Hello all, I live in SW Florida, Lee County to be specific, and we have some very high wind requirements when is comes go solar mounts. After speaking with my inspector it seems that I need a mount, ground mount, that will meet a wind spec of at least 139mph and I am having a hard time finding one that works for me. I intend to have 4 strings of 8, 460w Bluesun bifacial panels. I would prefer to keep the strings no deeper/higher than one panel, either vertical or horizontal, in an effort to keep it kinda low profile so that I can surround it with a fence. I have found several companies out there that have this type of system but everyone that I have contacted only do very large commercial projects. Could you all please, PLEASE, give me some direction as to if this mount is an option? Please know that I have contacted signature solar to see if any of their mounts could be configured to meet my requirements and they do not. I also spoke with a rep from Powerfield about the Power Rack, no luck. Thanks to all who give this some consideration wether you have an answer or not.
Ground mount with high wind requirements
- Thread starter kcofhb
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TM48
Solar Wizard
Check out Ironridge . They have a excellent configuration program that goes to 160 mph. My mount was engineered for 150 mph. Your desire to stay with one panel tall will require some serious real estate. I went the other way max tall with fve panels in landscape. This minimized the number of vertical piers.
I second Ironridge. I live in a very windy area where the snowload and wind requirements have changed alot in recent years. The design program Ironridge uses has a huge database of panels and locations, letting you specify wind area specs and snow load and the exact panels you use and it will spit out a bill of materials and engineering drawings. Free! Well worth it.
They had a minimum of two rows in landscape mode for the 400 watt panels I used, so YMMV
They had a minimum of two rows in landscape mode for the 400 watt panels I used, so YMMV
doksinc
New Member
Check out SunBallast...I live near Tampa and had to install with similar wind zone requirements. And if you confine PV wire under mounts with chicken wire or mesh you won't need a perimeter fence
Gold Country Russ
Solar Enthusiast
To be effective you need a white reflective surface under your bifacial panels and ideally, they should be 42" above the ground on the front edge to optimize light reflectance. Check out Sinclair, Powers, and Opsun mounts but they are pricy.
SenileOldGit
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2022
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- 375
I used metal ground screws with scaffolding poles. At the top of each ground screw are three horizontal bolts, at 120 degree spaces, which you use to adjust the angle of the poles. My setup is rock solid, no movement of any part is possible, and can be made stronger simply by using more ground screws and poles, closer together. I added diagonal scaffolding poles between the vertical poles, to stiffen the whole structure.
I used Renusol mounting rails to mount the solar panels, and stainless steel V mounts to attach the rails to the scaffolding poles. The V mounts were from a U.K. company which sells television aerial mountings.
I used Renusol mounting rails to mount the solar panels, and stainless steel V mounts to attach the rails to the scaffolding poles. The V mounts were from a U.K. company which sells television aerial mountings.
TM48
Solar Wizard
I used a Iron Ridge design as my local code office requires 130 mph. I designed it on their website for 150 mph. It will allow for a max of 160. It's not the cheapest mount around but it is strong. Your requirement of only one panel tall is going to preclude any mount I've ever heard about. If you're serious about that start talking to an engineering firm because that's probably the only way you'll pass inspection. One panel tall also requires a lot of real estate.
Iron ridge good way to go
Is there any product with higher wind ratings than IronRidge. I keep getting this message for my cabin property in TN. I know for a fact several storms have had greater than 190mph gusts but sustained in the past 40 years of data have not been above 170mph. PoCo and AHJ are no help. Many simply have PV laying on the the ground slope of the mountain facing SE, nothing holding panels down...might be since there is a lack of guidance.
It's hard to imagine people can even live in areas with that kind of wind.
Would a shipping container blow over in 190mph winds? I've seen people mount to them in order to get around regulations in some places, since it is not a permanent structure but is super big and heavy, and maybe if you fill it with enough of your heavy junk it wouldn't move. They cost a couple thousand dollars though.
It would probably be way cheaper to use those plastic ballasted tubs though and bury them with a mound of dirt around all sides so the wind can't get under them.
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Warpspeed
Solar Wizard
140 Mph is a serious breeze 
If I were doing this (and it was practical at the site) I would consider doing some earth works to create some suitably sloping ground at the required angle, with adequate drainage provided on the low side. Then flush mount the panels directly over the solid ground underneath.
If wind cannot get underneath to create any lifting force, it should not take very much to keep them secured.
