cheapest yet sturdy ground rack system for DIY.

[rockwind1]

i have a welder, chop saw, torch, tractor. is it worth it to build it yourself? or just buy ready made? any good designs out there using some red iron and angle iron?

 

[Norwasian]

i have a welder, chop saw, torch, tractor. is it worth it to build it yourself? or just buy ready made? any good designs out there using some red iron and angle iron?

When I compared costs for the traditional aluminum-rail roof-mounting system against the cost of a DIY welded-from-galvanized-rectangle-tubing system, the DIY option was about half the price, materials-wise. If one's time is valuable, the aluminum has its advantages. If one's money is more precious than time, and one has the ability and tools to DIY, DIY is the obvious option on account of the higher costs of aluminum.

We had to custom design the rack to fit our situation, and it does take a bit of work and may appear less elegant in the end than the pre-made rail system. One thing to keep in mind is that aluminum won't rust. Even galvanized steel will rust, especially at the welds--so it will require paint.

 

[Justacafe]

Depending on how many panels you're talking about and whether it's ground mount or roof, I found this one exactly fits my needs for ground application. And it's expandable. The price is only $160 and they even include extra parts. I needed a bracket system for 4 panels, and this was perfect. Let me know if you want a link.