Solar panel ground instllation.

I am finally getting ready to setup my small array (8 100w renergy panels) These are going to be used really as something to fool with. They are going into my shop and I already have an inverter and some batteries. I already know they will run the lights for quite some time, and things like a saw or grinder with short term use. I have tested this recharging the battery bank from the "wall". It is all hooked into a manual transfer switch, all that is done. This is just "where to put the panels"

I don't want them on the roof, for starters it is a metal pole barn and the side walls are 24'tall, and it only goes up from there. I don't want to get up there to do it, and I don't want to climb on that slippery metal, plus this time of year it is already hot as hell. So on the ground it will be.

I am thinking of right flat on the ground, I made up something to hold the panels out of angle iron, and I think it will work just fine. But on the ground where more things can hit them is my worry.

I can put it flat on the ground and use whatever to secure this entire structure to the ground......or should I mount it on a pole, say 3-4' off the ground, so there is less chance of hitting it with rocks tossed by a mower, or damage from a weed wacker?

Or am I over thinking it. I figure on having it fairly low would aid in cleaning them, plus it would be more easy to adjust the angle for season changes.

Thoughts?

If you live in a snow area, a few feet off the ground is good to give a place for the snow to pile up.

Also, consider bifacial panels. A few feet off the ground helps there too

DIYrich said:

If you live in a snow area, a few feet off the ground is good to give a place for the snow to pile up.

Also, consider bifacial panels. A few feet off the ground helps there too

Click to expand...

It snows from time to time, but it has been a few years for the last "big" snow. I am more worried about rocks from the gravel driveway.