Ground mount with high wind requirements

[seneysolar]

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.

Speaking for pole mounts-
That Tamarack design of just using U bolts to clamp the pole is terrible. The wind will just push that thing around, the clamps will slip. They dont hold up here in Northern Michigan with the winds off Lake Superior, they definitely won't hold up in a hurricane.

Tamarack has different models, some are rated up to 160mph. Model TTP-A is the current model i believe.?

Here is an older Tamarack High Wind mount. They dont make this model anymore but you can see what it takes to really be high wind rated (and not move). Thats 4" schedule 80 pipe for only 2 panels.

 

[Gttnsun]

Tamarack Ground mount lists up to 170 mph.
Go down to the PE downloads and enter your state, there are engineering letters for most states that are ready to turn into your AHJ

Ground Mount System | Tamarack Solar Products

The Tamarack Ground Mount System allows you to build a simple, low-cost structure with columns of 3 or 4 modules in landscape orientation.

tamaracksolar.com

 

[ManKzin]

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.

Yeah that would be great if you send me your config. What type of soil do you have where you are at? Here in Charlotte County the General Soil Map has me with Oldsmar -Mayakka with a Detail Soil of Matlacha-Urban Land Complex. So basically gravely fine sand and sandy material with about 25% of coarse fragements of limestone and shell for the first 40", then below this is about 80" of fine sand. So good for buildings and such to be laid upon. I will shoot you me email through DM.

 

[ManKzin]

Speaking for pole mounts-
That Tamarack design of just using U bolts to clamp the pole is terrible. The wind will just push that thing around, the clamps will slip. They dont hold up here in Northern Michigan with the winds off Lake Superior, they definitely won't hold up in a hurricane.

Tamarack has different models, some are rated up to 160mph. Model TTP-A is the current model i believe.?

Here is an older Tamarack High Wind mount. They dont make this model anymore but you can see what it takes to really be high wind rated (and not move). Thats 4" schedule 80 pipe for only 2 panels.

View attachment 292435View attachment 292436

If you look at the one I took a picture of, they are rated for 150 mph winds, using sch-80 with the vertical filled with cement. But i love the brackets on this one way better.

 

[ManKzin]

Speaking for pole mounts-
That Tamarack design of just using U bolts to clamp the pole is terrible. The wind will just push that thing around, the clamps will slip. They dont hold up here in Northern Michigan with the winds off Lake Superior, they definitely won't hold up in a hurricane.

Tamarack has different models, some are rated up to 160mph. Model TTP-A is the current model i believe.?

Here is an older Tamarack High Wind mount. They dont make this model anymore but you can see what it takes to really be high wind rated (and not move). Thats 4" schedule 80 pipe for only 2 panels.

View attachment 292435View attachment 292436

The UNI-PGRM/2P1-47 using 4" Nominal SCH-80 as your vertical and filled with concrete, along with the 3" Nominal SCH-80 horizontal is rated for 150 mph. You can even make it more resistant by placing and centering a rebar down the middle of the vertical. The messed up thing is that you still need a structural engineer to sign off on it here in Charlotte County, which I will most likely contest. As the spec sheets should be enough and since my array is only two 545w bifacial and only requires 60 sft of surface exposure, which is less than what this model is designed for.

 

[ManKzin]

Tamarack Ground mount lists up to 170 mph.
Go down to the PE downloads and enter your state, there are engineering letters for most states that are ready to turn into your AHJ

Ground Mount System | Tamarack Solar Products

The Tamarack Ground Mount System allows you to build a simple, low-cost structure with columns of 3 or 4 modules in landscape orientation.

tamaracksolar.com

Thanks. I was going to call them Monday.

 

[ManKzin]

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
View attachment 207829

I think I am just going to use a barb wire fence with no trespassing signs on my property. Though I dnt have regular fence anymore I still have the permit to have one. It will just be smaller . Lol

 

[chill633]

Make one

It would cost more to get out engineer to certify that in Lee county and it would be just to buy one. Not a valid option unless you happen to be a professional engineer

 

[sumpower]

Thanks. I was going to call them Monday.

I have used the Tamarack ground mounts as their customer support has been excellant. They even talk to building permit departments to get the education they need to approve your installation.

