AustinMaddox
Solar Enthusiast
Thanks, I'll take a look at IronRidge. Is there a good online distributor for their products? They seem to only go through dealers, not direct.
My new construction home DIY solar build thread (EG4 18Kpv) Texas 🇺🇲
- Thread starter AustinMaddox
- Start date
AustinMaddox
Solar Enthusiast
Seriously? If that is a problem I made a huge mistake.
AustinMaddox
Solar Enthusiast
Yes, non-combustible cement board.
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
I got mine as part of a kit from GoGreenSolar.com
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
Sheetrock isn't nearly string enough to hang the 18Kpv on, you either need to hit the studs for the bracket or better yet, use cement board.
Double layer of type-x 5/8" drywall is likely better than cement board. It has an actual fire rating where cement board doesn't. You need backing or mount to studs either way. Personally I would use Unistrut to offset it from the wall a little but that is me.
Solar funny Farm
New Member
Thanks, double 5/8. Do you think I should have more than my 1/2 " sheetrock on the ceiling directly above it?
Quattrohead
Emperor Of Solar
As long as the wires are rated for the highest voltage carried in the conduit, it is OK. THHN and Romex are rated for 600V.
If this is a garage, the sheetrock should already be 5/8th. But if in the house don't worry about it, the fire hazard is already inside.
Ideally you use Type-x everywhere in a room with higher fire risk. How much you want to replace just gets down to practicality. An extra sheet on the ceiling seems like a good idea.
Solar funny Farm
New Member
It probably won't matter as I am in the country seven miles from a town that has only a volunteer fire department. Yesterday my neighbor about 3/4 mile from me had a fire in his detached garage catch fire and along with a shed close by burned to the ground. The six fire trucks from town and two neighboring towns responded but first didn't arrive until most everything was engulfed in flames which was about 20 minutes from when we first saw smoke. The buildings and several trees all gone. Lockley the 1920 three bedroom house was saved. My system is in my 26 X 40 heated shop about 150 feet from the house. I think if my wiring size and routing are good there should not be much risk of fire. Thanks for everyone's input on wall mounting and sheeting.
AustinMaddox
Solar Enthusiast
I checked with them and they won't sell me racking only. I guess they only do kits.
Where else could I buy IronRidge racking? Seems like they don't sell direct, only to dealers/installers.
SunDave
Solar Addict
Hi Austin,
NAZ solar online. Just got a pallet of panels from them, pretty quickly too. They have iron-ridge on their website.
Greentech renewables, but that is more of a quote/PO operation. There are places that have it. I bought some from Greentech, and they sourced the plastic ends, wire clips, all that.
Another place I use quite a bit is the Practical Preppers website. Great crew there. Knowledgeable.
Good luck with your project!
solarpowermaniac
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2022
- Messages
- 32
I love Greentech. Very competitive prices and the staff at my local one is top notch.
It's been a few months since I've posted any updates so I thought I'd share that my panels arrived today!
I went with a pallet of 30 Canadian Solar 395W Mono-Crystalline Solar Panels.
still trying to decide on which mounting system to use on my roof. Any suggestions?
What kind of finish on the roof? I went with K2 systems and I'm really happy with results. I have a metal roof and their mounting system attached directly to the peaks. I found a distributor that sold them and gave them the BOM from the K2 site. Shipping wasn't pretty but had the stuff in couple weeks.
hello.. im new to the group and new to the industry. we just finished our house and now im going back to consider solar .. I also have two 200 amp panels separated along the length of the house (east garage and west garage).. 2 questions. Why the 18K vs the 6000XP .. are you doing net metering or going for features / warranty ? and, are you planning to install one inverter by each panel or are your panels located in the same room/area ?
AustinMaddox
Solar Enthusiast
Thanks @SunDave and @solarpowermaniac!
I got ahold of Greentech Renewables and they were fantastic to work with. They got me all the IronRidge hardware I needed and offered to truck it over from their local store in Dallas for free (2 hours away). Very happy with the recommendation. Thanks guys!
I ended up doing black IronRidge 14 ft. XR-100 rails, with the black Flashfoot2 flashings and all the associated hardware to get my panels up on the roof.
Now, I need to learn the best way to locate rafters. The roof is spray foamed so it makes it a little more challenging.
I got ahold of Greentech Renewables and they were fantastic to work with. They got me all the IronRidge hardware I needed and offered to truck it over from their local store in Dallas for free (2 hours away). Very happy with the recommendation. Thanks guys!
I ended up doing black IronRidge 14 ft. XR-100 rails, with the black Flashfoot2 flashings and all the associated hardware to get my panels up on the roof.
Now, I need to learn the best way to locate rafters. The roof is spray foamed so it makes it a little more challenging.
dougbert
Solar Wizard
I found my 1st rafter by measuring and then drilling 1/4" hole from inside to the outside and thus found my first anchor hole. Drilled through the rafter with a 2ft drill, straight btw
blrmaker
Solar Enthusiast
2 foot drill?
Dave911
Solar Addict
Wh
Why would you drill through the rafter? That significantly weakens the rafter.
SunDave
Solar Addict
Not in reality.
If a 1/4 inch hole "significantly weakens" a rafter, then a bunch of nails in the truss or rafter to secure sheathing and shingles must not be an option either.
There are real concerns in construction. This is not one of them. One nail size hole in one truss or rafter to get alignment correct is just fine.
Dave911
Solar Addict
You drilled a 1/4" hole through the edge of your rafter, correct?
That is likely a 1 1/2" thick rafter. 1/4 of 1.5 is 1/6. Or 16%. Chance are the hole is more like 5/16 if you used a 1/4 drill. Thats just over 20%.
Id consider that significant, especially since it was totally unnecessary. Drill next to the rafter.
You just need to locate the rafter, no need to weaken it.
Quattrohead
Emperor Of Solar
I think you have misunderstood, he is drilling pilot holes for the lag bolts.
SunDave
Solar Addict
Indeed, not only did dougbert only say he drilled one hole to find the truss/rafter. That very same hole would have a lag bolt in it. You can argue it if you want, but it is a non-issue.
Dave911
Solar Addict
How do you guys miss this stuff. Its right in the message string?
This is what he said:
"I found my 1st rafter by measuring and then drilling 1/4" hole from inside to the outside and thus found my first anchor hole. Drilled through the rafter with a 2ft drill, straight btw"
I copied this right out of his message.
From the inside to the outside? To drill a pilot hole? Yeah, no one does that.
But its his roof, not mine.
My only point is that is not the best way to do that.
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