaper than new galvanized pipe or wood.. Strange times we live in.

You could use pressure treated lumber, but you'll need a lot more of it.

I'm designing another system right now for a guy who gets those 275 Gallon IBC totes for free. We plan to fill them with crushed concrete for weight and mount six solar panels to each one using the cage.

Texican · Mar 11, 2022

im putting up 2 arrays 6kw each using irinridge and 3 inch pipe
I found a guy near Ennis TX about 80 miles from me , he sells used oil pipe mainly 2 3/8 and 2 7/8 but he has some 3 inch ( 3 1/2 OD)
I got about 220 ft all cut to me specs and loaded on my trailer for $1000 total
the steel yard quoted me 13.48 a foot OMG
glad I found the guy

schmism · Mar 12, 2022

aaron.rowan said:
Would like to use Iron Ridge designs that the website creates to develop some ground mount plans.
The issue is that they always use galvanized steel pipe, which as far as I can tell, doesn't exist.
And / or 3" diameter pipe is $9 / a foot and I need 220 feet. For that I can build a whole shed with a roof and just hook it on the roof....

Basically want to know if there's someone who's intentionally replaced 2" and 3" galvanized pipe with wood using design loads.

The reason I had to go to Iron ridge vs my DIY wood rack was building requirements (permits) by the county. So incase that is something you know for sure (that you dont need) then your going to have to stay with the ironridge specs.

MichaelK · Mar 12, 2022

I built my arrays with standard unistruts, which would be far cheaper. Would that work for you? They are galvanized, so I painted the frames to prevent galvantic corrosion.

OzSolar · Mar 12, 2022

aaron.rowan said:
Would like to use Iron Ridge designs that the website creates to develop some ground mount plans.
The issue is that they always use galvanized steel pipe, which as far as I can tell, doesn't exist.
And / or 3" diameter pipe is $9 / a foot and I need 220 feet. For that I can build a whole shed with a roof and just hook it on the roof....

Basically want to know if there's someone who's intentionally replaced 2" and 3" galvanized pipe with wood using design loads.

I've seen a few arrays made out of wood and it was kind of spooky how twisted up they were in a just few years. I feared for the safety of the panels. Keep in mind you're installing something with a 30+ year life.

Some folks are better off to build a shed to mount the panels on and then you'd have a shed as well! There's a few guys around here that put up prefab metal two car carports up for not much money. I contacted the manufacturer of the kit and they were OK with the weight I would be adding the roof.

I've got a 13kW project I'm looking at right now. I'm comparing IronRidge to
https://www.readyracksolar.com/#home
to
https://www.t3solar.com/#dm -

edit to fix typos

Ellis Redding · Mar 12, 2022

OzSolar said:
I've seen a few arrays made out of wood and it was kind spooky how twisted up they were in a just few years. I feared for the safety of the panels. Keep in mind your installing something with a 30 year life.

Actually very will might be better off to build a shed and then you'd have a shed as well! There's a few guys around here that put those prefab metal two car carports up for not much money. I contacted the manufacturer of the kit and they we OK with the load I would be adding. Honestly I seemed a little sketch and then ended up going a different route because I needed more solar than carport would fit.

I've got a 13kW project I'm looking at right now. I'm comparing IronRidge to
https://www.readyracksolar.com/#home
to
https://www.t3solar.com/#dm -

These solutions are so much nicer than Iron Ridge. I'm not sure what the prices are, but simply not having to source galvanized pipe sounds great.

Ellis Redding · Mar 12, 2022

MichaelK said:
I built my arrays with standard unistruts, which would be far cheaper. Would that work for you? They are galvanized, so I painted the frames to prevent galvantic corrosion.

I'm not sure they would be cheaper, really. Unistrut isn't free. Now, I think coming up with a way to combine them with IBC tanks might work out great.

OzSolar · Mar 12, 2022

aaron.rowan said:
These solutions are so much nicer than Iron Ridge. I'm not sure what the prices are, but simply not having to source galvanized pipe sounds great.

I'm in the middle of comparing them. When I get done I'll let you know. What are IBC tanks?

Ellis Redding · Mar 12, 2022

OzSolar said:
I'm in the middle of comparing them. When I get done I'll let you know. What are IBC tanks?

275 Gallons at 8# / Gallon = 2200 lbs of ballast

You can get these used all over the place for like 75$
Just make sure you put bleach in there or you'll get a ton of algae.