The problem of damage from flying debris is another matter, but that is going to be an issue no matter how they are mounted.
If I were doing this (and it was practical at the site) I would consider doing some earth works to create some suitably sloping ground at the required angle, with adequate drainage provided on the low side. Then flush mount the panels directly over the solid ground underneath.
If wind cannot get underneath to create any lifting force, it should not take very much to keep them secured.
The problem of damage from flying debris is another matter, but that is going to be an issue no matter how they are mounted.
jgriffin
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2021
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- 54
We're on Grand Manan Island, it's in the middle of the Bay of Fundy, closer to Maine than New Brunswick. A couple times every winter we have some gusts above 90 knots, and quite strong steady winds. I lose a couple bundles of architectural shingles every year, even tarred down in summer. Considered part of home maintenance for most.
I piped up because our local Harbour Authority had a shipping container close to the wharf, and it did indeed turn it a bit and slide it 10' from its initial location. Not sure if it was on blocking or directly on pavement.
My diy ground mount of 27 bifacial panels has a nice lean to it, definitely need to add some more corner bracing for winds coming from the East/North East. A beautiful place to live from May-Sept, Jan-March is bruuutal.
I piped up because our local Harbour Authority had a shipping container close to the wharf, and it did indeed turn it a bit and slide it 10' from its initial location. Not sure if it was on blocking or directly on pavement.
My diy ground mount of 27 bifacial panels has a nice lean to it, definitely need to add some more corner bracing for winds coming from the East/North East. A beautiful place to live from May-Sept, Jan-March is bruuutal.
Can you share your spec for it so that I can copy it or at least reproduce your design on iron ridge. I am in charlotte county., Florida and am having the same problem finding a pole mount that can met the 150 mph wind speeds set for us. I have only found the UN1-PGRM/2P1-47 that can withstand 150 mph see data’s sheet.
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TM48
Solar Wizard
The Iron Ridge is not a pole mount. At least not the style depicted in your post. This is what I built. I'd be happy to send you my config but it's designed for 1' diameter 8' deep piers so I could bore them with a one man auger. The angle of the array and your specific sub soil type plays a big role in the pier configuration.
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BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
See if iron ridge can do an acceptable plan at your wind speed they have an engineering firm you'd have to pay to put everything together on paper first
TM48
Solar Wizard
I didn't have to pay Iron Ridge anything for my plan. I printed out a very professional looking structural building plan my AHJ accepted no questions. I'm not sure what you're referring to.
BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
I thought they had an external service they work with to get an engineer to sign off on it. They probably give the plans away for free.
Fisherguy66
I never thought I'd curse at clouds so much!
What is this high wind requirement rating for? Hurricanes? We don't get hurricanes here nor have I ever been through one but I've seen the damage they can cause. They have become very accurate predicting hurricane paths within a couple days now and personally if I had a ground mount system I would be worried about the flying debris that could hit the panels and bust em. If I knew a hurricane was 100% going to hit my house I would take that 2 day warning time to remove the panels and put em in a safe place till the hurricane passes.
I get though that they require a specific rating to pass inspection but I would still protect my panels regardless for the few hours it might take to unbolt and store em. This is just my way of thinking. heh Now if you get a freak thunderstorm with shear winds over 139mph your prob screwed
I get though that they require a specific rating to pass inspection but I would still protect my panels regardless for the few hours it might take to unbolt and store em. This is just my way of thinking. heh Now if you get a freak thunderstorm with shear winds over 139mph your prob screwed
BarracudaBob
Harvesting free photons from clean fusion
That is the beauty of a ground mount. I survived a CAT 1, close tornado, and hail storm with no issues. A Cat 3 would probably motivate me to take the panels off.
TM48
Solar Wizard
There is no way I'm removing 35 panels. That is more work than you might imagine. This is why I pay for insurance.
Fisherguy66
I never thought I'd curse at clouds so much!
Yea a Cat 1 you would prob be pretty safe as long as there's not alot of debris flyin around. Direct tornado hit I doubt you stand a chance. Large hail is just nasty unless you could tilt em 180deg vertical. We had a hail storm here back in the late 80's that left dimple dents all over the surface of my 71 Mustang and those were solid built metal back in the day. They were slightly larger than golf ball size.
Fisherguy66
I never thought I'd curse at clouds so much!
I hear ya about the labor involved but thats just me, that wouldn't bother me.
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