 

[ManKzin]

It would cost more to get out engineer to certify that in Lee county and it would be just to buy one. Not a valid option unless you happen to be a professional engineer

I actually work for a civil engineer. I am guessing here, but I think I only need a structural engineer if the array is on the roof. It being a single pole ground mount I don't know what a structural engineer would be signing off on. Though I do need an electrical engine for the wiring, that I can see. I do need a site plan, but that will be easy and not cost me anything. Already called Call Before You Dig and will go out and survey those markers when they are done,. The water sewer guy was already out here

 

[chill633]

I actually work for a civil engineer. I am guessing here, but I think I only need a structural engineer if the array is on the roof. It being a single pole ground mount I don't know what a structural engineer would be signing off on. Though I do need an electrical engine for the wiring, that I can see. I do need a site plan, but that will be easy and not cost me anything. Already called Call Before You Dig and will go out and survey those markers when they are done,. The water sewer guy was already out here

My guess would be the foundation. As is, everywhere else I've been that requires permits for these things is focused on the foundation anchoring that ground mount in. They don't want it to be a giant kite in the next big storm and that's going to depend on soil type, anchoring, etc.

 

[outboard1196]

What about the integrarack its rated for 150mph.

 

[Gttnsun]

I actually work for a civil engineer. I am guessing here, but I think I only need a structural engineer if the array is on the roof. It being a single pole ground mount I don't know what a structural engineer would be signing off on. Though I do need an electrical engine for the wiring, that I can see. I do need a site plan, but that will be easy and not cost me anything. Already called Call Before You Dig and will go out and survey those markers when they are done,. The water sewer guy was already out here

My AHJ requires Engineering for anything over 6 feet tall, if it's under 6 feet tall it's a easy over the counter permit.
If you have a top of pole mount like the PGRM you could lay the panels flat to keep them under 6 feet for inspection.
Fences over 6 feet also require Engineering.

 

[Ptom]

I made, fabricated in my shop using plain old steel bought local, over 50 of these mounts and would deliver them with the panels all mounted and pre-wired, and as long as the ground pole (6 or 8" sch. 40 pipe, usually bought at the salvage yard for half the price as new, lifting and setting them with my boom truck. it was a sideline to my main crane business, but I got shut down when it was revealed they were not engineered or approved in any way! I've got them in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Utah, with not one failure, but that's of little import of course when it comes to meeting code. I was selling them cheaper than "store bought", including delivery and installation, people that checked into the pricing told me it was a no brainer. It's been 10 years since the last one, the good old days I guess.

 

[ManKzin]

What about the integrarack its rated for 150mph.

Unfortunately that needs to be bolted on to thick concrete pad, plus they are fixed at 30° and need to be a relatively flat surface.

The only ground mounts system I found, are the Tamarack pole mounts, which come are one to 3 vertical poles.

I have two 595W bifacial solar panels. My mount needs to be able to adjust the tilt angle multiple times, as it varies greatly throughout the four seasons from 0.5° to 48° My best azimuth is around +/- 178°.

It also has to withstand 150 mph, which requires one Nom 4" sch-80 steel pipe, filling the center filled with 2,500 psi cement buried 4' deep and it only holds 2 panels max or three 4" Nominal sch-40 for 5 panels (probably could get away with three panels and only 2 verticals sch -40 filled with concrete,)
The horizontal for both is 3" Nominal sch-40 steel pipe. I am think of going with a south facing array, that I adjust 8 times a year or getting a one axis solar tracking equipment, but I don't think that will fly. I would have to DiY it for it to rotate, which I don't think is worth it for a 1200W array that only provides me with about $58 dollars in savings a year.

I am getting two 4" nominal sch-40 steel pipe for free, so I may only have to buy the 3" nominal sch-40 steel pipe. It is tough figuring this out on my own.

 

[Ozarks Mountain]

I get up to 40mh winds here and this rig I built myself works fine, I will be putting hurricane stakes down tomorrow

 

[Ozarks Mountain]

I get up to 40mh winds here and this rig I built myself works fine, I will be putting hurricane stakes down tomorrow


View attachment 293753View attachment 293754

and by the way just a heads up I'm pretty disappointed in these monoperc panels, the most i get from this array is 3500 watts

 

[Fisherguy66]

and by the way just a heads up I'm pretty disappointed in these monoperc panels, the most i get from this array is 3500 watts

What is each panel rated?

 

[Ozarks Mountain]

What is each panel rated?

380watts, 48 volts, I have 20

 

[Fisherguy66]

380watts, 48 volts, I have 20

3500 out of 7600w?

 

[Ozarks Mountain]

3500 out of 7600w

 

[Ozarks Mountain]

yes

 

[Fisherguy66]

yes

Yikes thats nasty. The 8 - 500w in my pic push 4300-4600 when its chilly. Curious to see what they do in summer haven't seen heat yet.

 

[Ozarks Mountain]

Yikes thats nasty. The 8 - 500w in my pic push 4300-4600 when its chilly. Curious to see what they do in summer haven't seen heat yet.

I'm new to this eg4 monitor, I may have something set wrong, 12000xp

 

[Fisherguy66]

I'm new to this eg4 monitor, I may have something set wrong, 12000xp

At what temps do they show 3500 and how are they wired?