The Dish Doc · Mar 12, 2022

MichaelK said:
I built my arrays with standard unistruts, which would be far cheaper. Would that work for you? They are galvanized, so I painted the frames to prevent galvantic corrosion.

Nice rack

Do you have a pic with the panels mounted? I'm trying to get 4-275W and 12-100W panels mounted on some sort of affordable ground mount.

WYtreasure · Mar 12, 2022

Chain link fence posts and top rail is galvanized, unless they started making it out of something else last week.

The Dish Doc · Mar 12, 2022

MurphyGuy said:
Our 11kw array uses 3 inch pipe with the iron ridge system..

You could use 2 inch pipe which is far more common. Most hardware stores won't carry the 3 inch stuff but you can call piping supply places and find it easily enough. Back in 2017, I paid $5.50 a foot.. Now its at $18.

Funny Story: I just finished building a solar array for a friend out of 3 inch stainless steel pipe. The scrap yard had it and it was cheaper than new galvanized pipe or wood.. Strange times we live in.

You could use pressure treated lumber, but you'll need a lot more of it.

I'm designing another system right now for a guy who gets those 275 Gallon IBC totes for free. We plan to fill them with crushed concrete for weight and mount six solar panels to each one using the cage.

Great idea. I'd love to see some pictures of that when you get it built.

RV10flyer · Mar 12, 2022

I have a 20.6 kw on 48 pt 4x4 posts, 34 unistrut, lots of 2x4 pt bracing. It has withstood 8" snow and 50 mph wind.

WYtreasure · Mar 13, 2022

Wood can last a long time without warping and twisting. Proper bracing and some primer/paint will help keep things straight.
There are a bunch of houses and other structures made out of wood that don't warp or twist.

Oilfield pipe is awesome stuff to re-purpose. Sometimes it's treated with old oil in the inside which helps prevent rust. Again a bit of primer/paint goes a long way. Galvanizing pipe is simply a time & sometimes cost saving technique.

Do you have more money or time?
Are you in a wet or dry climate?

MichaelK · Mar 13, 2022

The Dish Doc said:
Nice rack Do you have a pic with the panels mounted? I'm trying to get 4-275W and 12-100W panels mounted on some sort of affordable ground mount.

Here you go. I went with four in portrait because I'm sort of commited to 120VDC. But, six will fit in landscape. Here are also some pics of my V1.4 single-row array frames.

Prefersdirt · Mar 14, 2022

MurphyGuy said:
I'm designing another system right now for a guy who gets those 275 Gallon IBC totes for free. We plan to fill them with crushed concrete for weight and mount six solar panels to each one using the cage.

Side note: I would love to see this. I can get these non food grade ones for free as well. Be nice to go this route.

JAS · Mar 22, 2022

MurphyGuy said:
I'm designing another system right now for a guy who gets those 275 Gallon IBC totes for free. We plan to fill them with crushed concrete for weight and mount six solar panels to each one using the cage.

Thinking about doing the same thing. Although, just filling with water and only attaching (2) 350W panels. Would love to see pictures or plans of your design?

callmeburton · Jun 16, 2022

The IBC build ever happen? Curious to see what you came up with.

MurphyGuy said:
I'm designing another system right now for a guy who gets those 275 Gallon IBC totes for free. We plan to fill them with crushed concrete for weight and mount six solar panels to each one using the cage.

Wet1 · Jun 16, 2022

OzSolar said:
I've got a 13kW project I'm looking at right now. I'm comparing IronRidge to
https://www.readyracksolar.com/#home
to
https://www.t3solar.com/#dm -

Wood would not be my first choice given the relatively poor PT used these days.

I see how the first option/link obviously anchors, but how does the second (T3) system anchor? Did I miss something on their site, or are they assuming just the wider footprint is enough (sounds sketchy if so)?

I have no idea of the cost of the first (RRS) system, but it looks like a nice and easy solution.

Rennit · Jun 16, 2022

Old thread here but I guess we're reviving it.

OP I went through the same thing you did. You don't HAVE to use galvanized pipe, you can go regular pipe and save nearly half the cost or even check into square tubing instead of pipe. It's a little cheaper.
I ended up buying a complete ground mount kit from ReadyRackSolar. It was the ground screw type ground mount but comes with everything you need for ground mount minus the actual solar panels. Here in oklahoma it has already withstood 70-80MPH winds no problem. It's rated for 110 mph wind.

Ground Mounts with Solar Ridge - Replace Galvanized Pipe with Wood

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